Kordell had a career better than some expected......
1997
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Stewart was named the starting quarterback for the 1997 season. In his first season as a starting quarterback in the NFL, he led the Steelers to an 11–5 record. He was the first quarterback to throw for twenty touchdowns and run for ten in history. The Steelers went to the AFC Championship Game, which they lost to the
Denver Broncos. Stewart threw three interceptions (two of which were made in the opposing Denver end zone), and lost a fumble accounting for all four Steeler turnovers in a 24–21 loss.
1998–1999
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Prior to the
1998 season, the Steelers lost their offensive coordinator,
Chan Gailey as he was signed as the Cowboys head coach. To replace him, the Steelers brought in
Ray Sherman from the Vikings. In addition, Stewart's leading receiver and Pro Bowler
Yancey Thigpen also left via free agency after the 1997 season. By mid-season in 1998, the Steelers had lost three of the five starting offensive linemen from the 1997 AFC Championship game and, as a result, Stewart and the Steelers offense struggled and failed to make the playoffs in both seasons.
2000
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Coach Bill Cowher named
Kent Graham quarterback to start the
season, and the team got off to a 1–3 start. When Graham injured his hip, Stewart was tapped to replace him. The
team finished 9–7 and missed the playoffs by one game.
2001
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As starting quarterback, Stewart led the
2001 Steelers to a 13–3 regular-season record and the top seed in the
AFC playoffs. Under the tutelage of new QB coach
Tom Clements and new offensive coordinator
Mike Mularkey, Stewart had his best year as a pro, throwing for over 3,000 yards, completing 60 percent of his passes, and attaining a
passer rating of 81.7. He threw for 14 TDs and ran for five more. Stewart was elected to the Pro Bowl and was named the Steelers MVP.
The Steelers easily defeated the then-defending Super Bowl champion
Baltimore Ravens in the divisional playoffs. The eventual
Super Bowl champion
New England Patriots defeated the Steelers in the AFC Championship Game.