HBO Max to Premiere Kordell Stewart Documentary 'Slash & Burn' on Oct. 27
The short version
- HBO Max premieres 'Kordell Stewart: Slash & Burn' on October 27.
- Stewart was a second-round Steelers pick in 1995 and played 11 NFL seasons.
- The film covers his 'Slash' versatility and the rumor about his sexuality that followed him.
- Stewart addressed the rumor in a 1999 team meeting and a Players' Tribune essay in 2021.
- The documentary is a Skydance Sports and NFL Films production directed by Brian Rivera.
The film examines the former Steelers quarterback's career and the rumor that shadowed him long after his playing days ended.
A documentary about former NFL quarterback Kordell Stewart is set to arrive on HBO Max on October 27. Titled “Kordell Stewart: Slash & Burn,” the film examines both his football career and a rumor that affected his life away from the field.
Stewart entered the NFL in 1995, when the Pittsburgh Steelers selected him in the second round of the draft. He spent 11 seasons in the league and became known by the nickname “Slash” because of his versatility across multiple offensive positions.
According to a press release, the documentary describes Stewart as one of the most exciting players of the 1990s and says he helped reshape expectations for what an NFL quarterback could do. The film also addresses a malicious rumor that surfaced as his stardom grew, and uses candid interviews with Stewart and others to explore the toll of public scrutiny and to examine the truth behind a story that stayed with him for decades.
During his career, Stewart faced a persistent rumor about his sexuality. Before the 1999 season, he called a team meeting and denied the rumor to his teammates, and according to OutSports.com, that denial included graphic descriptions of heterosexual acts he enjoys.
Speaking to KDKA radio in Pittsburgh in 1999, Stewart said: “I was a guy who stood up in front of the team and just said, basically, this is what’s going on.” He added that a rumor is a rumor, and that he did not want any fan or anyone outside the organization to make his teammates feel differently about him as a player.
In 2021, Stewart wrote a piece for The Players’ Tribune detailing the personal and professional difficulties the rumor caused. He has shared the documentary news on social media, indicating enthusiasm about exploring the issue further.
The production is a Skydance Sports presentation and an NFL Films production. Brian Rivera directed, produced, and edited the film. It arrives more than 20 years after Stewart last played professional football.
For viewers planning their football weekend, the Pittsburgh Steelers host the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, September 27 at 1:00 PM EDT at Acrisure Stadium, with the game airing on CBS.
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