Prompted by a comment made yesterday by Black Steel in the comments section of WolfPack's fantastic study: the QBs of Steelers lore since Terry Bradshaw's retirement. I'm going to be relying on the slightly older fans here to help me out with some of the QBs of the '80s. Let's get to it:
CLIFF STOUDT:
Drafted in the 5th round of the 1977 Draft, Stoudt served the first part of his career on the bench behind Bradshaw and Mike Kruczek. He would make his first appearance in 1980, play sparingly in 1981 and 1982, then start 15 of 16 games in 1983. Stoudt guided the Steelers to a 10-6 record in '83, good enough for a playoff berth. Their season, and Stoudt's career as a QB for the Steelers would end in the 1st round courtesy of the Los Angeles Raiders. The following year, Stoudt played in the USFL for the Birmingham Stallions.
I'm guessing Pittsburgh fans didn't treat Clifford too well in his return to Three Rivers Stadium the following year as a player in the USFL.
Career Statistics in Pittsburgh:
244 of 479 (50.9%); 3217 yards; 14 TDs, 28 INTs; 57.9 QB Rating
Best Season in Pittsburgh:
197 of 381 (51.7%) 2553 yards; 12 TDs, 21 INTs; 60.6 QB Rating
MARK MALONE:
Malone, drafted with the 20th overall pick of the 1st round in the 1980 draft, would play sparingly in his first three years before getting his first significant opportunity to succeed in the 1984 season. He would start 43 games betwen '84-'87, before winding down his very mediocre career in New York and San Diego.
Malone is exactly the type of player that I'd love to hear some of y'all speak up about. I was too young to remember much, if any, of his career, and I imagine following in Bradshaw's footsteps made it difficult for him to please the elevated expectations of Steelers fans not yet a decade removed from the dynastic years of the '70s. Of course, Malone was not singularly responsible for some of the lean years in the mid 1980s, but the reality is the glory and blame for team success typically begins and ends with the play of the QB. In Malone's case, it simply wasn't very good.
Malone's play was never quite as awesome as his mustache
Career Statistics in Pittsburgh:
690 of 1374 (50.2%); 8582 yards; 54 TDs; 68 INTs; 62.4 QB Rating
Best Season in Pittsburgh (1984):
Feel free to offer your opinion, but it appears '84 was Malone's best season as a Steeler based on statistics and on overall team success. The Steelers made the AFC Championship game that year, losing to the Miami Dolphins 45-28.
147 of 272 (54%); 2137 yards; 16 TDs; 17 INTs; 73.4 QB Rating
DAVID WOODLEY:
Woodley, Miami's 8th round selection in 1980, would appear in 16 games, starting 13 of them, for Pittsburgh in 1984 and 1985, the final two years he would see the field in the NFL.
Career Statistics:
179 of 339 (52.8%); 2630 yards; 14 TDs; 21 INTs; 66.4 QB Rating
Best Season in Pittsburgh (1984):
Wooldey teamed with Malone to help lead the Steelers to the playoffs this year, starting in all 7 games in which he appeared. He compiled a 3-4 record that year before Malone took over for the remainder of the season.
85 of 156 (54.5%); 1273 yards; 8 TDs; 7 INTs; 79.9 QB Rating
SCOTT CAMPBELL:
I'm not going to waste any valuable time on Campbell. This 7th round draft pick out of Purdue in the 1984 draft only stuck around Pittsburgh for two years. He must have been a place holder or something, because he appeared in all 16 games in 1985, despite having only 96 pass attempts.
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Up Next: Bubby Brister, Todd Blackledge, Steve Bono, Rick Strom