Cliff Stoudt
Clifford Lewis Stoudt (born March 27, 1955) is a former American football quarterback in the National Football League (NFL) for the Pittsburgh Steelers, St. Louis/Phoenix Cardinals, Miami Dolphins and Dallas Cowboys. He also was a member of the Birmingham Stallions of the United States Football League (USFL). He was drafted in the fifth round (121st overall) by the Steelers. He played college football at Youngstown State University. Early years Stoudt attended Oberlin High School, where he played quarterback. He also was one of the state's top prep golfers. Stoudt accepted a football scholarship from Youngstown State University, where he became a four-year starter. As a sophomore, he led the team to an 8-1 regular season record and the school's first appearance at the NCAA Division II playoffs, where they lost against the University of Delaware. As a junior, he posted 1,022 passing yards and 406 rushing yards. As a senior, he started all 10 games, passing for 1,259 yards and 5 touchdowns, while also rushing for 307 yards and 7 touchdowns. He finished his college career with 303 completions out of 637 attempts for 4,387 yards (second in school history), 5,459 total yards (second in school history) and 16 touchdowns. In 1987, he was inducted into the YSU Athletics Hall of Fame. Professional career Pittsburgh Steelers Stoudt was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the fifth round (121st overall) of the 1977 NFL Draft. Stoudt was the third-string quarterback to Terry Bradshaw from 1977 to 1979. At the time he set an NFL record, after spending the first 56 games of his career as an active roster member without appearing in an official game. In 1980, he became Bradshaw's backup. His first career start came against the Cleveland Browns. In 1983, he took over as the starter during Bradshaw's injury-plagued final season in 1983. He led the Steelers to a 9–2 start, but the team melted down late in the season. Steeler fans, accustomed to Bradshaw's late game heroics, turned viciously on Stoudt. The Steelers won the AFC Central with a 10–6 record and stumbled into the playoffs, but were quickly dispatched by the Los Angeles Raiders. Birmingham Stallions In 1984, Stoudt left the NFL and signed with the Birmingham Stallions of the United States Football League. The third game of the season was the home opener for the Pittsburgh Maulers on March 11 at Three Rivers Stadium, Stoudt was heckled and pelted with snowballs by fans who remembered his lackluster performance of a year earlier. It would turn out to be the only sellout in the one season history of the Maulers. Stoudt started every game, registering 3,121 passing yards, 26 passing touchdown, 400 rushing yards, 9 rushing touchdowns and 7 interceptions, while leading the team to a division championship and ranking No. 2 overall in quarterback rating (behind Jim Kelly). In 1985, he had 3,358 passing yards, 34 passing touchdowns, 437 rushing yards, 5 rushing touchdowns and 19 interceptions, repeating as division champion and the No. 2 overall