What happens if Neil O'Donnell stayed in Pittsburgh?

In 1995, Neil O'Donnell led the Steelers to the Super Bowl and was cast as one of Pittsburgh's all-time villains with those interceptions in Super Bowl XXX.

In the off-season, O'Donnell left and took a bigger contract with the NY Jets. If O'Donnell would have been able to overcome the villain label, and Steelers fans can be unforgiving, what would have happened if he stayed in Pittsburgh?

In 1996, Mike Tomczak was the starter and I doubt he beats out O'Donnell. In 1997, Slash was the starting QB. Would he have beat out O'Donnell or played more WR as he threw a lot more interceptions than O'Donnell did?

How do you think that would have played out?

 

We might have seen Jim Kelly II most likely relative to SBs.

 

Hard to say. I really don't get into stuff like this, but I do understand why some do.
I don't get into that stuff , because like the whole Marino thing, if We had gone that way then different things would have happened differently, it's not like You can just take the then team, and just plop the other player into place, a lot of different things would have to happen for those changes to have taken place.

 

i agree w STD - hard to say. He got a bit scapegoated. He was in a good system for him, i feel.

the D was STRONG.

He was not elite but he did not suck, either.

just had an off day with 2 errant throws / reads - one of which I believe was a terrible read by his WR......

i think he could have had another 2-4 year run in him. He was more talented than Tomczak and Kordell was a project player......almost got Cowher fired

 

Wow!!
You agreed with me on something. I totally looked around making sure I wasn't about to be knocked off , and tricked by this. LoL

 

Another player to leave Pittsburgh and completely implode; never to be good again. After getting the full time starting job in 1992 he played 4 years and went 37 Wins - 16 Losses.

Something tells me O'Donnell regrets leaving Pittsburgh a lot more than Pittsburgh regrets letting him walk. Post Pittsburgh

Funny Note: Thanks god Neal O'Donnell turned down Bill Cowher's offer to comeback to the Steelers and play in 2004, so The Steelers would not have to play their Rookie QB Ben Roethlisberger.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neil_O'Donnell
O'Donnell permanently retired after the 2003 season. In 2004, he declined head coach Bill Cowher's offer to return to the Steelers after starting quarterback Tommy Maddox and backup quarterback Charlie Batch both sustained injuries.

 

In 1996, Spy-gate starts early, as the Patriots cheat their way to the Super Bowl.
In 1997, the Steelers use 2 QBs on the field at the same time, revolutionizing the game of football, becoming the Greatest Show on Turf, instead of the 1999 Rams having that moniker. (The 2024 Steelers dust off this playbook to go 10-7 and lose in the first round of the playoffs).
In 1998, 6-10, begin their path to draft Ben Roethlisberger.

 

You messed up, and wrote 2024, but I agree

 

Argument I hear a lot at drunk family get togethers: Steelers 3rd best QB in SB era was O'donnell. No it's Stewart. And they go on and on and on.

 

NOD stays and steelers win a SB then Cowher retires. And the Steelers hire a little known graduate assistant at Memphis at the time named Mike Tomlin officially because of his tremendous achievements. Steelers start a 30 year run of no playoff wins yet non-losing seasons. Tomlin retires with accolades and an early HOF entry for his colossal achievements.

 

NOD was the master of throwing the 5 yard out pattern on 3rd and 8. Sure his passing completion looked good but we still had to punt and that completion was basically a turnover

People look at his stats without remembering or seeing how mediocre he really was

 

And more Larry Brown types getting huge contracts perhaps?

 

Drunk being the key word.

 

We don’t post that name here!

 

Hard to say, He didn't lose that Super Bowl on his own with the WR's running the wrong routes.

 

I think the super bowl was his high point. He would’ve continued to be a game manager, and we wouldve gone as far as the defense could take us. I think he would eventually be replaced by slash in hopes the offense could be jump started.

 

Funny, but could end up coming true. If Tomlin doesn't win a playoff game this season, I don't think he ever will again.

 

I have written this on here before, and I still believe it. If NOD played in Pittsburgh in 1996 and 1997, the Steelers would have won at least 1 Super Bowl, maybe even went back to back. Bettis was playing at an insanely high level during those years. The Packers were beatable, and I feel like the Steelers matched up far better with them then they did the Cowboys and 49ers.

 

Very likely Jimmy Hoffa would have had company.

 

I have had this drunken argument before. A case can be made for either of those guys to be considered 3rd best QB in Steelers history.

 

I mean once I buy it, but when the DB is sitting on those knowing what you do and you throw it twice despite the WR being wide open behind it...

That's the problem with most teams, the inability to adjust in-game.

 

I don't buy it. There are many adjustable routes, If the safety does this, you do that, if the CB does this, you do that, but....
Look at it this way. They both made adjustments according to the D, and Yet the wide out was away from the D, and O'DONNELL...threw it right to were the DB was sitting . So who made the correct adjustments on the route???

 

Dusting off an old gray cell here I believe one interception was a bad pass and one was a bad read/route by the receiver

One of the things I gave NOD credit for back then while he was taking a lot of heat was that he did not throw the receiver under the bus

 

Maybe O'Donnell would make a difference in 1996 since the steelers had the 3rd seed with a 10-6 record despite terrible QB play,so with him,possible that the steelers would have a playoffs bye and face the patriots at home instead on the road and with the major upset that the Jaguars had against a powerhouse like the broncos,it would open the door for the steelers for another super bowl berth but the chance would been slim to none against the packers

In 1997,Kordell had been a huge reason for our 11-5 and the second seed,so I don't think the steelers would been in the afc title game that year with O'Donnell