Cliff Stoudt

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.

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.[2]

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 quarterback rating. He led the Stallions to a two-year record of 27-9 (no other team won more games), while passing for 6,479 yards, 60 touchdowns and 26 interceptions.

In 1986, the league ceased operations after losing most of its claims in an antitrust suit against the National Football League, with its top talent absorbed by the NFL in a dispersal draft conducted in the aftermath.

Because the Pittsburgh Steelers still owned the rights to Stoudt, on September 1, 1986, he was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals in exchange for a conditional draft choice (fifth round #121-Darin Jordan). He served as Neil Lomax's backup and was also the team holder on kicks. He had two starts each in 1986 and 1988. In 1989, Stoudt asked for his release after the team acquired free agent Gary Hogeboom. He was cut in March 1989.

On April 14, 1989, he was signed as a free agent by the Miami Dolphins. Although he performed well during most of training camp, he was released on September 3, after he had two interceptions returned for touchdowns in the Dolphins' 20-10 preseason loss against the Philadelphia Eagles and Scott Secules was promoted as the backup to Dan Marino. On September 7, he was re-signed when Marino suffered a right bruised elbow on his throwing arm. He appeared in 3 games and didn't attempt a pass. He was cut on August 28, 1990.

On December 24, 1990, he was signed by the Dallas Cowboys, to be an emergency back-up quarterback to Babe Laufenberg for the season's final game against the Atlanta Falcons, after Troy Aikman suffered a right shoulder injury in Week 15.

In 1991, he went into training camp with Aikman, Laufenberg, and fourth-round draft choice Bill Musgrave at quarterback. On August 25, the Cowboys traded for Steve Beuerlein to improve the backup position and released Stoudt the next day, opting to keep just 2 quarterbacks.