Pittsburgh Career
Pittsburgh sports writers and Steelers fans often made jokes about Brister's southern accent and perceived lack of sophistication, traits that were similarly mocked in Brister's predecessor, Terry Bradshaw. In a similar vein, his name was often misspoken. In a 1999 Sports Illustrated article, Brister cited "Bubba Brewster" and "Bobby Blister" as common manglings.
Brister spent two years as the back up to Mark Malone, starting two games as a rookie in 1986 and appearing briefly in relief in two games in 1987. In his NFL debut in October 1986 Pittsburgh played on Monday Night Football against rival Cincinnati Bengals and Brister passed for 191 yards and scored a rushing touchdown, although the team lost 24-22. He won a three-way competition for the Steelers' starting quarterback job with former Kansas City Chiefs player Todd Blackledge and Steve Bono. Bono went on to serve as Joe Montana's back up in both San Francisco and Kansas City, where he succeeded Montana as the team's starting quarterback.
Career highlights during his 1988-1991 run as Pittsburgh's starting QB included ranking 4th in the NFL in average yards per pass completion in 1988 and ranking 10th in the league in passer rating in 1990. Brister had five scoring passes that were 65 yards or longer in 1988, including an 89 yard touchdown to Louis Lipps vs the Philadelphia Eagles on November 13 that was the longest pass completion by a Steeler in Three Rivers Stadium history. In 1989 he set a team record with 15 consecutive pass completions in a road win over Detroit, including a 48 yarder to Lipps. Brister also set a team record in 1989 throwing 178 consecutive passes without an interception. It was 1990 that Brister established career highs for starts (16), yards passing (2,725) and touchdown passes (20). Brister missed 8 games with injuries in 1991, setting up a competition with back up Neil O'Donnell for the starting job. Pittsburgh went 5-3 when Brister played, only 2-6 with O'Donnell as a starter. Brister was the starting quarterback during Hall Of Fame Coach Chuck Noll's final post season run with the Steelers, winning the 1989 AFC Wild Card in overtime on the road against the Houston Oilers, then losing a close game to eventual AFC Champion Denver Broncos. Brister led an 82 yard drive at the end of the 4th quarter to tie the Houston game and force overtime. Against Denver, he passed for 229 yards and 1 touchdown, with no turnovers.
One of Brister's famous quotes came after a 1991 game between the Houston Oilers and Pittsburgh Steelers. Pittsburgh was getting blown out, and coach Chuck Noll wanted to pull starter Neil O'Donnell and replace him with Brister to finish the hopeless game. Brister replied "I don't mop up for anybody." O'Donnell was starting in place of an injured Brister. To the surprise of many, although Brister was not forced to enter that late season loss against Houston, he did supplant the struggling O'Donnell the next week, starting the team's final two games, both wins over Cinciannti and Cleveland.
Brister played for the Steelers for 7 years, several of them as the regular starter at quarterback. In 1992, new Steelers head coach Bill Cowher chose backup quarterback Neil O'Donnell over Brister, essentially ending his career as a starting player for the Steelers. Still, Brister played a significant role in the team's 1992 success. Brister won two games as a starter for an injured O'Donnell against the Indianapolis Colts and Cleveland Browns. In the Cleveland game, the Steelers needed to win to clinch home field advantage for the AFC Playofs and Brister passed for 223 yards, 1 touchdown, no interceptions, and had a string of 11 consecutive pass completions in one stretch. In two other games Brister came of the bench, relieving a struggling O'Donnell when he was hurt and lead 4th quarter comebacks over the Seattle Seahawks and Detroit Lions.
Read more about this topic: Bubby Brister
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