Donnie Shell was born on August 26,1952 and is an American former professional football player who was a strong safety for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League between 1974 and 1987.
15 Facts About Donnie Shell
1.
2.
Donnie Shell retired as the NFL strong safety career leader in interceptions with 51.
3.
Donnie Shell started 11 consecutive seasons for the Steelers and was selected to the Steelers All-Time Team, the College Football Hall of Fame, the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and to the NFL Silver Anniversary Super Bowl Team.
4.
Donnie Shell grew up in the town of Whitmire, South Carolina.
5.
Donnie Shell played on the Whitmire High School football team, where in his senior season as a linebacker, his team did not allow a single touchdown by opponents.
6.
Donnie Shell played college football for Willie Jeffries at South Carolina State University, where he was teammates with future New York Giants and Hall of Fame linebacker Harry Carson and earned All-American and all conference honors.
7.
Donnie Shell was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1998.
8.
Donnie Shell was signed undrafted by the Steelers, where he played his entire career, winning four Super Bowls with the Steeler teams of the 1970s.
9.
Donnie Shell is a member of Groove Phi Groove Social Fellowship Incorporated.
10.
Donnie Shell was a five-time Pro Bowler between 1978 and 1982, a 4-time All-Pro selection, and was the Steelers team MVP in 1980.
11.
Donnie Shell saved several possible six points in Super Bowl XIII and Super Bowl XIV.
12.
Donnie Shell had been in the top 15 in balloting for the Pro Football Hall of Fame once before, in 2002 but with no success.
13.
Donnie Shell played in 201 games for the Steelers, only behind other Steelers legends like Ben Roethlisberger, Hall of Famer Mike Webster and Hines Ward.
14.
On January 15,2020, Donnie Shell was announced as a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame's Centennial Class of 2020.
15.
Donnie Shell was inducted by Tony Dungy, another Hall of Famer and Steelers legend.