Melvin Cornell Blount was born on April 10,1948 and is an American former professional football player who was a cornerback for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League for fourteen seasons.
16 Facts About Mel Blount
2.
Mel Blount was a star in baseball, football, basketball, and track at Lyons High School.
3.
Mel Blount was the prototype cornerback of his era and a significant reason why the Pittsburgh Steelers were the dominant team of the National Football League in the 1970s.
4.
Mel Blount was equally effective playing either zone or man-to-man defense.
5.
Mel Blount had 57 interceptions in his career; he returned them for 736 yards and two touchdowns.
6.
Mel Blount intercepted at least one pass in all 14 NFL seasons and led the league in interceptions with 11 in 1975.
7.
Mel Blount was used as a kickoff returner early in his career.
8.
Mel Blount totaled 36 returns for 911 yards and a 25.3-yard average.
9.
Mel Blount recovered 13 opponents' fumbles, two of which he returned for touchdowns.
10.
Mel Blount, who was named the NFL's most valuable defensive player in 1975 by the Associated Press, earned All-Pro acclaim in 1975,1976,1977, and 1981.
11.
Mel Blount was a four-time All-AFC selection and played in five Pro Bowls.
12.
Mel Blount founded the Mel Blount Youth Home, a shelter and Christian mission for victims of child abuse and neglect in Toombs County, Georgia in 1983.
13.
In 1989, Mel Blount was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame.
14.
Mel Blount was inducted in the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame in 1990 and the Black College Football Hall of Fame in 2011.
15.
Mel Blount has two daughters, Shuntel and Tanisia, and five sons: Norris, Dedrick, Akil, Jibri, and Khalid.
16.
Mel Blount's youngest son, Khalid Blount, is a football player who was ranked as a two-star recruit by Rivals before attending Duquesne University.