The Pittsburgh Steelers history is filled with great triumphs, thrilling moments and legendary players that helped create them. The Steelers have 23 Hall of Famers, but could definitely use a few more starting with fan favorite, Donnie Shell.
Shell went to college at South Carolina State. He went undrafted in the 1974 Draft and was picked up by the Steelers. Shell didn’t start right away, but quickly made a name for himself as a hard hitter on special teams. Shell became the everyday starter at the strong safety position in 1977.
After his solid 1977 campaign, Shell went on a five-year stretch, wreaking havoc on NFL offenses that few safeties have done before or since. From 1977 to 1982, he compiled 25 interceptions to go along with 11 fumble recoveries. During this stretch, Shell was voted to five Pro-Bowl teams and three All-Pro Teams. Throughout his career Shell displayed an uncanny sense for the ball, proven by his 51 interceptions and 19 fumble recoveries.
Like many of his “Steel Curtain,” teammates Shell made some of his biggest plays in the biggest moments. No Steeler fan will ever forget the bone crushing hit he laid on Earl Campbell, which knocked the Hall of Fame running back out of the AFC Championship Game. Another unforgettable moment took place in Super Bowl XIV. Rams running back Wendell Tyler broke free from the Steelers’ defense and started streaking down the field. All of a sudden, Shell came out of nowhere and tackled him saving a touchdown which happened after he initially fell down trying to tackle him at the line of scrimmage. Shell’s clutch play in the team’s four Super Bowl wins earned him a spot on the Super Bowl’s Silver Anniversary Team as its starting strong safety.
Shell’s stats compare very well to current hall of fame safeties. Shell’s 51 career interceptions are more than Yale Larry’s 50, Willie Wood’s 48 and Ken Houston’s 49. For the record, those three Hall of Famers only have two Super Bowl wins combined.
Another stat to consider is Shell’s career approximate value which is 120. (For more on approximate value, read THIS) This is really impressive for a safety especially when you consider its more than Wood’s 118 and Larry Wilson’s 111. To really put it in perspective, we will compare Shell’s AV to Ronnie Lott’s AV, who is considered by many to be the greatest safety of all-time. Lott’s AV during the years he played as a safety was 106, remember Lott’s first five seasons he played corner back. Unlike Lott, Shell wasn’t a starter for his first three seasons which also has to be considered.
The ‘Torpedo’ played for the Steelers from 1974 to 1987, and walked away from the game as one of the longest tenured players to ever don the “Black & Yellow.” Shell was a Hall of Fame finalist once in 2002, hopefully the veterans committee will look back on him and make Canton his new home.
