Senior NFL Reporter
NFC West/AFC West
By Dayna O’Gorman // @DaynaOG
When we were dividing up the inductees of the ProFootball Hall of Fame Class of 2020 for our articles, I immediately asked for safety Donnie Shell.
A highly decorated member of the Pittsburg Steelers Steel Curtain defense, Shell was one of the most decorated players to ever play the game, and I am so thrilled he finally made it to Canton.
You guys know me. I LOVE defense. I love old school, knock ’em in the dirt defense. The Steelers Steel Curtain was the epitome of that type of football, and Shell was a big part of it.
I think I’m more excited today than I was for my selection in 2016. My mentor and brother Donnie Shell has been selected to the Hall of Fame Centennial Class. No one deserves it more and I can’t wait to see him put on the Gold Jacket in August. CONGRATULATIONS DONNIE! pic.twitter.com/5eFdnCenMn
— Tony Dungy (@TonyDungy) January 15, 2020
Donnie Shell was born in 1952 in Whitmire, South Carolina, and attended South Carolina State University. He was an All-American and was named to the All-Conference team. He went undrafted in the 1974 draft but was picked up by the Pittsburg Steelers. His rookie year wasn’t a stand out year, just one interception, but after that, he took off like a rocket.
The Steel Curtain. The glory days of Pittsburg defense. A defense that after starting 1-4 on the season, only allowed two touchdowns and five field goals in the remaining nine games. Five shutouts. Yes… five. While the defensive front got most of the credit for that amazing defense, the secondary, including Shell, was a huge part of their success.
VIDEO: Check out some of the best highlights from #Steelers great Donnie Shell https://t.co/xUUg0WSM3j
— Steelers Depot ?? (@Steelersdepot) February 10, 2019
Shell played from 1974-1987. He ended his 14-year career (entirely with the Steelers) with 51 interceptions (the record for his position at the time) and 201 games played. He was a 5x Pro Bowl selection. He was selected first-team All Pro 3x, second-team All Pro 3x, played in 6 AFC Championship games, and won 4 Super Bowls.
After his career ended, Shell continued to work in football. He was the Director of Player Development for the Carolina Panthers from 1994 – 2009. He now works in the Director of Spiritual Life for Johnson C Smith University.
Looking back over the career of Shell, it is surprising to many that it took this long for him to make it into the ProFootball Hall of Fame. Yes, he was on a team with Terry Bradshaw, Lynn Swann, Tony Dungy, Joe Greene, and so many other legendary players, but that shouldn’t have diminished what Shell brought to that historic team.
Congratulations on a long-overdue honor, Mr. Shell!
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