The Player

From undrafted free agent to Super Bowl Champion, Donnie Shell is considered to be one of the greatest success story the NFL has ever had.  Shell played college football for South Carolina State University where he earned All-American and All Conference honors. He was elected to the MEAC Hall of Fame, The South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame and The College Football Foundation Hall of Fame.

Shell joined the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1974 as an undrafted free agent.  As a member of the famed Pittsburgh Steelers “Steel Curtain” defense, Shell helped lead the way to shutting down NFL offenses in the late 1970s.   Shell won four Super Bowls and was selected to represent the AFC in the Pro Bowl five consecutive times.  Upon his retirement, Shell became the NFL’s career leader in interceptions by a strong safety with 51.  He started 11 straight years of his 14 year NFL career for the Steelers.

Shell’s accolades included:  

  • 5× Pro Bowl (1978–1982)
  • 3× AP First-team All-Pro (1979, 1980, 1982)
  • AP Second-team All-Pro (1981)
  • 4× Super Bowl champion (IX, X, XIII, XIV)
  • Pittsburgh Steelers Team MVP (1980)
  • Pittsburgh Steelers 50th Anniversary All-Time Team (1982)
  • Super Bowl Silver Anniversary Team (1990)
  • College Football Hall of Fame Inductee (1998)
  • Pro Football Hall of Fame Top 15 Finalist (2002) 
  • Pittsburgh Steelers 75th Anniversary All-Time Team (2007)
  • Black College Football Hall of Fame Inductee (2015)
  • Steelers Hall of Honor (2017)