Steelers safety Donnie Shell named to Pro Football Hall of Fame

Bill Cowher wasn’t the only member of the Pittsburgh Steelers to get advance warning about his selection to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

When the 15-member Centennial Slate was unveiled Wednesday morning during NFL Network’s “Good Morning Football” telecast, former Steelers safety Donnie Shell arrived on set for an interview just seconds after his name was announced.

At least Shell had time to compose himself, unlike Cowher, who was surprised on the set of CBS’ “NFL Today” on Saturday night by Hall of Fame president and CEO David Baker.

Shell was all smiles as he talked about an honor that eluded him for nearly three decades.

“It’s a great feeling,” Shell said.

That sentiment was shared by Steelers president Art Rooney II as his organization will have multiple representatives at the Hall of Fame induction ceremonies this summer in Canton, Ohio. Cowher and Shell could be joined by Troy Polamalu and Alan Faneca, who are among the 15 modern-era finalists vying for the final five spots in the supersized 20-member Class of 2020.

“We’ve been on Cloud 9 here for the last few days,” Rooney said.

Shell, a hard-hitting, ball-hawking safety who won four Super Bowls in the 1970s with the Steelers, was one of 10 senior candidates selected for the Centennial class. Senior candidates consisted of players whose career ended at least 25 years ago. Shell retired in 1987 after a 14-year career with the Steelers.

Shell became the 10th player from the 1970s Steelers dynasty — in addition to coach Chuck Noll — to be elected to the Hall of Fame. He is the first safety in franchise history to be honored, and Polamalu is a frontrunner to join him on induction weekend in August.

Shell was a finalist for the Hall of Fame just one time, in 2002, and he repeatedly was passed over by the electorate largely because so many of his Steelers peers already had been enshrined.

“Don’t give up on your dreams and aspirations,” Shell said. “I believe that God created everybody with certain talents and gifts. Some people work a little harder to make those gifts come out, and I was one of those people.”

While the Steelers selected four Hall of Fame players among the first five picks in the famed 1974 draft class, Shell was not among the 442 college players chosen by NFL teams. He signed with the Steelers as a free agent out of Division I-AA South Carolina State.

Shell also had offers from the Denver Broncos and Houston Oilers, but his college coach, Willie Jeffries, said Pittsburgh and its blue-collar environment was better suited for Shell’s playing style.

“Best decision I ever made,” Shell said.

Shell made the Steelers roster based on his special teams play, earning the nickname “Torpedo” for his thunderous hits, then worked his way into the starting lineup in 1977. He retired with 51 interceptions, the most in NFL history for a strong safety, a record that still stands. He was selected to the Pro Bowl five consecutive seasons, starting in 1978, and he was a three-time, first-team All-Pro selection.

Still, Shell was bypassed repeatedly by the electorate while Steel Curtain teammates Joe Greene, Mel Blount, Jack Ham and Jack Lambert quickly were enshrined. Wide receivers Lynn Swann (2001) and John Stallworth (2002) were inducted at the turn of the century, joining offensive stars Franco Harris, Mike Webster and Terry Bradshaw from the 1970s Super Steelers.

“I am so happy for Donnie,” Blount said Wednesday. “It’s very special. We’ve been working for years to convince voters to get Donnie into the Hall of Fame.”

Those efforts were enhanced when the Hall of Fame announced it’s Centennial Slate.

“I figured if he doesn’t get in on this one, it’s going to be difficult.” Blount said.

Shell was held in such high regard by the organization he was among the Steelers’ inaugural 27-member Hall of Honor class in 2017. Shell was one of just four members from that class who wasn’t a member of the Hall of Fame.

Now, he is.

“Obviously, it’s a great day for Steeler football in terms of Donnie Shell getting elected,” Rooney said. “Couldn’t be more excited about that. Long overdue as far as I’m concerned for one of the great players in Steelers history.”

Rounding out the 10-member class of senior inductees are offensive linemen Winston Hill, Duke Slater and former Pitt star Jimbo Covert, wide receivers Harold Carmichael and Mac Speedie, defensive end/linebacker Ed Sprinkle, defensive tackle Alex Karras, and safeties Bobby Dillon and Cliff Harris.

The three contributors selected were Steve Sabol of NFL Films, former New York Giants executive George Young and former NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue. Cowher and Jimmy Johnson were the coaching selections.

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