Bobby Bell facts for kids
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Bell in 2014
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| No. 78 | |||||||||||
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| Position: | Linebacker Defensive end |
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| Personal information | |||||||||||
| Born: | June 17, 1940 Shelby, North Carolina, U.S. |
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| Height: | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | ||||||||||
| Weight: | 228 lb (103 kg) | ||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||
| High school: | Cleveland (Shelby) | ||||||||||
| College: | Minnesota (1960–1962) | ||||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 1963 / Round: 2 / Pick: 16 | ||||||||||
| AFL draft: | 1963 / Round: 7 / Pick: 56 | ||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||
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| Career AFL/NFL statistics | |||||||||||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||||||||||
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Pro Football Hall of Fame
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College Football Hall of Fame
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Bobby Lee Bell Sr. (born June 17, 1940) is a former American football player. He was a star linebacker and defensive end for the Kansas City Chiefs. He played in both the American Football League (AFL) and the National Football League (NFL).
Bobby Bell also played college football for the Minnesota Golden Gophers. He is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the College Football Hall of Fame. He was part of the Chiefs team that won Super Bowl IV. Many experts describe him as the first "size and speed" linebacker. This means he was big and fast, which was a new type of player for his position.
Contents
Early Life and High School Sports
Bobby Bell was born on June 17, 1940, in Shelby, North Carolina. When he was six, his family's home caught fire. His mother bravely saved him from the burning building. He had a scar from this incident for the rest of his life.
Bell was excellent in many sports at Cleveland High School. He was so good at baseball that the Chicago White Sox wanted to sign him at age 16. However, his father wanted him to finish school first.
In his first two years, he played six-man football as a halfback. Later, his school switched to 11-man football. Bell then played quarterback and earned All-State honors in both positions.
College Football Career
Bobby Bell wanted to play college football. A coach from the University of North Carolina helped him get into the University of Minnesota. At Minnesota, it was the first time he was in classes or ate meals with white students.
He started as a quarterback but became a defensive lineman. He also played offensive tackle and center. His coach, Murray Warmath, said Bell would have been great at any position.
College Achievements
Bell was named a first-team All-American twice, in 1961 and 1962. In 1962, he won the Outland Trophy. This award goes to the best interior lineman in the country. He was also named Lineman of the Year by United Press.
The Gophers had a great record of 22-6-1 with Bell. They won the National Championship in 1960. They also played in the 1961 Rose Bowl and won the 1962 Rose Bowl. In 1991, Bell was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.
A Stand for Equality
In 1962, after all his success, Bell was offered the key to the city of Shelby. But he asked if he could just walk into the front door of a local ice cream parlor. Shelby was still segregated, and he was not allowed in.
Bell also joined Minnesota's basketball team as a walk-on. He became the first black player on their team.
He left college a few credits short to play professional football. However, at age 74, he went back and finished his degree in 2015. He did this to honor his father, who believed in equal opportunities for everyone.
Professional Football Career
In 1963, Bobby Bell was chosen by two teams. The Minnesota Vikings picked him in the NFL draft. The Kansas City Chiefs picked him in the AFL draft. He chose to play for the Chiefs. He played for them for 12 years.
He played in the American Football League from 1963 to 1969. Then he played in the NFL from 1970 to 1974. He chose the Chiefs because their owner, Lamar Hunt, offered him a guaranteed contract.
Switching Positions and Awards
In 1964, Bell was an All-AFL defensive end. But in 1965, coach Hank Stram moved him to outside linebacker. Bell was then named All-AFL or All-NFL as a linebacker every year from 1965 to 1971.
He was an AFL All-Star for six years in a row (1964-1969). Then he was an NFL Pro Bowler for four straight years (1970-1973). In 1969, he was named AFL Defensive Player of the Year. Bell never missed a regular season game in his professional career.
Bell was one of the first black outside linebackers in professional football. In 1965, the AFL All-Star Game had to be moved from New Orleans to Houston. This was because black and white players were not allowed to eat together in New Orleans.
Championships and Hall of Fame
Bell played on two AFL Championship teams (1966 and 1969). His team lost Super Bowl I but won Super Bowl IV. He was named to the All-Time All-AFL Team in 1970.
He was inducted into the Chiefs Hall of Fame in 1980. In 1983, he became the first Chief to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He was also chosen for the NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team. The Chiefs retired his uniform number 78.
Six defensive players from the Chiefs' Super Bowl IV team are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. These include Bell, Buck Buchanan, Curley Culp, Willie Lanier, Emmitt Thomas, and Johnny Robinson.
Key Plays and Athleticism
One of Bell's most famous plays was in the 1969 AFL playoff game against the New York Jets. He made a key stop on the goal line, preventing a touchdown. This helped the Chiefs win 13–6 and go on to win the Super Bowl. In another game, he recovered an onside kick and ran it back 53 yards for a touchdown.
Bell was known for his amazing athleticism. He was 6 feet 4 inches tall and weighed about 220-230 pounds. He was also incredibly fast, able to run a 40-yard dash in about 4.4 or 4.5 seconds. Many people think he was one of the greatest all-around athletes to play football.
He was also a great blitzer from the linebacker position. Bell scored 9 touchdowns in his career. Six were from interceptions, two from fumble recoveries, and one from an onside kick return. His coach, Hank Stram, said Bell could play any position on a winning football team. Bell was also a great long snapper for field goals and extra points.
After Football
After retiring from football, Bobby Bell opened a restaurant called Bobby Bell's Bar-b-que in Kansas City, Missouri. He ran it for almost 30 years. He also worked as a motivational speaker.
In 2016, Bobby Bell was inducted into the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame. This ceremony took place on January 1, 2017.
Shelby, North Carolina, where he grew up, has honored him. On August 28, 2021, they had a "Bobby Bell Day." They unveiled a sign for Bobby Bell Boulevard and dedicated a mural with his images. They also renamed the City Pavilion the Bobby Bell Pavilion.
The Bobby Bell Award is given each year to a high school defensive lineman or linebacker in the Kansas City area.
