Danzell Lee facts for kids

Danzell Ivan Lee, born on March 16, 1963, is a former American football player. He played as a tight end in the National Football League (NFL). He played for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Atlanta Falcons. Before that, he was picked by the Washington Redskins in the 1985 NFL draft. He also played college football at Lamar University.

Danzell Lee's Early Life and College Football

Danzell Ivan Lee was born in Corsicana, Texas, on March 16, 1963. He went to Corsicana High School in his hometown.

He earned a scholarship to play college football at Lamar University. He played for the Lamar Cardinals from 1981 to 1984. He was a "letterman" for three years, from 1982 to 1984. A letterman is an athlete who has played well enough to earn a special award. Danzell graduated from Lamar with a Bachelor of Science degree.

Danzell Lee's Professional Football Career

Joining the NFL Teams

The Washington Redskins chose Danzell Lee in the sixth round of the 1985 NFL draft. He was the 163rd player picked overall. He officially signed with the team on July 18, 1985.

However, he was placed on injured reserve on August 27, 1985. This meant he couldn't play for the entire 1985 season due to an injury. The Redskins released him on August 19, 1986.

Playing for the Pittsburgh Steelers

Lee then signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers on March 29, 1987. He was released briefly on September 7. But he was re-signed on September 24, 1987, during the 1987 NFL players strike. A players' strike is when players refuse to play to get better conditions or pay.

He stayed with the Steelers after the three-week strike ended. During the 1987 season, he played in 13 games and started all of them. He caught 12 passes for 124 yards. He also recovered one fumble. The Steelers released him on September 6, 1988.

Time with the Atlanta Falcons

Lee signed with the Atlanta Falcons on September 18, 1988. He was released and re-signed a few times that year. Overall, he played in five games for the Falcons in 1988. He did not record any statistics during these games. He was released for the final time on August 28, 1989.

Life After Football

After his football career, Danzell Lee became involved in education. In 1996, he became an assistant principal at Collins Middle School. From 1997 to 1999, he was an assistant principal at his old high school, Corsicana High School. He then became the principal there from 2000 to 2004.

Later, he became the executive director of administration for the Corsicana Independent School District. In 1999, Lee earned a Masters of Education degree from Stephen F. Austin State University. He also received a mid-management certification.