Mel Blount facts for kids
Blount in 2010
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| Position: | Cornerback | ||||||
| Personal information | |||||||
| Born: | April 10, 1948 Vidalia, Georgia, U.S. |
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| Height: | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | ||||||
| Weight: | 205 lb (93 kg) | ||||||
| Career information | |||||||
| High school: | Lyons (Lyons, Georgia) |
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| College: | Southern (1966–1969) | ||||||
| NFL Draft: | 1970 / Round: 3 / Pick: 53 | ||||||
| Career history | |||||||
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Pro Football Hall of Fame
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Melvin Cornell Blount (born April 10, 1948) is a famous American former football player. He played as a cornerback for the Pittsburgh Steelers in the National Football League (NFL) for 14 seasons. A cornerback is a defensive player who tries to stop the other team's passes.
Mel Blount was chosen for the Pro Bowl five times. He was also inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1989. Many people think he was one of the best cornerbacks ever in the NFL. He played with a very strong and physical style. This made him a tough player to go against, especially when rules about defending receivers were not as strict. After his playing career, he started the Mel Blount Youth Home, which helps young people.
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Early Life and College Football
Mel Blount was born in Toombs County, Georgia. He grew up on a farm and his family did not have much money. At Lyons High School, Mel was a star in many sports. He played baseball, football, basketball, and ran track.
After high school, he received a scholarship to Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. While playing for the Southern Jaguars, he was named an All-American. This means he was recognized as one of the best college players in the country. He was great at both safety and cornerback positions.
Playing in the NFL
Mel Blount was a perfect example of a cornerback for his time. He was a big reason why the Pittsburgh Steelers were so successful in the 1970s. The Steelers picked him in the third round of the 1970 NFL Draft. He had the right size, speed, and quickness for his position. He was also tough and smart, which helped him change his playing style when rules changed.
Blount became a starter for the Steelers in 1972. That season, no player he was guarding scored a touchdown! He was good at playing both zone defense and man-to-man defense. He was known for his strong way of playing. His special move was called the "bump-and-run" pass defense. Because of his size and speed, he could physically control the players he was covering.
Later in his career, the rules about how defenders could cover receivers changed. This new rule made it illegal to be as physical with receivers as Blount had been. This rule became known as the Mel Blount Rule. Mel Blount had 57 interceptions during his career. He returned these interceptions for a total of 736 yards and scored two touchdowns. He caught at least one interception in all 14 of his NFL seasons. In 1975, he led the league with 11 interceptions. Early in his career, he also returned kickoffs. He recovered 13 fumbles from other teams, scoring two touchdowns from them.
In 1975, Mel Blount was named the NFL's most valuable defensive player. He was also named All-Pro multiple times. He played in five Pro Bowl games. In the 1979 AFC Championship Game, his fumble recovery helped the Steelers score the winning touchdown. In Super Bowl XIII, his interception started a drive that led to a touchdown, helping the Steelers win the game.
After His Football Career
After he stopped playing football, Mel Blount continued to work with the NFL. From 1983 to 1990, he was the Director of Player Relations. This meant he helped players with their relationships with the league.
He also started doing a lot of charity work. In 1983, he opened the Mel Blount Youth Home in Georgia. This home provides a safe place and Christian support for young people who have been abused or neglected. In 1989, he opened a second youth home in Pennsylvania.
Mel Blount's Legacy
Mel Blount has received many honors for his amazing career. In 1989, he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He was also inducted into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame that same year. In 1990, he joined the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame. In 2011, he was inducted into the Black College Football Hall of Fame.
In 1994, he was chosen for the NFL's National Football League 75th Anniversary All-Time Team. This team honors the best players from the first 75 years of the NFL. In 1999, he was ranked number 36 on The Sporting News' list of the 100 Greatest Football Players.
Mel Blount has two daughters, Shuntel and Tanisia, and five sons: Norris, Dedrick, Akil, Jibri, and Khalid. Some of his sons also play sports. His son Akil played college football and later signed with the Miami Dolphins. Jibri played college basketball. His youngest son, Khalid Blount, also plays college football.
Today, Mel Blount lives on a large farm in Pennsylvania. This farm includes the location of his former youth home.
