Mel Blount facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Mel Blount

Blount in 2010
No. 47
Position:	Cornerback
Personal information
Born:	(1948-04-10) April 10, 1948 (age 77) Vidalia, Georgia, U.S.
Height:	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight:	205 lb (93 kg)
Career information
High school:	Lyons (Lyons, Georgia)
College:	Southern (1966–1969)
NFL Draft:	1970 / Round: 3 / Pick: 53
Career history
Pittsburgh Steelers (1970)
Career highlights and awards
4× Super Bowl champion (IX, X, XIII, XIV) NFL Defensive Player of the Year (1975) 2× First-team All-Pro (1975, 1981) 4× Second-team All-Pro (1976–1979) 5× Pro Bowl (1975, 1976, 1978, 1979, 1981) NFL interceptions leader (1975) NFL 1980s All-Decade Team NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team Pittsburgh Steelers All-Time Team Pittsburgh Steelers Hall of Honor Pittsburgh Pro Football Hall of Fame Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame
Career NFL statistics
Interceptions: 57 Interception yards: 736 Touchdowns: 2
Player stats at PFR
Pro Football Hall of Fame

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. 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 Mel Blount is one of the best cornerbacks ever in the NFL. He was known for his strong and physical way of playing. This made him a very tough defensive player. He also started the Mel Blount Youth Home.

Early Life and College Years

Mel Blount was born in Toombs County, Georgia. He grew up on a farm and faced many challenges. In high school, he was a star athlete. He excelled in baseball, football, basketball, and track.

After high school, Mel received a scholarship to Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. While at Southern, he was recognized as an All-American player. He was great at both safety and cornerback.

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.

Mel became a starting player for the Steelers in 1972. That season, no player scored a touchdown against him. He was good at both zone defense and one-on-one coverage. He was famous for his "bump-and-run" defense. This meant he would physically challenge receivers at the start of a play.

Later in his career, the rules about how defenders could cover receivers changed. These new rules made it harder for players like Blount to play so physically. This rule change was even named the Mel Blount Rule because of his strong playing style.

Mel Blount had 57 interceptions during his career. He returned these interceptions for a total of 736 yards and 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.

In 1975, Mel Blount was named the NFL's most valuable defensive player. He was also chosen as an All-Pro player in 1975, 1976, 1977, and 1981. He played in five Pro Bowl games. In the 1979 AFC Championship Game, his fumble recovery helped the Steelers win. He also had an interception in Super Bowl XIII that led to a touchdown for Pittsburgh.

After Football

After his football career, Mel Blount worked for the NFL. He was the Director of Player Relations from 1983 to 1990. He also started doing a lot of charity work.

In 1983, he founded the Mel Blount Youth Home in Toombs County, Georgia. This home provides shelter and support for young people. In 1989, he opened a second youth home near Pittsburgh, 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 named to 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 became athletes. His son Akil played college football and later for the Miami Dolphins. Jibri played college basketball. His youngest son, Khalid Blount, also played college football.

Mel Blount currently lives on a large farm in Pennsylvania.