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| Mel Blount |
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' |
Position(s):
Cornerback |
Jersey #(s):
47 |
Born: April 10, 1948 (1948-04-10) (age 60)
Vidalia, Georgia |
| Career Information |
| Year(s): 1970–1983 |
| NFL Draft: 1970 / Round: 3 / Pick: 53 |
| College: Southern University |
| Professional Teams |
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| Career Stats |
| Interceptions |
57 |
| INT yards |
736 |
| Touchdowns |
2 |
| Stats at NFL.com |
| Career Highlights and Awards |
- 5x Pro Bowl selection (1975, 1976, 1978, 1979, 1981)
- 6x All-Pro selection (1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1981)
- 4x Super Bowl champion (IX, X, XIII, XIV)
- NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team
- NFL 1980s All-Decade Team
- 1975 NFL Defensive Player of the Year
- 1976 Pro Bowl MVP
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| Pro Football Hall of Fame |
Melvin Cornell Blount (born April 10, 1948 in Vidalia, Georgia) was a five-time All Pro-Bowl with the Pittsburgh Steelers and is considered one of the greatest defensive backs to ever play in the NFL. His physical style of play made him one of the most feared defensive backs in the game at a time when the pass interference rule had not been entirely implemented.
[edit] Early life
The early years of his life were spent growing up in poverty on a Georgia farm. But by college, Mel had been a star in baseball, football, basketball, and track. Upon graduation, he was offered a scholarship to Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. While there, he was a Pro-Scouts All-American pick as both safety and cornerback.
[edit] After playing
After his career, Mel became the Director of Player Relations for the NFL serving from 1983 to 1990. He also became very active in charity works. He founded the Mel Blount Youth Home, a shelter and Christian mission for victims of child abuse and neglect, in his hometown of Vidalia in 1983. In 1989, he opened a second youth home in Claysville, Pennsylvania, near Pittsburgh.
Unlike most of his fellow Steeler teammates that are also in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Blount's number 47 has remained in circulation with the team since his retirement and has been reissued several times in the preseason. The number is, however, rarely issued in the regular season, but has been issued a few times since.
[edit] Honors
In 1989, he was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame. He was inducted in the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame in 1990. In 1994, he was named to the NFL's 75th anniversary All-Time team. In 1999, he was ranked number 36 on The Sporting News' list of the 100 Greatest Football Players.
[edit] External links
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