Mel Blount
Mel Blount: Hall of Fame cornerback, Steelers legend, and founder of the Mel Blount Youth Home.
via Wikipedia: Mel Blount · see source
Melvin Cornell Blount (born April 10, 1948) is an American former professional football player who was a cornerback for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL) for fourteen seasons. A five-time Pro Bowler, he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1989.
Quick Facts
- Position
- Cornerback
- Born
- 10 April 1948
- Birthplace
- Vidalia, Georgia, U.S.
- Draft year
- 1970
- Draft round
- 3
- Draft pick
- 53
- High school
- Lyons (Lyons, Georgia)
- College
- Southern (1966–1969)
Lore & Background
Blount played college football for the Southern Jaguars. He is considered one of the best cornerbacks to have ever played in the NFL. His physical style of play made him one of the most feared defensive backs in the game at a time when pass interference rules were less stringent. He founded the Mel Blount Youth Home.
Reader's Guide
Blount was a third-round draft choice of the Steelers in 1970. He became a starter in 1972 and did not allow a single touchdown that season. He had 57 interceptions in his career, returning them for 736 yards and two touchdowns. He led the league in interceptions with 11 in 1975. He was named the NFL's most valuable defensive player in 1975 by the Associated Press. He earned All-Pro acclaim in 1975, 1976, 1977, and 1981.
Did You Know?
- Blount was a Pro-Scouts All-American pick as both safety and cornerback at Southern University.
- He recovered 13 opponents' fumbles, two of which he returned for touchdowns.
- His fumble recovery in the 1979 AFC Championship Game led to the Steelers' winning touchdown.
- Blount was named to the NFL's 75th anniversary All-Time team in 1994 and the NFL 100th Anniversary All Time Team in 2019.
More in Legendary Players & Coaches
Elsewhere in Pittsburgh Steelers
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced