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7. Mel Blount

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7. Mel Blount

If you got past the Steel Curtain, you were not that lucky.  You had Mel Blount to contend with.

Blount played the entirety of his pro career with the Steelers (1970-83), and by the middle of the 70s, he had established himself as one of the premier Cornerbacks in the NFL.  A member of all four of their 70s Super Bowl teams, Blount led the league in Interceptions in 1975 (11) and secured 57 over his career, which is tops among all Steelers.

Blount used his size and strength to overpower receivers.  He did it so well that the five-yard no bump and run rule was put in place for how he impeded his opponents regularly.  Blount remained a dominant Cornerback regardless of the rule change, and he overall was a five-time Pro Bowl and two-time First Team All-Pro, and notably was the AP Defensive Player of the Year in '75.

Blount entered the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1989, and he was also chosen for the 75thand 100thNFL Anniversary Team.  When the Steelers put together their Hall of Honor in 2017, Blount was in the inaugural Class. 

The Bullet Points

  • Position: Cornerback
  • Acquired: Selected in the 3rd Round, 53rd Overall in the NFL Draft 1/27/70.
  • Departed:

    Retired after the 1983 Season.

  • Games Played: 200
  • Notable Statistics:

    189 Games Started
    57 Interceptions
    746 Interception Return Yards
    2 Interception Return Touchdowns
    13 Fumble Recoveries
    105 Fumble Recovery Yards
    2 Fumble Recovery Touchdowns
    .5 Quarterback Sacks*
    1 Punt Return
    52 Punt Return Yards
    36 Kick Returns
    911 Kick Return Yards
    129 Approximate Value

    19 Playoff Games
    4 Interceptions
    59 Interception Return Yards
    2 Fumble Recoveries
    5 Fumble Recovery Yards
    6 Kick Returns
    136 Kick Return Yards

    *Sacks became a stat in 1982 but were unofficially calculated by Pro Football Reference from 1960 to 1981.

  • Major Accolades and Awards:

    Super Bowl Champion (IX, X, XIII & XIV)
    AP Defensive Player of the Year (1975)
    UPI Defensive Player of the Year (1975)
    First Team All-Pro (1975 & 1981)
    Second Team All-Pro (1978 & 1979)
    Pro Bowl (1975, 1976, 1978, 1979 & 1981)
    Most Interceptions (1975)

Last modified on Wednesday, 21 September 2022 21:15

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