Donnie Shell, even with his recent nod into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, perhaps still rates as among the most underrated defensive backs in NFL history. The fact that it took a special centennial anniversary class to get him in says enough.
Undrafted during the historic 1974 draft class for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Shell would play, but wouldn’t be a full-time starter for a few years. Whether he was a starter or sub-package player, however, one thing that remained consistent was Chuck Noll, whom he said “always incorporated life lessons in his coaching”, speaking with Arthur Moats on his podcast.