Steelers Throwback Thursdays: Mel Blount Retires
Before the NFL officially gears up for the 2021-22 season, Steel City Underground will be taking fans back in time to feature events, special moments, and historical times in the world of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Steelers Nation. Join us as we revisit these moments in our “Throwback Thursdays”.
On March 15, 1984, Mel Blount retires from football after 14 seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Playing from 1970-1983, Blount was a four-time Super Bowl champion, five-time Pro Bowler, a two-time first-team All-Pro, four-time second-team All-Pro, and NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 1975.
During that 1975 season, Blount was also the AFC Defensive Player of the year as well as the NFL interceptions leader.
Mel Blount was born in Vidalia, Georgia where he spent his early years on a Georgia farm. He attended Lyons High School (in Lyons, Georgia) where he was a track, baseball, basketball, and football star.
He then went onto play college football at Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana after receiving a scholarship. At Southern University, Pro Scouts picked him to be All-American as both a cornerback and safety.
The Pittsburgh Steelers drafted Mel Blount in the 1970 draft in the 3rd round as the 53rd overall pick after drafting Terry Bradshaw with the No. 1 overall pick. The Steelers had gone 1-13 the previous season to obtain the No. 1 overall pick, setting them up for the beginning of a franchise-altering decade.
Blount started all 14 seasons and was a huge reason the Steelers went from one win to five and six the next two seasons before breaking through and making the playoffs and winning Super Bowls.
Mel Blount is tied for 13th on the All-Time NFL interceptions leader list with 57 total interceptions.
A large amount of those interceptions came in 1975 where he brought down 11 that season (in 14 games), three away from the NFL record of 14 interceptions in a single season. He ran for 736 yards after intercepting the ball and scored two touchdowns with a long of 52 yards, and also racked up 13 fumbled recoveries and two more touchdowns from fumble recoveries.
There was also a rule named after him, since called the “Mel Blount Rule”. Officially known as illegal contact downfield, Mel was known for his frequent physical play while covering receivers downfield. Defensive backs can only make contact within five yards of the line of scrimmage due to Blount’s physical nature, which the rule was enacted in 1978.
After retiring as a player in the NFL, Blount became the Director of Player Relations for the NFL from 1983 to 1990. He also founded the Mel Blount Youth Home and is active with charity work.
