University of Minnesota Athletics
Pro Football Hall of Fame: Bobby Bell
6/27/2016 12:00:00 AM | Football
Minnesota’s seventh and most recent inductee into the Pro Football Hall of Fame will be former Gopher quarterback Tony Dungy, who will be enshrined into the Hall of Fame on Aug. 6, 2016.
Dungy played for the Gophers from 1973-76 and was the team captain in 1976. After his collegiate career, Dungy signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers. In 1978, he intercepted six passes, second-best in the AFC, and helped the Steelers defeat the Dallas Cowboys in Super Bowl XIII. Dungy was the head coach of the Indianapolis Colts from 2002-08 and led the Colts to their first Super Bowl title in 2007.
Leading up to Dungy’s induction, we will take a look back at the former Gophers who have been inducted into the Hall of Fame. We start with Bobby Bell.
Bobby Bell
Recruited by Minnesota as a quarterback, Bobby Bell instead became a two-time All-American tackle.
Winner of the 1962 Outland Award as the nation's top interior lineman, he was also named the Big Ten MVP and finished third in Heisman Trophy voting. Over two seasons, Bell led the Gophers to a 22-6-1 record, including a national championship and a Rose Bowl victory. Bell is one of only five players to ever have his number or jersey retired by Minnesota.
A versatile athlete, Bell was recruited to walk-on to the Gopher basketball team, where he became the program's first African-American player.
Bell was drafted in the second round by the NFL’s Minnesota Vikings, but decided to play instead for the Kansas City Chiefs of the rival AFL, where in 1970, he led his squad past the Vikings to win Super Bowl IV.
As a pro, the Shelby, N.C., native made another transition, this time to linebacker. He played for 13 seasons, earning All-Pro honors in eight consecutive seasons. In 1983 he became the Chiefs’ first inductee into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Named to the AFL’s all-time team in 1969, he was later elected to the College Football Hall of Fame.
Bell inspired football fans and members of the general public when he returned to the university and earned his degree on May 14, 2015, at the age of 74.