Todd Bell

Todd Bell

No. 25, 52, 49
Position:	Safety Linebacker
Personal information
Born:	(1958-11-28)November 28, 1958 Dayton, Ohio,U.S.
Died:	March 16, 2005(2005-03-16)(aged 46) Reynoldsburg, Ohio,U.S.
Height:	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight:	207 lb (94 kg)
Career information
High school:	Middletown (Middletown, Ohio)
College:	Ohio St.
NFL draft:	1981/ round: 4 / pick: 95
Career history
Chicago Bears(1981–1984,1986–1987) Philadelphia Eagles(1988–1989)
Career highlights and awards
Second-teamAll-Pro(1984) Pro Bowl(1984) Second-teamAll-American(1980) 2× First-teamAll-Big Ten(1979,1980)
Career NFL statistics
Interceptions: 7 Sacks: 10.0 Fumblerecoveries: 8
Player stats atPFR

Todd Anthony Bell(November 28, 1958 – March 16, 2005) was anAmerican footballsafetyin theNational Football League(NFL) for theChicago Bearsduring the early 1980s.

College

After graduating fromMiddletown High School,inMiddletown, Ohio,Bell was given a scholarship to play forOhio State University.He was a four-year starter atdefensive back,playing as a roverback, a hybrid of the strong safety and linebacker positions. His biggest moment at Ohio State was a game-winning touchdown in his junior year against rivalMichiganon November 17, 1979. After Ohio State linebackerJim Laughlinblocked a punt by Michigan's Brian Virgil, Bell scooped up the football and ran it in 18 yards for a final score of 18–15. Winning the game sent Ohio State to the 1980Rose Bowland gave them a chance at the national championship.

Professional career

Bell was selected in the fourth round of the1981 NFL draftby theChicago Bears.He played with the Bears from 1981 to 1984, earning a Pro Bowl nomination in his fourth year. Bell was known on the team for his hits on opposing team players, and for his off-the-field reputation as a prankster. Bell sat out the entire 1985 season due to a contract dispute with the team – and missed being part of one of the most dominating Super Bowl teams of all time. His replacement,Dave Duerson,also went on to be selected for the Pro Bowl that year.

Bell returned in 1986, but a hamstring injury and the contract dispute still lingered over his tenure with the Bears, and he signed a free agent contract with thePhiladelphia Eaglesin the off-season in 1988. The Eagles converted him from strong safety tolinebacker,and he played two years with the Eagles before he broke his leg in a 27–13 loss to theChicago BearsonMonday Night Footballon October 2, 1989, which prematurely ended his career.

Death

On March 16, 2005, Bell suffered a fatalheart attackwhile driving his car inReynoldsburg, Ohio.

Todd Anthony Bell National Resource Center on the African American Male

In 1997, Bell returned to Ohio State University to accept a position as Coordinator of the Minority Continuing Education Opportunities Program in the Office of Continuing Education, then lodged in University College. There he worked with Dean Mac Stewart to give leadership to outreach with the central Ohio community. He fostered cooperation with local businesses to provide funding for their employees to start or return to college studies at OSU. He also worked with the personnel of local Boys & Girls Clubs to develop joint ventures to improve the environment of the neighborhoods near the central campus. In 2001, he moved to the Office of Minority Affairs where he coordinated a broad range of community-university programs. Notably, on campus he gave initial leadership to the development of the Black Male Initiative to improve the campus environment, academic achievement, and leadership development of African American males at The Ohio State University and he was part of the team that developed the African American Male Resource Center. When Bell died in 2005, the center was renamed toThe Todd Anthony Bell National Resource Center on the African American Maleto honor his work at the university and with African American male students.