:Theo Bell

{{Short description|American football player (1953–2006)}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2023}}

{{Infobox NFL biography

| name = Theo Bell

| image =

| number = 83

| position = Wide receiver

| birth_date = December 21, 1953

| birth_place = Bakersfield, California, U.S.

| death_date = {{death date and age|2006|6|21|1953|12|21}}

| death_place = Tampa, Florida, U.S.

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 0

| weight_lbs = 185

| high_school = Bakersfield

| college = Arizona

| draftyear = 1976

| draftround = 4

| draftpick = 120

| pastteams =

• Pittsburgh Steelers ({{NFL Year|1976}}–{{NFL Year|1980}})
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers ({{NFL Year|1981}}–{{NFL Year|1985}})

| highlights =

• 2× Super Bowl champion (XIII, XIV)
• First-team All-American (1975)

| statlabel1 = Receiving yards

| statvalue1 = 2,375

| statlabel2 = Receptions

| statvalue2 = 136

| statlabel3 = Receiving TDs

| statvalue3 = 8

| statlabel4 = Games played

| statvalue4 = 127

| pfr = B/BellTh00

}}

Theopolis Bell Jr. (December 21, 1953 – June 21, 2006) was an American professional football wide receiver who played nine seasons in the National Football League (NFL) for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Bell, who was born and raised in Bakersfield, California, played college football at the University of Arizona and was selected in the fourth round of the 1976 NFL draft by the Steelers. He was with the Steelers from 1976 to 1980, earning Super Bowl rings in 1979 and 1980. He missed the 1977 season because of an injury. He is the Steelers' second-leading career punt returner, behind Rod Woodson.

Bell spent his first three years as a reserve, rising to a starting role in 1980 due to injuries to both Lynn Swann and John Stallworth. His 25.8 yards-per-catch average led the AFC that year.Zier, Patrick. "Tampa Bay waives Shumann, obtains Bell". The Lakeland Ledger. September 3, 1981 He then held out of training camp the next year, hoping to get a salary increase based on his performance. He was instead waived, and was claimed by the Buccaneers, where he replaced Mike Shumann on the roster.Walston, Charles. "Bell Tickled To Sing Bucs' Tune". St. Petersburg Evening Independent. September 3, 1981 He started 13 of 70 games he appeared in for the Bucs and had 95 catches for 1,470 yards and four touchdowns.{{Cite web |date=June 22, 2006 |title=Former NFL receiver Theo Bell dies |url=https://www.patriots.com/news/former-nfl-receiver-theo-bell-dies-95651?campaign=sf:fanshare:facebook |access-date=July 24, 2020 |website=Patriots.com |language=en-US}}

During Bell's second season with the Steelers, his first wife, Kathy, appeared on Card Sharks and won several games for a total of $23,000 in prize money.

He died in Tampa, Florida at age 52 after suffering from scleroderma and kidney disease.[https://web.archive.org/web/20060703040246/http://media3.steelers.com/article/65404/] Scleroderma is a chronic disease that causes skin thickening and tightening and can cause damage to internal organs.