Bobby Bell
{{Short description|American football player (born 1940)}}
{{About|the American football linebacker and defensive end|the defensive lineman|Bob Bell (American football)|his son|Bobby Bell (linebacker, born 1962)|other people named Bobby Bell|Bobby Bell (disambiguation)}}
{{Use American English|date=October 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2023}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Bobby Bell
| image = Bobby Bell 2014 (cropped).JPG
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption = Bell in 2014
| number = 78
| position = Linebacker
Defensive end
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1940|6|17}}
| birth_place = Shelby, North Carolina, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 4
| weight_lb = 228
| high_school = Cleveland (Shelby)
| college = Minnesota (1960–1962)
| draftyear = 1963
| draftround = 2
| draftpick = 16
| afldraftyear = 1963
| afldraftround = 7
| afldraftpick = 56
| pastteams =
- Kansas City Chiefs (1963–{{NFL Year|1974}})
| highlights =
- Super Bowl champion (IV)
- AFL champion (1966)
- First-team All-Pro (1970)
- 5× First-team All-AFL (1965–1969)
- Second-team All-Pro (1971)
- Second-team All-AFL (1964)
- 3× Pro Bowl (1970–1972)
- 6× AFL All-Star (1964–1969)
- NFL 1970s All-Decade Team
- NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team
- AFL All-Time Team
- Kansas City Chiefs Hall of Fame
- Kansas City Chiefs No. 78 retired
- National champion (1960)
- Outland Trophy (1962)
- UPI Lineman of the Year (1962)
- Unanimous All-American (1962)
- First-team All-American (1961)
- 2× First-team All-Big Ten (1961, 1962)
- Minnesota Golden Gophers Jersey No. 78 retired
- North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame
| statleague = AFL/NFL
| statlabel1 = Sacks
| statvalue1 = 40
| statlabel2 = Interceptions
| statvalue2 = 26
| statlabel3 = Interception yards
| statvalue3 = 479
| statlabel4 = Fumble recoveries
| statvalue4 = 9
| statlabel5 = Defensive touchdowns
| statvalue5 = 8
| pfr = B/BellBo00
| HOF = bobby-bell
| CollegeHOF = 1890
}}
Bobby Lee Bell Sr. (born June 17, 1940) is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker and defensive end for the Kansas City Chiefs of the American Football League (AFL) and the National Football League (NFL). He is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, College Football Hall of Fame, NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team, and played on the Chiefs' team that won Super Bowl IV. Paul Zimmerman described him as the first, and prototype, size and speed linebacker.
Early life
Bell was born on June 17, 1940, in the segregated city of Shelby, North Carolina.{{Cite web |last=Star |first=Vahe Gregorian The Kansas City |date=2021-09-10 |title=COLUMN {{!}} Chiefs great Bobby Bell a monument to change |url=https://themercury.com/townnews/building_industry/column-chiefs-great-bobby-bell-a-monument-to-change/article_71376e9d-7917-5d98-ac9c-80fca4bcdf3a.html |access-date=2024-11-01 |website=The Mercury |language=en}} When he was six years old, he was asleep in the family home, owned by the textile mill employing his father, when it caught fire. His mother, Zannie Lee Bell, broke free from those trying to restrain her from going into the collapsing building, where she crawled on the floor to his bedroom and pulled him out to safety. Bell had a scar on his head from this incident the rest of his life. Bell's father, Pink Lee Bell, worked in various jobs at the town's textile mill.
Bell excelled in several sports at a then-segregated Cleveland High School in Shelby, where he was coached by John Weston in football.{{Cite web |title=Bobby Bell |publisher=Pro Football Hall of Fame |url=https://www.profootballhof.com/players/bobby-bell/ |access-date=2024-11-01 |language=en}} He was scouted by the Chicago White Sox for baseball at 16 years old, but his father wanted him to finish school. In his first two years of high school, he played six-man football, playing under center at the position of halfback. During his junior year, his school converted to playing as an 11-man football team, where Bell played quarterback. He would receive All-State honors in football at both halfback and quarterback.{{Cite web |title=Gold Jacket Spotlight: Bobby Bell Could Play Any Position |publisher=Pro Football Hall of Fame |url=https://www.profootballhof.com/news/2021/05/gold-jacket-spotlight-bobby-bell-could-play-any-position/ |access-date=2024-11-01 |language=en}}
College career
Coach Jim Tatum of the University of North Carolina was interested in Bell to play football, but the school was segregated. Tatum contacted coach Murray Warmath at the University of Minnesota, where Warmath had been recruiting black players. Tatum recommended Bell, and Bell went to Minnesota. At Minnesota, it was the first time he shared a classroom or dining table with whites. Bell was originally a quarterback, but Warmath switched him to the defensive line. Bell would also play offensive tackle and center. Warmath said of Bell, "'He would have been a standout at any position; he was of maximum value to us at tackle.'"{{Cite web |title=Bobby Bell |publisher=College Football Hall of Fame |url=https://www.cfbhall.com/inductees/bobby-bell-1991#:~:text=Robert%20Lee%20Bell%2C%20Jr.%20was%20a%20Tackle%20for,into%20College%20Football%20Hall%20of%20Fame%20in%201991}}
He was a two-time first team All-American (1961 and 1962) and the winner of the 1962 Outland Trophy, which is given to the nation's most outstanding interior lineman. In 1962, he was also named Lineman of the Year by the United Press and the Columbus Touchdown Club as well as Player of the Year by Coach & Athlete Magazine. He also finished third in Heisman Trophy voting.
The Gophers with Bell had a record of 22-6-1, were the 1960 National Champions, played in the 1961 Rose Bowl, and won the 1962 Rose Bowl. In 1991, Bell was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.
Bell was offered the key to the city of Shelby in 1962, after all his success, but asked instead if he could walk into the front door of the ice cream parlor across the street to get an ice-cream cone. Shelby was still a segregated city, and he was refused.
Bell joined Minnesota's basketball team as a walk-on, becoming its first black player.
He joined Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, via the Mu Chapter, while at the University of Minnesota.{{Cite web |last=Craige |first=Brent |date=2022-04-20 |title=Pro Football Hall Of Famer Bobby Bell Is A Member Of Alpha Phi Alpha |url=https://www.watchtheyard.com/alphas/pro-football-hall-of-famer-bobby-bell-is-a-member-of-alpha-phi-alpha/ |access-date=2024-11-01 |website=Watch The Yard |language=en-US}} Bell left Minnesota 13 credits short of a degree, to play for the Chiefs. At the age of 74, he completed his college degree at Minnesota by finishing the three remaining courses he required. He graduated on May 14, 2015, some 50 years after leaving college to play professional football. He did it to honor his father, who believed that blacks could compete equally with whites in sports and education if given a chance. Before going to Minnesota, Pink Lee Bell had given his son a gold watch, so he would never be late for class.{{Cite news |last=Pogash |first=Carol |date=December 19, 2014 |title=A Champion at 20. A Graduate at 74 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/20/sports/football/bobby-lee-bell-an-nfl-star-honors-his-father-by-accomplishing-one-more-goal.html |work=The New York Times}} Bell wore that watch 55 years later during his graduation ceremony.
Professional football career
Bell was selected by the Minnesota Vikings of the NFL in the second round (16th overall), and in the seventh round of the AFL draft by the Kansas City Chiefs. He surprisingly chose to join the Chiefs, where he would go on to play for 12 years, first in the American Football League from 1963 through 1969, and then in the NFL from 1970 through 1974. He met with Chiefs owner Lamar Hunt over ice cream on Minnesota's campus, and they agreed to a no-cut guaranteed contract, something the Vikings would not do; in addition to agreeing to a longer term of years than the Vikings offered.
In 1964, Bell was All AFL as a defensive end, but in 1965, future Pro Football Hall of Fame coach Hank Stram moved Bell to outside linebacker. Bell was then All AFL or All NFL as a linebacker every year from 1965 to 1971. Bell was an AFL All-Star for six consecutive years, 1964 through 1969, and then an NFL Pro Bowler for four straight years (1970, 1971, 1972, 1973). He was AFL Defensive Player of the Year in 1969.{{Cite web |title=Bobby Bell – Missouri Sports Hall of Fame |url=https://mosportshalloffame.com/inductees/bobby-bell/ |access-date=2024-11-01 |language=en-US}} Bell never missed a regular season game, playing in 168 during his professional career.
Bell was one of the first black outside linebackers in professional football.{{Cite news |last=Taylor |first=Nate |date=July 21, 2021 |title=NFL 100: At No. 74, Bobby Bell blended rare athleticism, smarts as Chiefs’ superstar linebacker |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/2710350/2021/07/21/nfl-100-at-no-74-bobby-bell-blended-rare-athleticism-smarts-as-chiefs-superstar-linebacker/ |access-date=2024-11-01 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}} The 1965 AFL all star game was moved from New Orleans to Houston because the black and white players would not have been allowed to dine together in the same New Orleans restaurant.
He was on two AFL Championship teams (1966 and 1969) and a World Championship team, losing Super Bowl I and winning Super Bowl IV.{{Cite web |title=Kansas City Chiefs Team Records, Leaders, and League Ranks |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/kan/index.htm |access-date=2024-11-01 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}} He was named to the first team All-Time All-AFL Team in 1970, along with teammates Jerry Mays, future hall of famer Johnny Robinson, Fred Arbanas, Ed Budde, Jim Tyrer, Paul Lowe and Jerrel Wilson on the first team, and future hall of famers Buck Buchanan and Len Dawson on the second team.{{Cite web |title=American Football League All-time Team |url=http://remembertheafl.com/AFLAllTimeTeam.htm |access-date=2024-11-01 |website=remembertheafl.com}}{{Cite web |last=Tobias |first=Todd |title=>The AFL All-Time Second Team |url=https://talesfromtheamericanfootballleague.com/the-afl-all-time-second-team/ |access-date=2024-11-01 |website=Tales from the AFL |language=en-US}} He was inducted into the Chiefs Hall of Fame in 1980, and the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1983, the first Chief to receive that honor. He was selected to the NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team, which also included teammates Buck Buchanan, Willie Lanier (who would become a lifelong friend), and Jan Stenerud.{{Cite web |title=NFL 100 |url=https://www.nfl.com/100/all-time-team/roster |access-date=2024-11-01 |publisher=NFL |language=en-US}} In 1999, he was ranked number 66 on The Sporting News' list of the 100 Greatest Football Players, one above teammate Buck Buchanan.{{Cite web |title=The Sporting News 100 Greatest Players of All-Time (1999) |url=https://futurefootballlegends.com/Sporting_News_100/ |access-date=2024-11-01 |website=Future Football Legends}} He was number 74 on the Athletic{{'}}s 2021 list of the best 100 football players of all time.
The Chiefs retired his uniform number 78.{{Cite web |last=Goldsmith |first=Reid |date=2020-07-28 |title=Kansas City Chiefs Retired Numbers |url=https://clutchpoints.com/kansas-city-chiefs-retired-numbers |access-date=2024-11-01 |website=ClutchPoints {{!}} NFL News |language=en}} A total of six defensive players on the Chiefs Super Bowl IV championship team were selected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame (Bell, Buchanan, Curly Culp, Willie Lanier, Emmitt Thomas and Johnny Robinson).{{Cite web |last=Verderame |first=Matt |date=2015-02-09 |title=The '69 Chiefs: A defense for the ages |url=https://www.arrowheadpride.com/2015/2/9/7871727/1969-kansas-city-chiefs-defense-super-bowl-history |access-date=2024-11-01 |website=Arrowhead Pride |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Johnny Robinson |publisher=Pro Football Hall of Fame |url=https://www.profootballhof.com/players/johnny-robinson/ |access-date=2024-11-01 |language=en}} Quarterback Len Dawson and kicker Jan Stenerud from that team are also in the hall of fame.{{Cite web |title=Len Dawson |publisher=Pro Football Hall of Fame |url=https://www.profootballhof.com/players/len-dawson/ |access-date=2024-11-01 |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Jan Stenerud |publisher=Pro Football Hall of Fame |url=https://www.profootballhof.com/players/jan-stenerud/ |access-date=2024-11-01 |language=en}} He played alongside hall of fame middle linebacker Willie Lanier,{{Cite web |last=Doerschuk |first=Steve |title=Nitschke and Robinson were close friends, teammates |url=https://www.cantonrep.com/story/sports/pro/pro-football-hof/2013/07/31/nitschke-robinson-were-close-friends/42239159007/ |access-date=2024-11-01 |website=Canton Repository |language=en-US}} and was part of one of the all-time linebacker trios with Lanier and Jim Lynch.{{Cite web |last=Tobias |first=Todd |title=Top 10 Linebacking Corps: #4 Hank Stram's Chiefs |url=https://talesfromtheamericanfootballleague.com/top-10-linebacking-corps-4-hank-strams-chiefs/ |access-date=2024-11-02 |website=Tales from the AFL |language=en-US}} He was inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in 1995, and named one of its Legends in 2006.
One of Bell's finest moments came in the 1969 AFL divisional playoff game against the New York Jets. In a critical goal line stand, his key coverage on Jets running back Matt Snell stopped the drive and forced New York to kick a field goal. Jets quarterback Joe Namath was stunned Bell was in coverage and said it would have otherwise been a touchdown and Jets victory . The 13–6 victory over the Jets propelled Kansas City to its first Super Bowl triumph. During a regular-season game against Denver (11/27), the Broncos, trailing 24–17 late in the game, attempted an onside kick that was recovered by Bell, who promptly returned that kick for a 53-yard touchdown.[http://www.kcchiefs.com/history/60s/ Chiefs History: 1960's] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070124191953/http://www.kcchiefs.com/history/60s/ |date=January 24, 2007 }} KCChiefs.com, retrieved January 1, 2007.
Bell was noted for his one-of-a-kind athleticism. At 6' 4" and 220 or 230 pounds, with a 28-inch waist and pyramid-like build, he was also reported to have run a 4.4 or 4.5 40-yard dash. Some consider Bell the greatest all-around athlete to have played football. Bell was possibly the most physically gifted linebacker in professional football history, for his speed at such a size made him ideal at outside linebacker.{{citation needed|date=February 2020}} He was noted as one of the finest open-field tacklers in professional football history. He has been called the first great "size and speed" linebacker and the "prototype speed linebacker". He had been a lineman, but was moved to outside linebacker for his speed to combat the Oakland Raiders' use of running back Clem Daniels as a pass receiver out of the backfield.{{Cite journal |last=Zimmerman |first=Paul |date=September 4, 1985 |title=The Best Athletes on the Field |url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1985/09/04/the-best-athletes-on-the-field |journal=Sports Illustrated}}
He was also a great blitzer from the linebacker position. Bell played left side linebacker in Stram's "stack defense". Chiefs records show Bell had 40 career quarterback sacks{{Cite web |title=Bobby Bell Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BellBo00.htm |access-date=2024-11-01 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}} and he might have had more if he had played right linebacker, not the left linebacker. In that era, more often than not the right-side linebacker got the call to "dog" or blitz since more often than not the tight end would be lined up right, on the defense's left. {{citation needed|date=November 2024}} Bell scored 9 touchdowns in his career: 6 off interceptions (tied for most in NFL history for a linebacker with Derrick Brooks),{{cite web|last=Mayer|first=Larry|url=http://www.chicagobears.com/news/article-1/Briggs-adjusting-to-new-role-as-defensive-play-caller/18851b86-4124-459f-bede-5b2b9a54ca09|title=Briggs adjusting to new role as defensive play-caller|publisher=Chicago Bears|date=July 26, 2013|access-date=July 26, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130730074403/http://www.chicagobears.com/news/article-1/Briggs-adjusting-to-new-role-as-defensive-play-caller/18851b86-4124-459f-bede-5b2b9a54ca09|archive-date=July 30, 2013|url-status=dead}} 2 more touchdowns off fumble recoveries, and one off an onside kickoff return. In his hall of fame induction speech for Bell, coach Stram described Bell as the only player who could play any position on a winning football team. Stram said that, "He could play all 22 positions on the field, and play them well."{{Cite web |title=Kansas City Chiefs: Top 10 NFL Draft Picks of All-Time |url=https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/kansas-city-chiefs-top-10-nfl-draft-picks-of-all-time |access-date=2024-11-01 |publisher=Fox Sports |language=en-US}} In addition to all that, Bell had been a center in college and played long snapper for the Chiefs. He was regarded as one of the greatest long snapper centers for field goals and points-after-touchdowns in NCAA and AFL/NFL history.{{citation needed|date=February 2020}}
AFL/NFL career statistics
| class="wikitable"
! colspan="2"| Legend |
| style="background:#00ffff; width:3em;"| |
| style="background:#afe6ba; width:3em;"|
| Won the Super Bowl |
| style="background:#cfecec; width:3em;"|
| Led the league |
| style="width:3em;"| Bold
| Career high |
=Regular season=
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" | ||||||||||||
| rowspan="2"| Year
! rowspan="2"| Team ! colspan="2"| Games ! rowspan="2"| {{abbr|Sck|Sacks}} ! colspan="5"| Interceptions ! colspan="4"| Fumbles | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| {{abbr|GP|Games played}} | {{abbr|GS|Games started}} | {{abbr|Int|Interceptions on defense}} | {{abbr|Yds|Interception returns yardage}} | {{abbr|Y/I|Yards per interception return}} | {{abbr|Lng|Longest interception return}} | {{abbr|TD|Interceptions returned for touchdowns}} | {{abbr|FR|Fumbles recovered}} | {{abbr|Yds|Fumble recovery returns yardage}} | {{abbr|Y/F|Yards per fumble recovery return}} | {{abbr|TD|Fumble recoveries returned for touchdowns}} | ||
| 1963 | KC
| 14 || 11 || 4.5 || 1 || 20 || 20.0 || 20 || 0 || 0 || 0 || — || 0 | |||||||||||
| 1964 | KC
| 14 || 14 || 7.5 || 1 || 4 || 4.0 || 4 || 0 || 0 || 0 || — || style="background:#cfecec;"| 1 | |||||||||||
| 1965 | KC
| 14 || 14 || 7.0 || 4 || 73 || 18.3 || 38 || 1 || 0 || 0 || — || 0 | |||||||||||
| 1966 | KC
| 14 || 14 || 2.5 || 2 || 14 || 7.0 || 13 || 0 || 0 || 0 || — || style="background:#cfecec;"| 1 | |||||||||||
| 1967 | KC
| 14 || 12 || 3.5 || 4 || 82 || 20.5 || 32 || 1 || 2 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 | |||||||||||
| 1968 | KC
| 14 || 14 || 2.5 || 5 || 95 || 19.0 || 50 || 0 || 2 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 | |||||||||||
| style="background:#00ffff; width:3em;"|1969 | style="background:#afe6ba;"|KC
| 14 || 14 || 5.0 || 0 || 0 || — || 0 || 0 || 3 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 | |||||||||||
| 1970 | KC
| 14 || 14 || 2.0 || 3 || 57 || 19.0 || 45 || 1 || 1 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 | |||||||||||
| 1971 | KC
| 14 || 14 || 1.5 || 1 || 26 || 26.0 || 26 || 1 || 0 || 0 || — || 0 | |||||||||||
| 1972 | KC
| 14 || 14 || 3.5 || 3 || 56 || 18.7 || 61 || 1 || 1 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 | |||||||||||
| 1973 | KC
| 14 || 14 || 0.5 || 1 || 24 || 24.0 || 24 || 0 || 0 || 0 || — || 0 | |||||||||||
| 1974 | KC
| 14 || 10 || 0.0 || 1 || 28 || 28.0 || 28 || 1 || 0 || 0 || — || 0 | |||||||||||
| colspan="2"| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BellBo00.htm Career] | 168 | 159 | 40.0 | 26 | 479 | 18.4 | 61 | 6 | 9 | 0 | 0.0 | 2 |
=Postseason=
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" | |||
| rowspan="2"| Year
! rowspan="2"| Team ! colspan="2"| Games ! rowspan="2"| {{abbr|Sck|Sacks}} | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| {{abbr|GP|Games played}} | {{abbr|GS|Games started}} | ||
| 1966 | KC
| 2 || 2 || 1.5 | ||
| 1968 | KC
| 1 || 1 || 0.0 | ||
| 1969 | style="background:#afe6ba;"|KC
| 3 || 3 || 1.0 | ||
| 1971 | KC
| 1 || 1 || 0.0 | ||
| colspan="2"| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BellBo00/gamelog/post/ Career] | 7 | 7 | 2.5 |
After football
After his retirement, he opened Bobby Bell's Bar-b-que in Kansas City, Missouri, which he operated for nearly thirty years. He was a motivational speaker for many years.
On August 22, 2016, The Tournament of Roses announced Bobby Bell, Ricky Ervins, Tommy Prothro, and Art Spander would be inducted into the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame as the Class of 2016.{{Cite web |title=Bobby Bell (2016) - Rose Bowl Hall of Fame |url=https://rosebowlgame.com/honors/rose-bowl-hall-of-fame/bobby-bell/118 |access-date=2024-11-01 |publisher=Tournament of Roses - Rose Bowl Game |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Rose Bowl Hall of Fame |url=https://rosebowlgame.com/honors/rose-bowl-hall-of-fame?type=class_induction |access-date=2024-11-01 |publisher=Tournament of Roses - Rose Bowl Game |language=en}} The Rose Bowl Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony then took place on January 1, 2017, outside the Rose Bowl Stadium, one day before the kickoff of the 103rd Rose Bowl game on Monday, January 2, 2017.{{Cite web |title=Bobby Bell Will Be Inducted Into Rose Bowl Hall of Fame This Weekend |url=https://www.chiefs.com/news/bobby-bell-will-be-inducted-into-rose-bowl-hall-of-fame-this-weekend-18360524 |access-date=2024-11-01 |publisher=Kansas City Chiefs |language=en-US}}
There is an historical marker for Bell in Shelby.{{Cite web |title=Bobby Bell Historical Marker |url=https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=199338 |access-date=2024-11-01 |website=hmdb.org |language=en}} On August 28, 2021, there was a Bobby Bell Day in Shelby, that included unveiling a sign for Bobby Bell Boulevard, dedicating a muraled wall of a building with his images, and renaming the City Pavilion the Bobby Bell Pavilion.
The Bobby Bell Award is presented annually as part of the Thomas A. Simone Annual Memorial Football Awards to a high school player in the greater Kansas City, Missouri area for outstanding small class defensive lineman/linebacker.{{Cite web |title=Simone Memorial Awards |url=https://www.neccoraiders73.com/simoneawards |access-date=2024-12-13 |website=Necco Raiders Youth Football & Cheerleading |language=en-us}}
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Commons}}
- Pro Football Hall of Fame: [http://www.profootballhof.com/hof/member.jsp?player_id=24 Member profile]
- {{College Football HoF|1890}}
{{Navboxes
| title = Bobby Bell—awards, championships, and honors
| list1 =
{{Outland Trophy}}
{{UPI Lineman of the Year}}
{{1960 Minnesota Golden Gophers football navbox}}
{{1962 College Football Consensus All-Americans}}
{{Vikings1963DraftPicks}}
{{Chiefs1963DraftPicks}}
{{1966 Kansas City Chiefs}}
{{Super Bowl IV}}
{{AFL1960s}}
{{NFL1970s}}
{{NFL100}}
{{Kansas City Chiefs}}
{{Chiefs Retired Numbers}}
{{Kansas City Chiefs Hall of Fame}}
{{1983 Football HOF}}
{{Pro Football Hall of Fame members}}
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bell, Bobby}}
Category:All-American college football players
Category:American football defensive ends
Category:American football linebackers
Category:Minnesota Golden Gophers football players
Category:American Football League All-Star players
Category:American Football League All-Time Team
Category:Kansas City Chiefs players
Category:American Conference Pro Bowl players
Category:College Football Hall of Fame inductees
Category:Pro Football Hall of Fame inductees
Category:NFL players with retired numbers
Category:Sportspeople from Shelby, North Carolina