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A member of the famed Pittsburgh
Steelers
"Steel Curtain" defense which shut down NFL offenses in the late 1970s.
Panthers Director of Player Development Donnie Shell won four Super
Bowls, was selected to represent the AFC in the Pro Bowl five times, and
retired as the NFL strong safety career leader in interceptions with 51.
He started all 11 straight years for the Steelers and was selected to
the Steelers All-Time Team and to the NFL Silver Anniversary Super Bowl
Team.
Now with the Panthers, Donnie has distinguished himself as a front
office executive. Since 1994 Donnie has coordinated all of the Panthers
player programs including financial education, family assistance, career
internship, and continuing education: all programs designed to help
players succeed following their on-field careers. Indicative of his
efforts, Donnie earned the "Best Player Programs" award in 1998 and 1999
and garnered the "Most Outstanding Player Programs" honor from the NFC
in 2000. In 2002, the NFL Player Development Department created the
Winston / Shell Award in honor of Donnie for being one of the pioneers
in player development and always having one of the most creative
programs in the NFL. This award is presented annually to the club that
has the most creative program.
Donnie joined the Panthers in
January 1994. A 1974 graduate of South
Carolina State University with a bachelor of science degree in physical
education with a minor in biology, Donnie went on to earn his master's
degree in counseling education in 1977. He was elected to the MEAC Hall
of Fame, the South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame and the College
Football Foundation Hall of Fame. In 2001, he also was one of the 15
finalists for induction into the NFL Hall of Fame. Donnie and his wife,
Paulette Richardson Shell, have three children April, Dawn, Donnie. An
avid golfer, Donnie and his family live in Rock Hill, SC. |
