New rules
Aug 8, 2015; Canton, OH, USA; Mel Blount during the 2015 Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinement at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Off of the field, Steelers Hall of Fame cornerback Mel Blount is a good man. He founded the Mel Blount Youth Home in his hometown in Georgia and another one outside of Pittsburgh, giving shelter for victims of child abuse.
On the field, however, Mel Blount was a bad man. I mean that in the best possible way, because he was a Steeler and didn’t play for another team. Blount was a gifted defensive back that could cover man-to-man or zone and still not allow a touchdown and/or knock the crap out of his opponent.
Long before anyone was on Revis Island or covered by Richard Sherman there was Mel Blount knocking the crap out of guys. He most likely resembles the hard-hitting safeties of today. The Steelers drafted Blount in the third round of the 1970 NFL Draft out of Southern University. He became a starter in 1972 and didn’t allow a single touchdown that season.
His violent bump and run pass defense actually sparked a rule change by the NFL, not allowing defensive backs to interfere with receivers beyond five yards of the line of scrimmage. The rule is still referred to as the “Mel Blount” rule.
Blount retired after the 1983 season with 57 career interceptions; intercepting at least one pass in each of the fourteen seasons he played in the NFL.
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