Blount played college football for the Southern Jaguars. He is considered one of the best cornerbacks to have ever played in the NFL.[2] His physical style of play made him one of the most feared defensive backs in the game at a time when pass interference rules were less stringent. He founded the Mel Blount Youth Home.
Blount was the prototype cornerback of his era and a significant reason why the Pittsburgh Steelers were the dominant team of the National Football League in the 1970s.[3] A third-round draft choice of the Steelers in 1970, he had the size, speed, and quickness for the position, plus the toughness and mental ability to adjust his coverage tactics and excel despite rule changes that favored receivers.[citation needed]
A Pro-Scouts All-American as both a safety and cornerback at Southern, Blount became a starter in the Steelers secondary beginning in 1972. That season, he did not allow a single touchdown.[citation needed] Blount was equally effective playing either zone or man-to-man defense. Known for his rugged style of play, his specialty was the "bump-and-run" pass defense. Because of his size and speed, he physically overpowered pass receivers.[citation needed]
Midway through his career however, the rules regarding pass coverage were changed making such harassment of a receiver illegal. The rule would come to be named the Mel Blount Rule.[4] Blount had 57 interceptions in his career; he returned them for 736 yards and two touchdowns. He intercepted at least one pass in all 14 NFL seasons and led the league in interceptions with 11 in 1975. Blount also was used as a kickoff returner early in his career. He totaled 36 returns for 911 yards and a 25.3-yard average. He also recovered 13 opponents' fumbles, two of which he returned for touchdowns.
Following his football career, Blount became Director of Player Relations for the NFL, serving in the position from 1983 to 1990. He also became active in charity work. He founded the Mel Blount Youth Home, a shelter and Christian mission for victims of child abuse and neglect in Toombs County, Georgia in 1983. In 1989, he opened a second youth home in Claysville, Pennsylvania, near Pittsburgh. The Mel Blount Youth Home was investigated for the use of corporal punishment in the 1990s.[5]
Blount has two daughters, Shuntel and Tanisia, and five sons: Norris, Dedrick, Akil, Jibri, and Khalid.
His son Akil played college football at Florida A&M and was signed as an undraftedfree agent by the Miami Dolphins.[7]Jibri played college basketball at Cleveland State[8] before transferring to play for North Carolina Central University.[9] His youngest son, Khalid Blount, is a football player who was ranked as a two-star recruit by Rivals before attending Duquesne University.
Blount currently resides in Buffalo Township, on a 303-acre (1.23 km2) farm that includes the site of his former youth home.[10]
^ ab"Hall of Famers: Mel Blount". The Official Site of the Pro FootballHall of Fame. Archived from the original on September 3, 2012. Retrieved September 5, 2012.
