Pittsburgh Review

On January 18, 1988, two notable players from the Pittsburgh Steelers, John Stallworth and Donnie Shell, announced their retirement. Both athletes had joined the team in 1974 and shared a successful career spanning 14 seasons.

John Stallworth was selected by the Steelers in the fourth round of the renowned 1974 NFL Draft Class. His achievements earned him a place in the Pro Football Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2002 and he became an inaugural member of the Steelers Hall of Honor. Throughout his career, Stallworth recorded 537 receptions for 8,723 yards and scored 63 touchdowns. He participated in six AFC Championship games and contributed to four Super Bowl victories with the team. Recognized twice as team MVP, he also received All-Pro honors in 1979, All-AFC selections in both 1979 and 1984, and appeared in four Pro Bowls. Notably, Stallworth secured twelve postseason touchdown catches across seventeen consecutive postseason games with at least one reception.

Donnie Shell entered professional football as an undrafted rookie free agent but went on to achieve significant success with five Pro Bowl selections. In recognition of his accomplishments, Shell was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame as part of its Class of 2020 and was also named an inaugural member of the Steelers Hall of Honor. Known for his formidable defensive skills, Shell was part of all four Super Bowl-winning teams during his tenure with Pittsburgh in the '70s. His career concluded with a record-setting fifty-one interceptions for a strong safety along with nineteen fumble recoveries. Impressively consistent throughout his fourteen-season career, Shell recorded at least one interception each year.

Both players leave behind legacies marked by numerous accolades and contributions to their team's storied history.