William Stephen Bell (December 9, 1947 – June 25, 2022) was an American football placekicker who played two seasons in the National Football League (NFL) with the Atlanta Falcons and three games with the New England Patriots. He was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the 17th round of the 1970 NFL draft. He played college football at the University of Kansas and attended Falls Church High School in West Falls Church, Virginia.[1]
 Bell in 1972 | |
| No. 37, 8 | |
|---|---|
| Position: | Placekicker |
| Personal information | |
| Born: | December 9, 1947 Fort Knox, Kentucky, USA |
| Died: | June 25, 2022 (aged 74) |
| Height: | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) |
| Weight: | 192 lb (87 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school: | Falls Church (VA) |
| College: | Kansas |
| NFL draft: | 1970 / round: 17 / pick: 428 |
| Career history | |
| Stats at Pro Football Reference | |
Bell wore jersey number 100 in 1969 while playing for the Kansas Jayhawks as part of the celebration of the 100th anniversary of college football; he is one of only two players to wear a number higher than 99 in an officially sanctioned football game (Chuck Kinder, who wore the number 100 in 1963, is the other).[2]
As of 2004, Bell was serving as Director of Buildings and Grounds in Douglas County, Kansas, a position he had held since 1988.[3] Bell died on June 25, 2022.[4]
References
edit- ^ "BILL BELL". profootballarchives.com. Archived from the original on April 18, 2015. Retrieved April 18, 2015.
- ^ Stallard, Mark (2004). Tales from the Jayhawk Gridiron. Sports Publishing. The anecdote featuring Bell's number 100, with a picture of Bell's number 100 jersey and straight-toe kicking shoe, can be found on pages 94–96.
- ^ Fagan, Mark (September 20, 2004). Go-To Guy. Lawrence Journal-World. Retrieved May 4, 2015.
- ^ "William "Bill" Stephen Bell – Warren McElwain Mortuary".