The sad story of Ricky Bell.

September 15, 2013 12:05 AM

We all just scratched our heads and wondered, ‘Where's the Ricky Bell we all know?'" Ricky Bell, former USC Trojan and member of the College Football Hall of Fame, was the number one pick of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 1977 NFL draft, ahead of Tony Dorsett. But his injury-plagued career resulted in only one brilliant season , until he was traded to the San Diego Chargers in 1982. Less than three years later, he was dead.
posted by MoonOrb (7 comments total)

.
posted by leotrotsky at 5:46 AM on September 15, 2013

I was a huge Chargers fan growing up and I remember when Bell came to the team. I assumed (and I think most other folks did too) that he couldn't get playing time because he was stacked behind veteran juggernaut FB Chuck Muncie and up-and-coming HB James Brooks. I never knew about his health problems. (Not to mention that the team was built around the passing game--Fouts, Chandler, Joiner, Winslow.) Great article (first link) about what sounds like a great guy. And sad too, of course. Thanks for the post.

.
posted by Didymium at 6:10 AM on September 15, 2013

Ugh great post. Sad story.
posted by sweetkid at 6:16 AM on September 15, 2013

.
posted by Samizdata at 7:15 AM on September 15, 2013

I remember Rickie Bell more as a Trojan than a pro and now I know why. Thank you for this though it will cast a pall on this afternoon's games.
posted by Ber at 7:24 AM on September 15, 2013

The Chargers are my hometown team but I never got to see Ricky Bell play for them. He died on the date I was due to be born.

.
posted by librarylis at 6:51 PM on September 15, 2013

I used to work with Ricky Bell Jr., super nice guy! His son, RB3 is growing up to be a pretty badass lil basketball player, for being all of maybe 9 or so. Sweet lil dude!
posted by stenseng at 1:53 PM on September 16, 2013 [1 favorite]