UMES
Alumnus named NFL Head of Football Operations
June 1, 2004
NEW YORK, NY- The University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) has had many players leave the school to
play professionally. Never has it had one named Head of Football Operations for the National Football League
(N.F.L.). That is precisely what has happened, as Art Shell, class of 1968 and Captain of the UMES Athletic Hall of
Fame, was named to his new post last week by the N.F.L.
Shell, a distinguished alumnus and probably the most famous Hawk to come out of UMES, then Maryland State
College, will start his new post immediately and report directly to N.F.L. Commissioner Paul Tagliabue.
The Oakland Raiders drafted shell out of Maryland State College in the third round in 1968. He was the first black
coach of the modern era, coaching the Raiders from 1989-1994. He had a record of 56-41 and led the team to three
play-off berths, including an AFC title game in 1991. He also served as an assistant coach for the Raiders from
1983-1989, the Kansas City Chiefs from 1995-1996, and the Atlanta Falcons from 1997-2000.
For the past two years Shell has served as the appeals officer for player discipline for the N.F.L. Before that post he
represented the league in college relations matters. He replaces John Beake, the former general manager of the
Denver Broncos, who retired after last season. It is a position that was created for the late George Young, the
former General Manager of the New York Giants. In this capacity Shell supervises all NFL football operations
including regular and post season operations, N.F.L. Europe League operations, the NFL's relationship with college
football, and the league's youth football activities. He also serves as a non-voting member of the N.F.L.
Competition Committee and, along with Commissioner Tagliabue, serves on the board of directors for USA
Football, the first national advocacy group created to galvanize, support and promote the sport of amateur football.
"In his playing and coaching career and in the past two years at the league headquarters, Art Shell has demonstrated
the ability to successfully manage a wide range of responsibilities," said Commissioner Tagliabue in announcing the
appointment. "We are pleased to have an executive with his experience and talent in this key position."
As a player in the NFL Shell, 57, played in 207 regular season games and 21 play-off contests not including two
Super Bowls (XI& XV) and eight Pro Bowls. His career lasted 16 NFL seasons where he was named First or
Second Team All-Pro six consecutive times from 1973-78. He was elected to the N.F.L. Hall of Fame in 1989.
In a statement to the New York Times, Shell stated, "This is a job that covers a lot of areas; most of my adult life has
been spent working in the National Football League. I relish this opportunity. It says a lot for African-Americans,
that if you put forth the effort you can get an opportunity like this. I will especially enjoy working with youth
football, to give back to the youth in teaching the game not just to boys but also girls."
In this post Shell joins Harold Henderson, the league's executive vice-president for labor relations and the chairman
on the N.F.L. management council, as the highest-ranking African-American executives in the N.F.L.
As a player at Maryland State, Shell came out of Bonds Wilson High School in Charleston, SC and played four
seasons from 1964-1968. He earned back-to-back All-American honors in 1966 & 1967 and three times All-CIAA
honors. He was elected to the UMES Athletic Hall of Fame in 1984.
This story was referenced from official releases from the N.F.L., New York Times, and
KFMB.com
