Mel Blount Melvin Cornell Blount ( born April 10 , 1948 in Vidalia , Georgia ) is a former Pittsburgh Steelers defensive back and six - time All - Pro . He is considered the greatest ever to play his position in the NFL . 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 than they are now . Early life . The early years of his life were spent in poverty on a Georgia farm . But by college , Blount was a star in baseball , football , basketball , and track . Upon graduation , he was offered a scholarship to Southern University in Baton Rouge , Louisiana . While there , he was a Pro - Scouts All - America n pick as both safety and cornerback . Playing career . Blount was the prototype cornerback of his era and a major reason why the Pittsburgh Steelers were the dominant team of the National Football League in the 1970s . A third - round draft choice of the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1970 , he had the size , speed , and quickness for the position , plus the toughness and his mental ability to adjust his coverage tactics and excel despite rule changes that favored receivers . A Pro - Scouts All - American as both a safety and cornerback at Southern University , Blount became a starter in the Steelers secondary beginning in 1972 . That season , he didn ’ t allow a single touchdown . 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 . 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 . Blount ended his career with 57 interceptions , which he returned 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 . Blount , who was named the NFL ' s most valuable defensive player in 1975 by the Associated Press , earned All - Pro acclaim in 1975 , 1976 , 1977 and 1981 . He also was a four - time All - AFC selection and played in five Pro Bowl s . His fumble recovery in the 1979 AFC Championship Game led to the Steelers ' winning touchdown in a 27 - 13 victory over the Houston Oilers . A season earlier in Super Bowl XIII , Blount ' s interception ignited a Pittsburgh drive that resulted in a go - ahead touchdown in a 35 - 31 victory over the Dallas Cowboys . After playing . 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 his hometown of Vidalia in 1983 . In 1989 , he opened a second youth home in Claysville , Pennsylvania , near Pittsburgh . In 1989 , he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame . He was inducted in the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame in 1990 . In 1994 , he was named to the NFL ' s 75th anniversary All - Time team . In 1999 , he was ranked number 36 on " The Sporting News " ' list of the 100 Greatest Football Players .