LeGarrette Blount and Mel Blount are both former NFL players who share the same last name and played the same position of running back. But are they related by blood or just by coincidence? This article will explore the truth behind the rumor that they are cousins or distant relatives.
Who is LeGarrette Blount?
LeGarrette Blount is a retired NFL running back who played for nine seasons with six different teams. He is best known for his four nonconsecutive seasons with the New England Patriots, where he won two Super Bowl titles and led the league in rushing touchdowns in 2016. He also won another Super Bowl title with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2017, making him one of six players to have consecutive Super Bowl titles for different franchises. He scored 11 playoff rushing touchdowns, which are tied for the sixth-most in NFL history.
Blount was born on December 5, 1986, in Madison, Florida. He attended Taylor County High School, where he was a two-sport star in football and track and field. He played college football at the University of Oregon after transferring from East Mississippi Community College. He was not selected in the 2010 NFL Draft, but signed as an undrafted free agent with the Tennessee Titans. He also played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Detroit Lions before retiring in 2019. Beginning in 2023, Blount began working for the Patriots under the Bill Walsh coaching fellowship program.
Who is Mel Blount?
Mel Blount is a Hall of Fame NFL cornerback who played for 14 seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He is considered one of the best cornerbacks to have ever played in the NFL and one of the most feared defensive backs in the game. He won four Super Bowl titles with the Steelers and was named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 1975. He also led the league in interceptions in 1975 and made five Pro Bowls. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1989 and was named to the NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team, NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team, and Pittsburgh Steelers All-Time Team.
Blount was born on April 10, 1948, in Vidalia, Georgia. He grew up in poverty on a Georgia farm and attended Lyons High School, where he excelled in baseball, football, basketball, and track and field. He played college football at Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where he was a Pro-Scouts All-American as both a safety and cornerback. He was drafted by the Steelers in the third round of the 1970 NFL Draft and became a starter in their secondary in 1972. He was known for his physical style of play and his specialty of “bump-and-run” pass defense. His dominance led to a rule change that made such harassment of a receiver illegal, which became known as the Mel Blount Rule.
Are They Related?
Despite their similarities in name, position, and success, LeGarrette Blount and Mel Blount are not related by blood or by marriage. They are not cousins or distant relatives, as some fans might assume or speculate. According to aboutnetworth.org, there is no connection between them.They are simply two players who happen to share a common surname.
However, there is some confusion about this issue because some sources claim that they are cousins or have some family ties. For example, sportsmanist.com states that LeGarrette Blount is a cousin of Mel Blount, but does not provide any evidence or citation to support this claim. This could be a case of misinformation or miscommunication that has spread online without verification.
The bottom line is that there is no official or reliable source that confirms that LeGarrette Blount and Mel Blount are related in any way. They are both great players who have made their mark on NFL history, but they are not family members.
Conclusion
Is LeGarrette Blount related to Mel Blount? The answer is no. They are not cousins or distant relatives, as some might think or suggest. They are just two players who share a last name and a position, but have no blood or marital ties. They are both legends of the game who have won multiple Super Bowls and earned individual accolades, but they are not kin.
