Ricky Bell was a talented and promising football player who had a successful college career at USC and was the first overall pick in the 1977 NFL draft. However, his life was cut short at the age of 29 due to a rare and incurable disease that affected his heart and muscles. This is the tragic story of Ricky Bell, the former No. 1 NFL pick who died too young.
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Early Life and College Career
Ricky Bell was born on April 8, 1955, in Houston, Texas. He moved to Los Angeles at age 11 and starred in football at John C. Fremont High School. He was the brother of Archie Bell, the lead singer of the 1960s R&B group Archie Bell & the Drells, and Jerry Bell, the lead singer of the 1970s and 80s funk bands The Dazz Band and The New Birth.
Bell attended USC, where he played as a linebacker and then as a fullback for the Trojans. He gained national attention in his junior year, when he led the nation in rushing with 1,957 yards and finished third in the Heisman Trophy voting. He was also a consensus All-American and the Pac-8 Player of the Year. In his senior year, he rushed for 1,433 yards and 14 touchdowns, despite battling nagging injuries. He was again a consensus All-American and the runner-up for the Heisman Trophy, behind Tony Dorsett of Pittsburgh. He also helped USC win two Rose Bowls and set a school record with 347 yards rushing against Washington State.
NFL Career and Decline
Bell was selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as the first overall pick in the 1977 NFL draft, reuniting him with his former USC coach John McKay. He joined a team that had gone winless in its first season and had a 26-game losing streak. Bell struggled in his first two seasons, as he faced injuries and a weak offensive line.
However, in his third season, he broke out with 1,263 yards and seven touchdowns, leading the Buccaneers to their first playoff appearance and victory over the Philadelphia Eagles. He was named to the Pro Bowl and was considered one of the best running backs in the league.
Unfortunately, Bell’s career went downhill from there. He suffered from a hamstring injury that limited his production in 1980. He also contracted hepatitis A from eating raw oysters, which weakened his immune system. He was traded to the San Diego Chargers in 1982, but played only four games before being placed on injured reserve.
Diagnosis and Death
Bell’s health problems were not only physical, but also mysterious. He suffered from skin lesions, weight loss, fatigue, muscle pain, and difficulty breathing. He visited several doctors and specialists, but none could diagnose his condition or offer him any relief.
Finally, in 1984, he was diagnosed with dermatomyositis, an inflammation of the skin and muscles that has no known cause or cure. The disease also caused cardiomyositis, a severe muscular disease of the heart that impaired its function.
Bell’s condition deteriorated rapidly. He was hospitalized several times and underwent various treatments, including steroids, chemotherapy, and blood transfusions. However, none of them worked. On November 28, 1984, he died of cardiac arrest at UCLA Medical Center. He was only 29 years old.
Legacy and Tribute
Bell’s death shocked and saddened the football world and his fans. He was remembered as a humble, hard-working, and generous person who never complained about his situation or gave up on his dreams. He was also praised for his courage and perseverance in facing his disease.
Bell’s life and death were depicted in a 1991 CBS television movie titled A Triumph of the Heart: The Ricky Bell Story. The movie starred Mario Van Peebles as Bell and Susan Ruttan as his wife Natalia. The movie received positive reviews and ratings from critics and viewers.
Bell was posthumously inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2004. He was also honored by USC with a retired jersey number (42) and by Tampa Bay with a spot in their Ring of Honor (1991). His name is also engraved on the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Peristyle as one of USC’s greatest players.
Ricky Bell cause of death was a tragic end to a brilliant career and a promising life. He left behind a legacy of excellence, inspiration, and hope for many people who admired him as a football star and as a human being.
