Campbell totally off balance, great hit but lets be real Campbell was in vulnerable position. The block on Hamm was as impressive as the hit on Campbell
Jack Tatum,s hit at the goal line was a good highlight Earl stumbled into the end zone for a score Oilers and Steelers had some great memories on the field wow miss those games
In Canada, in the days before cable TV, I always tried to see the Steelers play on the NBC affiliate in Erie, PA. It was a treat when the game was visible, however so faintly.
In Earl`s defense, he was off balance with his back turning around forward towards shell. Which gave shell the advantage I would've love to see shell mano to mano in the open field vs a straight forward Campbell
Dude he was off balance and spinning! I bet you a million dollars if Earl was running straight and not off balance he would have left cleet makes on that bitches back!
Yesssss I remember that hit we were watching the game I was 11 yrs old big time steelers fan since 1977 Torpedo Donnie shell greatest franchise ever Let's go steelers nation
Donnie Shell was listed at 5’11, 190 lbs. I met him. He looked to me like 5’10, maybe…175 lbs. He hit like a 250 linebacker. Donnie “ the torpedo” Shell.
@@troutaholic8834 It’s not that simple. I bet if you stood next to me you wouldn’t think I was 180lbs. My son is 5’10 and 175lbs and I guarantee you, that if you saw us standing next to each other, you wouldn’t think he weighed less. Unless you had scales handy and weighed him, you have no idea.
Jack Tatum and Hollywood Henderson disagree. In fact, Tatum hit Campbell in a less vulnerable position if I remember correctly. Earl was pretty defenseless in that position, though it was still a great hit.
@@dennisgregory1592 Your joking of course, right? Shall I play the montage of all the Earl Campbell highlights of him steam rolling defenses!! Your funny.
Shell was a 16th round pick, and now is one of Five Hall Of Famers from one draft class in 1974. Much deserved HOF Election last year, but 20 years to late IMHO.
Ham got pancaked because he got double teamed, which I think helps make this play happen. The receiver who came in motion threw the initial block, then the fullback came around the edge and pancaked Ham while he was still engaged with the receiver. I’m pretty sure either the fullback (more likely) or receiver blew his assignment to block the next man (Mike Wagner), who was right next to that block when he made Earl spin out, thus allowing Donnie to crush him.
In my opinion, if Mike Wagner doesn't clip Earl's leg then the situation would be different. It would had been a head to head collision, which Earl won most of those. Nevertheless a great hit by Donnie Shell.
@@acsmooth110 Yeah, the only chance Shell would’ve had if Earl was unimpeded would’ve been to hit him in the knees or lower (which Earl probably could’ve side-stepped or hurdled) Thighs or higher and Earl would’ve tromped right through him.
You can draw it up one way, but football is a messy chaotic game. You block the first guy you see and hope it works out. With 22 bodies flying around it's just messy chaos and anything can happen.
Respectfully....A guy almost died on the field a couple of years ago. I think the 'sissy' NFL tag has been overblown honestly, and I'm guilty of wishing our NFL sundays looked more like the 70s....but reality is that those guys, many of them, were dying in early retirement, even before they reached 60. Now these athletes are much faster, and those kinds of hits will likely kill someone on the field today. Not an expert...but...That's not a sport stat I would be proud of supporting into the future. 2c.
Back to Pittsburgh's Steel Curtain days. Joe Greene, L.C. Greenwood, Dwight White, Earnie Holmes, Robin Cole, Jack Lambert, Jack Ham, Mel Bloundt, Donnie Shell, Mike Waggoner, J.T. Thomas and Tony Dungy; a lot of pain there.
I watched that game (which I believe is on TH-cam) … it was as close to a war as anything I’ve ever seen between two football teams… lots of injuries…. One of the best games of 1978…
Great hit by Donnie Shell. In that game Earl was on his way to having a big game the Steelers. It started by Mike Wagner clipping Earl Campbell's leg and making him spin. Earl Campbell usually runs over or go by the first tackler. Donnie Shell seen his opening after Wagner clipped Campbell's leg and laid a tremendous hit. Literally knocked Earl out of the game, which Pittsburgh won 13-3.
He was off the ground, in the air, and turned around backwards. If it was straight up Campbell would have trucked him and left a Donnie sized stain on the artificial turf
I don't think there's any question Earl Campbell would win a straight-up, head-to-head battle vs. Donnie Shell. Earl outweighed Shell by 42 lbs. and had 36-inch thighs. None of that diminishes what a great hit it was.
That's the legend, but it reality, he bruised them. That said, if you've ever had bruised ribs, you know they're every bit as painful as broken ribs. Faster healing process, thankfully.
Gong to the HOF with my son to watch Mr. Shell and like 4 other Steelers, get enshrined. So privileged and thankful to God/Jesus, to be with my son and honor our Steelers.
Yeah, I remember watching that live on television. I was 14 years old. Donnie shell was a hard nosed defensive player. I still hate him for that one hit.
@@editortexas Well, assuming you hate Dallas as most Oiler and Steelers fans both did, there's a great clip of the Bears QB Bobby Douglass pile-driving Cliff Harris. Douglass was like a left-handed Bradshaw, big and could run over people.
@@mikemccartan4210 Actually, the Oilers beat the Steelers earlier that year 24-17. Campbell rushed for 199 yards and scored 3 touchdowns. The Steelers might have beaten them in the playoffs anyway, but Campbell getting knocked out of the game that early would definitely have given them a chance.
Donnie Shell's hit was a great hit mainly cos he caught Earl Campbell in a vulnerable position which led 2 a turnover. Not being old enough 2 see this 'legendary' hit on Earl Campbell I had 2 rely on my father's version. After seeing this now I know he not only exaggerated he simply lied. I was told Donnie Shell took on Earl Campbell str8 up shoulder 2 shoulder ~which he clearly didn't~ then stood him up 2 bring him down! That's a clear misrepresentation of what I just witnessed...so thank God 4 film ! Still much respect 2 warriors & Hofer's Donnie Shell & Earl Campbell. *Btw my dad's a die-hard Steelers fan !🤔
I was sitting parallel to That play about 20 rows back and had a ground level view of that play and I knew when Shell hit Earl that Earl was out . I also thought until that hit the Steelers were going to lose that game as the oilers and Earl were all over them . That hit saved the game for for Pgh . Great memories
Not so sure about that. I had great respect for Earl C. and the Oilers. The Steelers were the kings of the NFL and probably would have found a way to win. Intense game. I remember it vividly.
I am a DEVOUT Steelers fan, been so since 1969, and I agree with Alex, Mr. Campbell was running over the Steelers like a Mack truck, that play changed everything and gave the Steelers momentum going into the playoffs. Donnie Shell should have been enshrined in the HoF long before his actual induction, the problem was that there were too many Steelers from those teams who had gone ahead of him.
he might have made him swallow his skoal on that hit, i remember him as a kid and this famous hit too, dan pastorini was the qb and they played oakland in the playoffs that year during xmas i think
The truly amazing part of this play is: Donnie Shell stood 5'11" and 190 pounds soak-n-wet. What Donnie lacked in stature and weight, he made up in heart.
@@1USACitizen192 , I would hardly consider Earl soft. I suggest you take a look at some of his runs. He hardly ever avoided contact. Look up the play where he and Jack Tatum, someone I consider to be the hardest hitter. Earl went helmet to helmet with Jack. Nah, Earl is not soft. Donnie just got the better of Earl on that play..
Great timing by shell. If you want to take on Earl, gotta do it while he isn’t looking. Even if it wasn’t planned (it wasnt) it was a great hit at the right time. Still see that type of stuff occasionally today (Reggie bush comes to mind) but refs are aware of the “helpless” status for the occasional BS flag.
He caught him coming out of a spin, and rammed his helmet into his ribs, anybody would have fumbled and fell,he would never be able to do that with Earl coming straight at him 💯
th-cam.com/video/Kz1nhPZLyHw/w-d-xo.html. Here is proof of what happened to Shell when Earl was running straight at him! I believe it’s the 2nd or 3rd play in this compilation! To me, more impressive than Shell spearing an off balance, spinning, one foot on the ground Earl, after already shedding one tackle, and making another guy miss, oh, and getting the first down BTW! Yeah Shell hit him hard. A clean, unobstructed shot helmet to the ribs makes it look a whole lot more impressive than it really was. In the other clip, you can watch Earl give Donnie a 20 yard ride, like your crazy uncle at a family picnic. Not even close! And for pure entertainment value, just watch the rest of that video, see how many LB’s Earl FLATTENED head up.
@cockyhemi Man , just for fun I rewatched that clip. Donnie She’ll looked like he was working on his backpedal footwork drill with Earl just pushing him, & pushing him like ‘GTFO’ of my way son!! And that whole clip of Earl running through, over around, just incredible. This dude SOUGHT OUT CONTACT! Most d-backs & probably a lot of LB’s wanted nothing to do with him one on one, especially if Earl got him shoulders squared up.
Exactly Soldier Troy. You can pluck a kid out of 5A High School Football who could have delivered a similar blow. I think the only safety who probably could have stood a chance against Earl Helmet to Helmet would have been Ronnie Lott.
I agree Solider Troy. If Mike Wagner does not clip Earl's leg and make him spin the results would had been different. Donnie Shell seen his opening and laid a tremendous hit on Earl.
Campbell: "I got the sea, I got the breeze.... I just got the stuffing smacked outta me...!" Earl was a beast, but that hit was awesome. Still remember it as it happened. BTW, that sentence was from Earls commercial which ran all the time.
@@snsdkbopper7819 Yes, of course. Campbell was a BEAST who outweighed Shell by 42 lbs. and had 38-inch thighs. 😮😂 None of that diminishes what a great football play it was by Shell, nor how impactful it was to the game (and the season).
It wasn't just the FB, though. The TE in motion (#87) was already on Ham, and then Wilson cleaned him up. Great block by Houston, regardless. It's rare to see Ham get owned like that.
You’re absolutely right regarding that hit. Donnie Shell was one of my favorite big hitters but Earl was shrugging off that would be tackler and was left totally exposed and off balance.
@@XLR8Bit LOL..Cambell would have knocked him out if he went for the head. Look up the hit Jack Tatum put on Campbell on the goal line. Right in the choppers and Campbell barreled into the end zone while the dazed Tatum watched!
Yeah, if you're gonna get a good hit on Earl, as opposed to *taking* a good hit from Earl, you better catch him when someone else has already spun him around, come in from the blind (back) side, and put a helmet in his side in the ribs. Great hit, but you need a lot of things in your favor to win a one-on-one with Earl Campbell!
Campbell was a beast! Donnie Shell was a big hitter, but in all fairness, Campbell was vulnerable at that moment. I'm a Steelers fan from Pittsburgh and never rooted for Campbell a day in my life, but there's no denying how great he was. I can't believe how underrated he is. I guess it's because his career was kind of short, and that's probably because of all the hits he was involved in, but he definitely dished out a lot more punishment than he took!
Legal then but not allowed to lead with the crown of the helmet anymore. Obviously if Campbell wasn’t spinning on one leg he would have seen the tackler coming and lowered a shoulder to take the hit. Not taking anything away from either player. Both had tremendous toughness and skill.
@@mcmillenandwife You wanna bet? Watch the video "Earl Campbell - Power!" Earl drove Shell back about ten yards after contact, before Shell could spin Earl around and tackle him. It's right here on YT. 😆
@@DParks-pj9zr I don't recall how long Donnie Shell was on the turf. However I do know Jack Tatum never feared hitting Donnie Shell. Even if Shell would have had the ball.
@@DParks-pj9zr I wasn't saying they ever were I'm just making the point that maybe the hardest hitting safety in all of football ( Tatum, according to Woody Hayes.) only feared one man... Earl Campbell. It's in his book.
Joe Greene got held/tackled, Jack Ham was off balance and got bowled over, Mike Wagner dives and misses, then Donnie comes in for destruction. Pretty good replay for back in the day with limited cameras and without technology we take for granted now.
He's probably the guy I consider the all-time greatest Steeler, but he got trucked. Just realized he was double-teamed - the tight end who was in motion at the snap went low, at his upper legs and then the FB blasted him while he was off-balance.
@@danielclydehall9421 Wagner didn't miss totally, he tripped Earl causing him to spin around which set up Torpedo's hit. And you're right about Ham, I don't ever remember him getting absolutely pancaked like that on any other play.
I was 9 years old and think I had my first orgasm on this play. I lived in Pittsburgh. We all LOVED Earl Campbell. He was a monster. To see our defense knock down goliath was just another feather in our cap of how good our defense was at the time. There is no way to describe this unless you lived though it. To knock the machine that was Earl Campbell out of the game? Wow. Remember, Shell was 190 lbs. as a safety. Different times.
My son is 32. I always tell him it's sad he never got to see the real Pittsburgh Steelers of the 1970's play. Pittsburgh as a city was struggling badly from the shutting down of the steel mills. From 1974 until 1980 the Steelers were such and integral part of this city. No prima donna's like today on that team. (Except for Lynn Swann). Someone got out of line. Joe Greene or Jack Lambert would plant them in the ground. Earl Cambell was a freight train of a running back. For me though, Barry Sanders, Jim Brown and Gale Sayers were my favorite running backs. The Renfro catch. Great games. I really liked Bum Phillips, how could you not.
Old guys I got a question.. is this a Monday nite game and the score was 6/3 steelers all scores were field goals? Sorry guys I was 12 years old maybe less, but I was a big Steelers fan since them.
Mean joe green stated on a sports show after he retired that he hated to see earl get hurt,but it was the 1st time he was glad to see someone leave the game.
Yep. Earl was a bad man. Scored 3 TDs in the win over the Steelers earlier that season, and was off to a good start in this game (7 carries for 41 yards).
Maybe. Earl was a beast. Can't change the violent hit that changed that game. Much respect for those Oilers teams. Steelers were a level higher than that Houston team.
Location: Astrodome Steelers vs Oilers was one of the most heated Divisional rivalries in NFL for a long stretch through late seventies early eighties. All they saw was there stud they were riding all the way to the playoffs go down. Political correctness would not be a reality for 30 more years.
@R. William Comm how do you know he wasnt trying to hurt Campbell? this is the same player that picked up Cliff Branch and drove him into the ground head first, i'm sure that dirty play wasnt trying to hurt Branch.
@Steve Swangler I guess that you got so caught up in outrage that you mixed up Donnie Shell & Mel Blount. Do they all look the same to you or do you just not know much about pro football? 😂 th-cam.com/video/Uyf1m-a7PDc/w-d-xo.html
Campbell totally off balance, great hit but lets be real Campbell was in vulnerable position. The block on Hamm was as impressive as the hit on Campbell
Not to mention it was a spear directly to the ribs. Heads up, Campbell crushes him and we all know it.
That Hamm block was Gold
Very true glad someone said it
But the results of the play were huge!
Forced fumble and knocked a major offensive weapon out of the game!
Let's be real. The Steelers destroyed him. 🎉
This rivalry along with Oakland, Dallas & Cleveland brings back so many memories
Kansas City vs Oakland that was the rivalry in the '60s.
@@dwightlove3704 Steelers Raiders in the 70's.
I wonder if the NFL is paying Earl not to do interviews in order to hide the fact that he can’t even walk up stairs. Haven’t seen him on TV in decades
Jack Tatum,s hit at the goal line was a good highlight Earl stumbled into the end zone for a score Oilers and Steelers had some great memories on the field wow miss those games
That was a collision
In Canada, in the days before cable TV, I always tried to see the Steelers play on the NBC affiliate in Erie, PA. It was a treat when the game was visible, however so faintly.
WICU I hear ya brother
And we in Erie would always turn to CFPL in London, to watch Hockey Night in Canada. A directional antenna brought it in like a local station.
Sometimes I couldn’t find the Steelers games on CBC, CTV or the American affiliates, but found it on the French channels!
Earl was off balance. Make no bones about it though Shell was legit.
he'd have been alot less legit if big earl was squared up.
Shell hit like The Bullet Train. I respect Earl and Donnie both.
Truly you saw Earl off balance when hit. Credit him with an assist in the tackle.
@@Cando79 You are correct. If Earl was straight on with Shell, it would have been a different situation, and result.
@Fire&Ice909 lmaoo you think one white guy would of stopped Earl Campbell ?
I will never forget this hit! I was 13 years old. Donnie Shell was a beast! Earl Campbell was a load...changes that game right there.
I was 13 years old too 🤣. Pittsburgh Steelers defense in the 70s was the best defense I ever seen
Stacked with Hall of Fame talent. L.C. Greenwood should be in the HOF.
In Earl`s defense, he was off balance with his back turning around forward towards shell. Which gave shell the advantage I would've love to see shell mano to mano in the open field vs a straight forward Campbell
@@anthonybono8248 "off balance" is being generous to Shell. Campbell was a defenseless, airborne target.
Dude he was off balance and spinning! I bet you a million dollars if Earl was running straight and not off balance he would have left cleet makes on that bitches back!
Donnie Shell is from my hometown of whitmire sc. I went to school with his niece. A wonderful person.
I didn't know that he's from there!
I now live in Joanna...I'm from Pittsburgh.
I going to Whitmire tomorrow, going to look around for him.
Thanks....
I was watching this live! Always loved Donnie Shell!!!
I remember it 2 OUCH
Yes, back in the day when most other teams actually feared the Steelers. Donnie was a big reason.
2 of the all time heavy hitters. Both class acts as people above all else.
I’ve been looking for this video for years. Thank you for posting
Great players.Campbell spun into Shell,somewhat hyped!
As Any STILLARS FAN WHO LIVED BACK THEN, Remembers that hit. And the One on Warren Moon. # 31 is One Tough MoFo.
Donnie Shell !
What hit on Moon?
Yesssss I remember that hit we were watching the game I was 11 yrs old big time steelers fan since 1977 Torpedo Donnie shell greatest franchise ever Let's go steelers nation
Donnie Shell was listed at 5’11, 190 lbs. I met him. He looked to me like 5’10, maybe…175 lbs. He hit like a 250 linebacker. Donnie “ the torpedo” Shell.
Dude, I’m 57 years old 5’6” 180lbs
@@shelfcloud487 I stood next to him and spoke to him for 15 minutes. I played football at 6 ft 195. I’m pretty sure about what I observed.
@@troutaholic8834 It’s not that simple. I bet if you stood next to me you wouldn’t think I was 180lbs. My son is 5’10 and 175lbs and I guarantee you, that if you saw us standing next to each other, you wouldn’t think he weighed less. Unless you had scales handy and weighed him, you have no idea.
@@shelfcloud487 whatever. Not going to argue with you over something that really doesn’t matter.
Shell was a Beast! Nothing but major respect for Mr. Shell.
His nickname was "The Torpedo!"
He hit like a freight train!
@@BST-lm4po Those Steelers v Oilers games back in late 1970’s were legendary.
He is probably the only man ever to tackle Campbell like that
Made that man crumble like fine cheese on spaghetti
@@ascottpgh00 You got that right
Jack Tatum also put a big hit on Campbell.
Jack Tatum and Hollywood Henderson disagree. In fact, Tatum hit Campbell in a less vulnerable position if I remember correctly. Earl was pretty defenseless in that position, though it was still a great hit.
@@johnp7739 You are right about that
Donnie Shell and Mel Blount were one of the best pair of DBs ever to play for one team.
Agree like cliff Harris and Charlie Waters
@@tlo1988 yes, but better!! No Doubt!!
@@tlo1988 Cliff Harris You mean the guy that Jack Lambert picked up and threw to the ground in the Super Bowl?
I was there, and I was a Viking fan . . . and all I can say is --- YEP!
Charlie was good, very good
Harris was way over rated and a crybaby
To this day Earl's children's ribs ache.
Shit....Earl's whole body is aching with that bruising type of running style.
To this day..Campbell's bell is still ringing from The Assassin's Hit!😅
@@dennisgregory1592 Your joking of course, right? Shall I play the montage of all the Earl Campbell highlights of him steam rolling defenses!! Your funny.
He can’t walk up stairs. I bet the NFL is paying him not to do interviews. Haven’t seen him anywhere in decades
Shell was a 16th round pick, and now is one of Five Hall Of Famers from one draft class in 1974. Much deserved HOF Election last year, but 20 years to late IMHO.
Free Agent
Shell was undrafted.
@Patrick Grimes• Steelers signed Shell as a College free agent
The Steelers had the best football scouts ever assembled in the 70's!
I don't know if it was too late. Shell had a relatively short peak. 3 All-Pro seasons often does not make for a HOF defensive player.
Ham got pancaked because he got double teamed, which I think helps make this play happen.
The receiver who came in motion threw the initial block, then the fullback came around the edge and pancaked Ham while he was still engaged with the receiver.
I’m pretty sure either the fullback (more likely) or receiver blew his assignment to block the next man (Mike Wagner), who was right next to that block when he made Earl spin out, thus allowing Donnie to crush him.
In my opinion, if Mike Wagner doesn't clip Earl's leg then the situation would be different. It would had been a head to head collision, which Earl won most of those. Nevertheless a great hit by Donnie Shell.
@@acsmooth110 You nailed it.
@@acsmooth110 Yeah, the only chance Shell would’ve had if Earl was unimpeded would’ve been to hit him in the knees or lower (which Earl probably could’ve side-stepped or hurdled)
Thighs or higher and Earl would’ve tromped right through him.
Great block by Tim Wilson
You can draw it up one way, but football is a messy chaotic game. You block the first guy you see and hope it works out. With 22 bodies flying around it's just messy chaos and anything can happen.
REAL NFL FOOTBALL UNLIKE TODAYS FLAG NFL FOOTBALL.
Respectfully....A guy almost died on the field a couple of years ago. I think the 'sissy' NFL tag has been overblown honestly, and I'm guilty of wishing our NFL sundays looked more like the 70s....but reality is that those guys, many of them, were dying in early retirement, even before they reached 60. Now these athletes are much faster, and those kinds of hits will likely kill someone on the field today. Not an expert...but...That's not a sport stat I would be proud of supporting into the future. 2c.
Let’s see your highlights, son
@@wreckim Watch golf.
@@jnyfumare I do. I play too. I survive, but the golf ball I hit dies somewhere never to be found.
Another piece of possibly the greatest defense ever
It was the greatest. When ever this defense needed the ball, they got the ball!
Clean hit, but Earl was turned around and already on his way down. PS. '79 AFC Championship against Pittsburgh....That was a Renfro touchdown!
Yes it was! 👍🇨🇱
Can’t find anywhere that says it was a TD.
@@jebarr1
If instant replay was around then you could.
@@presley881 so they get beat by 10 instead of 14
@@jebarr1this was 78 34 -5
The good old days
Earl can barely walk now.
Back to Pittsburgh's Steel Curtain days. Joe Greene, L.C. Greenwood, Dwight White, Earnie Holmes, Robin Cole, Jack Lambert, Jack Ham, Mel Bloundt, Donnie Shell, Mike Waggoner, J.T. Thomas and Tony Dungy; a lot of pain there.
Great memory brother! One of the best defenses of all time.
I watched that game (which I believe is on TH-cam) … it was as close to a war as anything I’ve ever seen between two football teams… lots of injuries…. One of the best games of 1978…
Yep. Guys were getting laid out. 😮
Great hit by Donnie Shell. In that game Earl was on his way to having a big game the Steelers. It started by Mike Wagner clipping Earl Campbell's leg and making him spin. Earl Campbell usually runs over or go by the first tackler. Donnie Shell seen his opening after Wagner clipped Campbell's leg and laid a tremendous hit. Literally knocked Earl out of the game, which Pittsburgh won 13-3.
Campbell rarely had a big game against the Steelers. If ever.
@@tesla-v2681But when Earl had good games against the Steelers the Oilers usually won.
@@acsmooth110 😂😂😂😂🎉😂😢😢😢🎉😢😂😢
grew up in pgh in the 70's played HS and college football always wore 31, Donnie was and is the man
There were a lot to choose from back in those days. I chose #47.
Two Hall Of Famers colliding right there. That's bound to be an impact.
Did I hear that correctly? At about the 0:28 second mark,.. did the announcer say that "the Steelers have their 3rd turnover of the QUARTER!"?
Indeed, you did. The Oilers turned it over 6 times in this game. www.mcmillenandwife.com/1978_Steelers_13_at_Oilers_3.html
He was off the ground, in the air, and turned around backwards. If it was straight up Campbell would have trucked him and left a Donnie sized stain on the artificial turf
I don't think there's any question Earl Campbell would win a straight-up, head-to-head battle vs. Donnie Shell. Earl outweighed Shell by 42 lbs. and had 36-inch thighs. None of that diminishes what a great hit it was.
@KKC .... Oh well it wasn’t a straight hit! I remember that hit! Crushed that truck 😫
Earl woulda got the best of Donnie head on.. I did see Joe Greene hit Earl head on and Joe drove him back about 4yds.
@@mcmillenandwife yes....but that the nature of the game.... great hit by shell
@@mcmillenandwife would be a penalty in today's game
If I remember right, he broke two or three of his ribs.
That's the legend, but it reality, he bruised them. That said, if you've ever had bruised ribs, you know they're every bit as painful as broken ribs. Faster healing process, thankfully.
Gong to the HOF with my son to watch Mr. Shell and like 4 other Steelers, get enshrined. So privileged and thankful to God/Jesus, to be with my son and honor our Steelers.
GONG to the HOF?
Thanks for the video, never seen it before
Nowadays Shell would have been flagged, fined, and ejected for that hit.
Donnie Shell delivering my 25th birthday present.
I remember this! like yesterday!
Yeah, I remember watching that live on television. I was 14 years old. Donnie shell was a hard nosed defensive player. I still hate him for that one hit.
You shouldn't. It was a clean hit, and the Steelers and Oilers got along great while Coach Phillips was there.
Both those teams admired each other.
@@67marlins I shouldn't, but I do. ...and I probably always will.
@@editortexas Well, assuming you hate Dallas as most Oiler and Steelers fans both did, there's a great clip of the Bears QB Bobby Douglass pile-driving Cliff Harris.
Douglass was like a left-handed Bradshaw, big and could run over people.
@@67marlins LOL! Now that's funny :D
Correction “Hall of gamer” Donnie Shell.
As always, they were holding Mean Joe Greene.
This hit knocked Earl out of the game, the Oilers out of the championship, and quite possibly their only Superbowl shot!
They never had a chance.
@@mikemccartan4210 Actually, the Oilers beat the Steelers earlier that year 24-17. Campbell rushed for 199 yards and scored 3 touchdowns. The Steelers might have beaten them in the playoffs anyway, but Campbell getting knocked out of the game that early would definitely have given them a chance.
@@randysmith2866 Yeah well sometimes the best can be broken right?
@@randysmith2866 The Oilers never had a chance with Pittsburgh. Tennessee still struggles with Pittsburgh to this very day.
My two favorite ball players of all time. Both physical and nasty. 5"11 190 Shell mustered every bit of strength to blast Earl.
the Houston/Steelers playoff games were epic
Donnie Shell's hit was a great hit mainly cos he caught Earl Campbell in a vulnerable position which led 2 a turnover. Not being old enough 2 see this 'legendary' hit on Earl Campbell I had 2 rely on my father's version. After seeing this now I know he not only exaggerated he simply lied. I was told Donnie Shell took on Earl Campbell str8 up shoulder 2 shoulder ~which he clearly didn't~ then stood him up 2 bring him down! That's a clear misrepresentation of what I just witnessed...so thank God 4 film ! Still much respect 2 warriors & Hofer's Donnie Shell & Earl Campbell. *Btw my dad's a die-hard Steelers fan !🤔
I would say the Steelers hit the Oilers Straight Up.
Clean hit...Campbell was in the worst possible position (twisting and off balance) to take it.
Exactly not heads up!!!!
Campbell was a badazz and so was Shell
Truth. 🎯
I was sitting parallel to That play about 20 rows back and had a ground level view of that play and I knew when Shell hit Earl that Earl was out . I also thought until that hit the Steelers were going to lose that game as the oilers and Earl were all over them . That hit saved the game for for Pgh . Great memories
Not so sure about that. I had great respect for Earl C. and the Oilers. The Steelers were the kings of the NFL and probably would have found a way to win. Intense game. I remember it vividly.
I am a DEVOUT Steelers fan, been so since 1969, and I agree with Alex, Mr. Campbell was running over the Steelers like a Mack truck, that play changed everything and gave the Steelers momentum going into the playoffs. Donnie Shell should have been enshrined in the HoF long before his actual induction, the problem was that there were too many Steelers from those teams who had gone ahead of him.
he might have made him swallow his skoal on that hit, i remember him as a kid and this famous hit too, dan pastorini was the qb and they played oakland in the playoffs that year during xmas i think
The truly amazing part of this play is: Donnie Shell stood 5'11" and 190 pounds soak-n-wet. What Donnie lacked in stature and weight, he made up in heart.
@cmjohnson61 • Shell played linebacker at South Carolina St, so hitting was nothing new to him
Absolutely. Campbell was nearly airborne face up
@cockyhemi Exactly!
Campbell had about 200 pounds on shell, but he was way softer than Shell, by a LOT!
@@1USACitizen192 , I would hardly consider Earl soft. I suggest you take a look at some of his runs. He hardly ever avoided contact. Look up the play where he and Jack Tatum, someone I consider to be the hardest hitter. Earl went helmet to helmet with Jack. Nah, Earl is not soft. Donnie just got the better of Earl on that play..
Those were the good ol' days. It didn't get any better than Steelers/Oilers or Steelers/Raiders.
After that hit Campbell started wearing that flak vest...
Great timing by shell. If you want to take on Earl, gotta do it while he isn’t looking. Even if it wasn’t planned (it wasnt) it was a great hit at the right time. Still see that type of stuff occasionally today (Reggie bush comes to mind) but refs are aware of the “helpless” status for the occasional BS flag.
EXACTLY! Not hating on Shell because it was an amazing play, but my Grandma could have hit EC like that while he was off balance.
Go watch Thomas Henderson of Dallas hit Earl. Only time i saw Earl go backwards from a direct face to face hit. He tagged Earl. Trust me.
@@briandavidson1946 Yeah Thomas Henderson did tag Earl but Tom also got tagged. Earl made Tom's helmet fly off.
Except fot Tatum. Tatum laid into him head on, but, like someone else stated, Tatum was a psychopath and didn't give a shit.
Mike Wagner should get kudos as well as he initially spun Earl around, allowing Shell to make the hit the way he did!
That was such a hard hit, my tv went out that day.
Earl wasn't in full stride. Houston only had EC, Pittsburgh had a freaking army.
He caught him coming out of a spin, and rammed his helmet into his ribs, anybody would have fumbled and fell,he would never be able to do that with Earl coming straight at him 💯
th-cam.com/video/Kz1nhPZLyHw/w-d-xo.html.
Here is proof of what happened to Shell when Earl was running straight at him! I believe it’s the 2nd or 3rd play in this compilation! To me, more impressive than Shell spearing an off balance, spinning, one foot on the ground Earl, after already shedding one tackle, and making another guy miss, oh, and getting the first down BTW! Yeah Shell hit him hard. A clean, unobstructed shot helmet to the ribs makes it look a whole lot more impressive than it really was. In the other clip, you can watch Earl give Donnie a 20 yard ride, like your crazy uncle at a family picnic. Not even close! And for pure entertainment value, just watch the rest of that video, see how many LB’s Earl FLATTENED head up.
@cockyhemi
Man , just for fun I rewatched that clip. Donnie She’ll looked like he was working on his backpedal footwork drill with Earl just pushing him, & pushing him like ‘GTFO’ of my way son!! And that whole clip of Earl running through, over around, just incredible. This dude SOUGHT OUT CONTACT! Most d-backs & probably a lot of LB’s wanted nothing to do with him one on one, especially if Earl got him shoulders squared up.
Exactly Soldier Troy. You can pluck a kid out of 5A High School Football who could have delivered a similar blow. I think the only safety who probably could have stood a chance against Earl Helmet to Helmet would have been Ronnie Lott.
I agree Solider Troy. If Mike Wagner does not clip Earl's leg and make him spin the results would had been different. Donnie Shell seen his opening and laid a tremendous hit on Earl.
@cockyhemi Clown? Shell was one the greatest safeties to ever play. Save the bitter stupid talk for the old Oiler fanboi forums.
Campbell: "I got the sea, I got the breeze.... I just got the stuffing smacked outta me...!" Earl was a beast, but that hit was awesome. Still remember it as it happened. BTW, that sentence was from Earls commercial which ran all the time.
Only way to take Campbell down hard - catch him off balance like that.
LOL. Yep, that’s pretty much true, at least for DBs. Hardest runner of all time IMO.
Obviously Earl was hit while being off balance & blindsided coming out of a spin, Would've been totally different if Earl was aware & fully planted.
@@snsdkbopper7819 Yes, of course. Campbell was a BEAST who outweighed Shell by 42 lbs. and had 38-inch thighs. 😮😂 None of that diminishes what a great football play it was by Shell, nor how impactful it was to the game (and the season).
Mr Shell should've been in the Hall of Fame 25-30 years ago
yeah maybe but he is going in now.. :) better late then Never
Better late than ever, isn't it? ;)
@@franciscoduran4618 Class of 2020
Shell would have gone in sooner, but in the early 80's Al Davis promoted his safety Van McElroy to the pro bowls omitting Shell
Gosh damn the fullback destroyed Jack Hamm 👀👀
It wasn't just the FB, though. The TE in motion (#87) was already on Ham, and then Wilson cleaned him up. Great block by Houston, regardless. It's rare to see Ham get owned like that.
As Mel Blount once famously put it, “When Donnie Shell hits you, you know you’ve been hit”
The hit was not impressive to be honest !!! Earl was off balance !! Anybody can make you look bad if they catch you off balance!!!
You’re absolutely right regarding that hit. Donnie Shell was one of my favorite big hitters but Earl was shrugging off that would be tackler and was left totally exposed and off balance.
That's why MNF announcers labeled him "The Missile" coz 31 hit you, you stayed hit! Blount just passing his torch....
@@greatriffishere earl lucky it wasn't a head shot, donnie showed some restraint, if that was jack tatum you know what would have happen
@@XLR8Bit LOL..Cambell would have knocked him out if he went for the head. Look up the hit Jack Tatum put on Campbell on the goal line. Right in the choppers and Campbell barreled into the end zone while the dazed Tatum watched!
Never forget that Hit Torpedo Donnie shell steelers fan since Since 1976
Yeah, if you're gonna get a good hit on Earl, as opposed to *taking* a good hit from Earl, you better catch him when someone else has already spun him around, come in from the blind (back) side, and put a helmet in his side in the ribs. Great hit, but you need a lot of things in your favor to win a one-on-one with Earl Campbell!
LOL. That is a fact!
Well Said.....
True.
@@s.l.nicholson4240 There is a play when Earl was trying to truck Donnie and it was a 4 yd ride but Donnie got him:Solo!
@@mcdonoghrahloh459 and Donnie was giving up 40lbs too. A well deserved Hall of Famer is Donnie Shell.
Campbell was a beast! Donnie Shell was a big hitter, but in all fairness, Campbell was vulnerable at that moment. I'm a Steelers fan from Pittsburgh and never rooted for Campbell a day in my life, but there's no denying how great he was. I can't believe how underrated he is. I guess it's because his career was kind of short, and that's probably because of all the hits he was involved in, but he definitely dished out a lot more punishment than he took!
I'm a Steelers fan, but Earl Campbell remains my favorite RB ever. Best big back of my lifetime.
His career was short because Houston ran him till the wheels fell off!!!
in today's touch football league he would get thrown out, fined, and suspended :(
Not on a running back.
Legal then but not allowed to lead with the crown of the helmet anymore. Obviously if Campbell wasn’t spinning on one leg he would have seen the tackler coming and lowered a shoulder to take the hit. Not taking anything away from either player. Both had tremendous toughness and skill.
They should also show Earl trucking Shell running right over him for a TD
That would be great if it had ever happened, but it never did.
Yep, I've seen a clip of that, too. See my comment below. :)
@@mcmillenandwife You wanna bet? Watch the video "Earl Campbell - Power!" Earl drove Shell back about ten yards after contact, before Shell could spin Earl around and tackle him. It's right here on YT. 😆
8th grade. Saw it live-I'll never forget that one.
What a hit
Knocked the diabetes out of Earl Campbell 🤨
Not to detract from this great hit... but Jack Ham got blown up on this play!
Yeah, he really did. They lit him up, but good. LOL. It happens to even the very best players from time to time. No one is immune.
@@mcmillenandwife which is what makes it so impressive. Ham was perhaps the greatest pure outside linebacker to ever play.
If you watched that game..a lot of guys got blow up that day.
Campbell doing a whole 360. Caught him at the perfect moument.
I'm wondering if that was after the time Campbell dragged She'll into the end zone.
IDK but did Shell Lay on the ground like a bitch for 10 minutes after that happened?
@@DParks-pj9zr I don't recall how long Donnie Shell was on the turf. However I do know Jack Tatum never feared hitting Donnie Shell. Even if Shell would have had the ball.
@@martinjubb9470 Why would Jack Tatum have ever been on the field at the same time as Shell?
@@DParks-pj9zr I wasn't saying they ever were I'm just making the point that maybe the hardest hitting safety in all of football ( Tatum, according to Woody Hayes.) only feared one man... Earl Campbell. It's in his book.
Not sure what you're talking about. No such play ever happened. Campbell never scored a TD over Shell.
Outstanding!
Jack Ham got rolled up
Joe Greene got held/tackled, Jack Ham was off balance and got bowled over, Mike Wagner dives and misses, then Donnie comes in for destruction. Pretty good replay for back in the day with limited cameras and without technology we take for granted now.
He's probably the guy I consider the all-time greatest Steeler, but he got trucked.
Just realized he was double-teamed - the tight end who was in motion at the snap went low, at his upper legs and then the FB blasted him while he was off-balance.
@@danielclydehall9421 Wagner didn't miss totally, he tripped Earl causing him to spin around which set up Torpedo's hit. And you're right about Ham, I don't ever remember him getting absolutely pancaked like that on any other play.
@@Fremen2 I'm sure it happened though. Eventually everyone in the NFL gets popped, offense or defense.
@@AndyMatts44 Yeah Jack would never get trucked like that by one guy.
I was 9 years old and think I had my first orgasm on this play. I lived in Pittsburgh. We all LOVED Earl Campbell. He was a monster. To see our defense knock down goliath was just another feather in our cap of how good our defense was at the time. There is no way to describe this unless you lived though it. To knock the machine that was Earl Campbell out of the game? Wow. Remember, Shell was 190 lbs. as a safety. Different times.
Now that is a tackle!
Equally impressive was the block the fullback #45 put on Jack Ham just before Earl got leveled. THAT was football!
And that's why Donnie Shell is in the hall of fame!!!
That was beautiful
My son is 32. I always tell him it's sad he never got to see the real Pittsburgh Steelers of the 1970's play. Pittsburgh as a city was struggling badly from the shutting down of the steel mills. From 1974 until 1980 the Steelers were such and integral part of this city. No prima donna's like today on that team. (Except for Lynn Swann). Someone got out of line. Joe Greene or Jack Lambert would plant them in the ground. Earl Cambell was a freight train of a running back. For me though, Barry Sanders, Jim Brown and Gale Sayers were my favorite running backs. The Renfro catch. Great games. I really liked Bum Phillips, how could you not.
Old guys I got a question.. is this a Monday nite game and the score was 6/3 steelers all scores were field goals? Sorry guys I was 12 years old maybe less, but I was a big Steelers fan since them.
Steelers won 13-3. It was a Sunday afternoon game, 4:00 pm kickoff.
P.S. - You can watch the full game on our website: www.mcmillenandwife.com/1978_Steelers_13_at_Oilers_3.html
Waching Steelers vs the oilers was a classic. Thank you Tim.
I guess I missed the last touchdown lol.
They don't call him donnie shell for nothing
There's also a video of Campbell trucking Shell and pushing him back 10 yards.
That’s football
Ball hawk. Joe Greene was basically tackled on that play, non call for holding
I love those baby crack, baby crack, baby crack ribs.
I actually got to watch it in real time and I remember that and I’ll never forget it Dans shell
STEEL CURTAIN!!
Shell-shocked wow on Earl!!
That will take the wind outta ya!
Mean joe green stated on a sports show after he retired that he hated to see earl get hurt,but it was the 1st time he was glad to see someone leave the game.
Yep. Earl was a bad man. Scored 3 TDs in the win over the Steelers earlier that season, and was off to a good start in this game (7 carries for 41 yards).
Big Earl took a crown of Shells helmet to his ribs! Had Campbell been squared up Shell would have gotten his ass handed to him!
Exactly 👏👏👏
Maybe. Earl was a beast. Can't change the violent hit that changed that game. Much respect for those Oilers teams. Steelers were a level higher than that Houston team.
Unlikely, Earl was just an outta shape "fat albert" type of guy.
@@1USACitizen192 what a terrible attempt at attention seeking lol
Yes, I'm a Steelers fan, and Earl was a beast.
🎯
Can't understand the booing crowd, that hit was completely clean!
Location: Astrodome Steelers vs Oilers was one of the most heated Divisional rivalries in NFL for a long stretch through late seventies early eighties. All they saw was there stud they were riding all the way to the playoffs go down. Political correctness would not be a reality for 30 more years.
Gotta luv old school football.
Shell getting into the HoF was overdue. Although he wasn’t trying to hurt Campbell, that hit probably won the game.
Broke Earl's ribs.
Fremen2 Wow! That had to hurt. Campbell was a great running back.
@R. William Comm how do you know he wasnt trying to hurt Campbell? this is the same player that picked up Cliff Branch and drove him into the ground head first, i'm sure that dirty play wasnt trying to hurt Branch.
@Steve Swangler I guess that you got so caught up in outrage that you mixed up Donnie Shell & Mel Blount. Do they all look the same to you or do you just not know much about pro football? 😂 th-cam.com/video/Uyf1m-a7PDc/w-d-xo.html
@@steveswangler6373, Mel Blount delivered the pile driver to Cliff Branch, not Shell.