Before becoming a head coach, Shell had already established himself as one of the Raidersβ greatest offensive tackles.
He played for the franchise from 1968 through 1982, earning eight Pro Bowl selections, winning Super Bowls XI and XV, and entering the Pro Football Hall of Fame in August 1989.
Just weeks later, his career took another unexpected turn.
After the Raiders fired head coach Mike Shanahan following a 1β3 start, owner Al Davis promoted Shell from offensive line coach to head coach on October 3, 1989.
With that appointment, Shell became the first Black head coach of the NFLβs modern era and the leagueβs first Black head coach since Fritz Pollard, who coached in the NFL during the 1920s.
Shell immediately helped turn things around, going 7β5 to finish the 1989 season and bring the Raiders to an 8β8 record overall.
Then he took it even further.
In 1990, Los Angeles finished 12β4, won the AFC West and defeated Cincinnati in the divisional playoffs. The Raiders reached the AFC Championship Game before losing to Buffalo, while Shell was named AFC Coach of the Year.
Shell stayed in the Raidersβ head-coaching position through 1994, finishing his first tenure with a 54β38 regular-season record and three playoff appearances. He later returned for one final season in 2006.
His impact, however, went far beyond his coaching record.
Sixty-eight years after Fritz Pollard broke the NFLβs early coaching barrier, Art Shell became the man who reopened that path for Black head coaches in the modern NFL.
He made history as a player.
Then he made it again from the sideline. ππ
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