FOR USE AS DESIRED
NFL-32              5/25/04           

SHELL NAMED HEAD OF FOOTBALL OPERATIONS

Pro Football Hall of Famer and former NFL head coach ART SHELL has been named NFL senior vice president for football operations and development, Commissioner PAUL TAGLIABUE announced today.

Shell, who was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1989 after a stellar career as a tackle for the Oakland-Los Angeles Raiders from 1968-82, has been working for the NFL office in New York since 2002 as the appeals officer for player discipline. 

Now Shell will supervise all NFL football operations and development, including regular-season and postseason operations, NFL Europe League operations, the NFL’s relationship with college football, and the league’s youth football activities.

Shell also will serve as a non-voting member of the NFL Competition Committee.

“In his playing and coaching career and in the past two years at league headquarters, Art Shell has demonstrated the ability to successfully manage a wide range of responsibilities,” said Commissioner Tagliabue in announcing the appointment.  “We are pleased to have an executive with his experience and talent in this key position.”       

After his playing career, Shell served as the Los Angeles Raiders’ offensive line coach from 1983-89.  He was named the team’s head coach during the 1989 season. 

He compiled a 56-41 won-lost record as the Raiders’ head coach through the 1994 season, taking the club to three playoff berths. 

Shell was the offensive line coach of the Kansas City Chiefs in 1995 and ’96, and of the Atlanta Falcons from 1997-2000.
 

Before taking the position as an NFL appeals officer, Shell represented the league in college relations matters.   
 

Shell, 57, was drafted by the Raiders in 1968 in the third round out of Maryland-Eastern Shore. 

He played in 207 regular-season games and 23 playoff contests, including Super Bowls XI and XV.  He had streaks of 156 and 51 consecutive games played, and appeared in eight Pro Bowls.

USA Football Chairman JACK KEMP recently announced that Shell would join Commissioner Tagliabue on the organization’s board of directors.  USA Football is the first national advocacy group created to galvanize, support and promote the sport of amateur football.