De Benneville "Bert" Bell (February 25, 1895 – October 11, 1959) was co-founder of the Philadelphia Eagles, co-owner and coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers and commissioner of the National Football League from 1946 until his death.
Bell grew up in a prominent Philadelphia, Pennsylvania family, the son of John Cromwell Bell, Pennsylvania's attorney general. Once commenting on his son's plans for college, the elder Bell said, "Bert will go to Penn (t...
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De Benneville "Bert" Bell (February 25, 1895 – October 11, 1959) was co-founder of the Philadelphia Eagles, co-owner and coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers and commissioner of the National Football League from 1946 until his death.
Bell grew up in a prominent Philadelphia, Pennsylvania family, the son of John Cromwell Bell, Pennsylvania's attorney general. Once commenting on his son's plans for college, the elder Bell said, "Bert will go to Penn (the University of Pennsylvania) or he will go to hell." While there, Bell played quarterback for the Quakers' football team, a stretch that was interrupted by World War I service at the Mobile Hospital Unit in France.
After graduating, Bell served as backfield coach at his alma mater from 1920 to 1928, then held the same position for two years at Temple University in 1930 and 1931.
In 1933, with three other former college teammates (including Lud Wray, first head coach), he became co-owner of the Eagles for $2,500.
Taking the approach of making...
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