Congratulatory Message:

Congratulations, Donnie! It is a blessing to be your former Pittsburgh Steeler teammate; but, more important to be privileged to be considered your friend. Your hard work and dedication were an inspiration to me both on and off the field. I continue to aspire to emulate the pillars of family, service, purpose and passion that you instilled in all of the young men who looked to you for leadership, vision and wisdom during the trials and tribulations of the 1987 NFL season–the darkest in NFL history.

May the Lord continue to bless you, Paulette and your family; and, I pray that your contributions will have an everlasting impact on the lives of others as it has on mine. – Kelvin Middleton, Pittsburgh Steelers #37

[[Both Donnie Shell and Kelvin Middleton were mentored by and played under the leadership of Coach Willie E. Jeffries. Jeffries became the first Black head football coach of an NCAA Division I-A football program at a predominantly white college when he coached at Wichita State University where Middleton was an outstanding defensive back. Jeffries also served as the head football coach at South Carolina State University for 19 seasons in two stints (1973-1978, 1989-2001) were Donnie Shell was an outstanding defensive back.