Shelby Jordan, a 1974 Washington University in St. Louis graduate and an 11-year National Football League (NFL) veteran, was selected to the 2013 Divisional College Football Hall of Fame Class, as announced by the National Football Foundation.
The Divisional College Football Hall of Fame considers players and coaches from the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision, Divisions II, III and the NAIA for induction. This year’s divisional class brings the number of schools represented with at least one College Football Hall of Famer to 296.
Jordan, who played linebacker at Washington University from 1969-1972, joins Joe Micchia (Westminster College (Pa.), QB, 1987-89), Art Shell (Maryland Eastern Shore, OL, 1964-67) and Jeff Wittman (Ithaca (N.Y.), FB, 1989-1992) as the four former student-athletes who earned the honor. In addition, Frank Cignetti (West Virginia University, 1976-79, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, 1986-2005), James “Boots” Donnelly (Austin Peay State University, 1977-78, Middle Tennessee State, 1979-1998) and Jess Dow (Southern Connection State, 1948-1965) will be inducted as former coaches.
“I am very excited for Washington University, and for the members of the Washington University community who support student-athletes,” said Jordan. “I am humbled and honored to receive the recognition because I continue to be grateful that I had the opportunity to become a Washington University student-athlete.”
A 1969 graduate of East St. Louis High School, Jordan is the second Washington University player in history to be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. Jordan, who stood 6-foot-7 and weighed 270-pounds, led WUSTL in tackles for three consecutive seasons en route to being named a Kodak First Team All-American during his senior campaign.
The 1972 team captain and Bears MVP is considered the greatest defensive player in school history. Jordan was named to the school’s 1990 All-Centennial football team. He led the Bears in tackles his junior year under Dick Martin and his senior season under Don McCright. Equally impressive in the classroom, the pre-med student was a member of the Washington University Career Scholarship Program, and he graduated with a degree in psychology.
Drafted in the seventh round of the 1973 NFL Draft by the Houston Oilers, he eventually became a six-year starter for the New England Patriots at offensive tackle and later won Super Bowl XVIII with the Los Angeles Raiders. Jordan played in 151 career games in the NFL, including seven with the New England Patriots (1975, 1977-82) and four with the Los Angeles Raiders (1983-86). He is the only football player in school history to play in a Super Bowl.
Jordan, 61, retired from professional football in 1988, and now lives in the South Bay area of Los Angeles with his wife, Donzella. They fund and direct a Los Angeles-based nonprofit economic-development corporation that provides affordable urban housing and services for families and seniors.
“The experiences I had at Washington University left a lasting imprint on my life,” added Jordan. “It was a great orientation to an adult life of responsibility, aspiration and achievement.”
He has received numerous awards for his work within the community, and was named a WUSTL Distinguished Alumni in 2009. Jordan was an inaugural inductee in the Washington University Sports Hall of Fame in 1991.
He joins the late Harvey Jablonksy (1926-1930) as representatives from Washington University in the College Football Hall of Fame. Jablonsky was inducted in 1978.
The 2013 Divisional College Football Hall of Fame Class will be honored Wednesday, Aug. 28, in Atlanta, Ga., during the enshrinement ceremonies.