March 17, 2005
Bell's death hits ex-teammates
LAKE FOREST, Ill. - When safety Todd Bell patrolled the Bears secondary during the 1980s, his monster hits often left opponents devastated.
Bell's death Wednesday at age 46 had a similar effect on his former teammates, who were shocked and saddened to hear the news. The former Ohio State standout passed away after suffering an apparent heart attack and crashing his automobile into a house in Reynoldsburg, Ohio, just outside Columbus.
"Todd was such a good friend," said former Bears cornerback Leslie Frazier. "I was stunned when I got the news, just stunned. I'm still stunned. It's hard to imagine he's not here anymore."
Bell joined the Bears in 1981 as a fourth-round draft choice and was voted to the Pro Bowl following the 1984 season. He remained with the team through 1987, though he missed the Super Bowl campaign in 1985 because of a contract holdout.
"Todd was the epitome of health, a guy who always trained hard and watched what he ate," said former Bears defensive lineman Tyrone Keys. "You realize nobody's immune. Life is precious."
Bell delivered one of the most memorable hits in Bears history when he separated Redskins running back Joe Washington from the ball and his senses, forcing an incompletion and setting the tone in a 23-19 playoff victory at RFK Stadium in 1984.
"He turned that game around," said former Bears safety Gary Fencik. "He almost decapitated Joe Washington. It was a wakeup call for the entire team. That was the beginning of actually winning playoff games and it certainly helped us for the 1985 season."
"They were the defending Super Bowl champions and there we were on the road trying to establish ourselves," Frazier said. "That hit as much as anything began to turn the corner for our defense and really put us on the path to be a great defense a year later.
"It was a great hit and it quieted that loud Washington crowd. They were silent after that hit. I'll always remember that. But that was just typical Todd, making another big play."
Bell's death hits ex-teammates
LAKE FOREST, Ill. - When safety Todd Bell patrolled the Bears secondary during the 1980s, his monster hits often left opponents devastated.
Bell's death Wednesday at age 46 had a similar effect on his former teammates, who were shocked and saddened to hear the news. The former Ohio State standout passed away after suffering an apparent heart attack and crashing his automobile into a house in Reynoldsburg, Ohio, just outside Columbus.
"Todd was such a good friend," said former Bears cornerback Leslie Frazier. "I was stunned when I got the news, just stunned. I'm still stunned. It's hard to imagine he's not here anymore."
Bell joined the Bears in 1981 as a fourth-round draft choice and was voted to the Pro Bowl following the 1984 season. He remained with the team through 1987, though he missed the Super Bowl campaign in 1985 because of a contract holdout.
"Todd was the epitome of health, a guy who always trained hard and watched what he ate," said former Bears defensive lineman Tyrone Keys. "You realize nobody's immune. Life is precious."
Bell delivered one of the most memorable hits in Bears history when he separated Redskins running back Joe Washington from the ball and his senses, forcing an incompletion and setting the tone in a 23-19 playoff victory at RFK Stadium in 1984.
"He turned that game around," said former Bears safety Gary Fencik. "He almost decapitated Joe Washington. It was a wakeup call for the entire team. That was the beginning of actually winning playoff games and it certainly helped us for the 1985 season."
"They were the defending Super Bowl champions and there we were on the road trying to establish ourselves," Frazier said. "That hit as much as anything began to turn the corner for our defense and really put us on the path to be a great defense a year later.
"It was a great hit and it quieted that loud Washington crowd. They were silent after that hit. I'll always remember that. But that was just typical Todd, making another big play."
