Billy Ray Bell (born January 16, 1961) is an American former professional

football Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kick (football), kicking a football (ball), ball to score a goal (sports), goal. Unqualified, football (word), the word ''football'' generally means the form of football t ...

cornerback A cornerback (CB) is a member of the defensive backfield or secondary in gridiron football. Cornerbacks cover Wide receiver, receivers most of the time, but also blitz and defend against such Play from scrimmage, offensive running plays as sweep ...

who played two seasons in the

National Football League The National Football League (NFL) is a Professional gridiron football, professional American football league in the United States. Composed of 32 teams, it is divided equally between the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National ...

(NFL) with the

Houston Oilers The Houston Oilers were a professional American football team that played in Houston, Texas, from its founding in 1960 Houston Oilers season, 1960 to 1996 Houston Oilers season, 1996. The Houston Oilers began play as a charter member of the Ame ...

and

Kansas City Chiefs The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Chiefs compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) West division. Established in 1959 ...

. He played

college football College football is gridiron football that is played by teams of amateur Student athlete, student-athletes at universities and colleges. It was through collegiate competition that gridiron football American football in the United States, firs ...

at Lamar. He also played for the

BC Lions The BC Lions are a professional Canadian football team based in Vancouver, British Columbia. The Lions compete in the West Division (CFL), West Division of the Canadian Football League (CFL), and play their home games at BC Place. The Lions playe ...

of the

Canadian Football League The Canadian Football League (CFL; , LCF) is a Professional gridiron football, professional Canadian football league in Canada. It comprises nine teams divided into two divisions, with four teams in the East Division (CFL), East Division and f ...

(CFL) and the

Dallas Texans Dallas Texans may refer to: American football *Dallas Texans (NFL), 1952 team in the National Football League *Dallas Texans (AFL), 1960–1962 team that is now the Kansas City Chiefs *Dallas Texans (arena football) The Dallas Texans were an ...

of the

Arena Football League The Arena Football League (AFL) was a professional arena football league in the United States. It was founded in 1986, but played its first official games in the 1987 Arena Football League season, 1987 season, making it the third longest-runnin ...

(AFL).

Early life and college

Billy Ray Bell was born on January 16, 1961, in

Dayton, Texas Dayton is a city in Liberty County, Texas, United States. The population was 8,777 at the 2020 census. Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which all but is land. Climate The climate in thi ...

. He attended Dayton High School in Dayton. Bell was a three-year

letterman Letterman may refer to: * Letterman (sports), a classification of high school or college athlete in the United States People * David Letterman (born 1947), American television talk show host ** ''Late Night with David Letterman'', talk show that ...

for the

Lamar Cardinals The Lamar Cardinals and Lady Cardinals (variously Cardinals or Cards) refers to the college athletics teams of Lamar University, in Beaumont, Texas. The Cardinals and Lady Cardinals teams compete in seventeen NCAA Division I sports as a member o ...

Lamar University Lamar University (Lamar or LU) is a public university in Beaumont, Texas, United States. Lamar has been a member of the Texas State University System since 1995. It was the flagship institution of the former Lamar University System. As of the ...

from 1983 to 1985.

Professional career

Bell signed with the

on May 4, 1989. He was released on September 5, signed to the practice squad on September 8, promoted to the active roster on November 4, released again on November 21, signed to the practice squad again on November 24, and promoted to the active roster again on December 8, 1989. Overall, he played in four games for the Oilers during the 1989 season. Bell also appeared in one playoff game that year. Bell dressed in four games for the

of the

in 1990, recording ten tackles and one interception. Bell was signed by the

on May 5, 1991. He was released on August 27, re-signed on September 11, released again on October 1, and re-signed again on October 4. Overall, he played in eight games, starting one, for the Chiefs in 1991 and made one interception. Bell was placed on injured reserve on November 16, 1991. He was released on January 2, 1992. Bell signed with the Oilers again on May 19, 1992, but was later released on August 31, 1992. He played in two games for the

of the

(AFL) in 1993, totaling four solo tackles and four assisted tackles. Bell signed with the

Toronto Argonauts The Toronto Argonauts (officially the Toronto Argonaut Football Club and colloquially known as the Argos) are a professional Canadian football team based in Toronto, Ontario. The Argonauts compete in the East Division (CFL), East Division of t ...

of the CFL in 1994 but was later released. He was signed by the Las Vegas Sting of the AFL in 1995 but was later released.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bell, Billy Living people 1961 births American football cornerbacks Canadian football defensive backs Players of Canadian football from Texas Lamar Cardinals football players Houston Oilers players BC Lions players Kansas City Chiefs players Dallas Texans (Arena) players Toronto Argonauts players Las Vegas Sting players Players of American football from Liberty County, Texas People from Dayton, Texas