1976 Profile: Ed Bell

Wide Receiver
No. 7
Idaho State
"Coming off a solid 1975 season as both a wide receiver and a blocker, Bell caught 20 passes for 344 yards, a 17.2 average, and four touchdowns. He had his best day of the season at Baltimore, catching six passes for 99 yards and a touchdown. He caught touchdown passes in the Jets regular season opener at Buffalo, against Baltimore at Shea (22 yards) and against Buffalo at home (31 yards). Bell started every 1975 game at right wide receiver (with David Knight injured) after playing in a backup role in 1974 when he caught 13 passes for 126 yards.
He is often used in a three wide receiver formation on passing downs. He has distinguished himself as a clever, speedy (4.5) wide receiver. Ed played regularly on the left side in 1972 and 1973, catching 59 passes and was third among Jet receivers in 1973 with 24 catches. He missed one game in 1974 with a bruised knee cap. Despite his small size, Ed has a durable record as a pro, missing only three games in his career.
Ed has enjoyed an impressive career against Baltimore, catching 42 passes in 12 games for 735 yards, an average gain of 17.5, and six touchdowns. He had two outstanding games in 1972, grabbing seven passes for 197 yards at Baltimore and then taking a tipped last-minute pass 83 yards for the winning touchdown against the Colts at Shea. Bell co-holds the Jet record for receptions in a game (12 against the Colts, 1970) with Don Maynard and Art Powell. He was drafted ninth in 1970.
Bell set three small college national receiving records as a senior with 96 catches for 1,522 yards and 20 touchdowns, and set seven Big Sky and nine Idaho State records. He transferred from Compton JC where he was all-conference.
Ed majored in speech pathology and audiology and wants to help the deaf and speech-handicapped. He has attended drama school during the off-season and had a lead role in the off-Broadway production of 'Does a Tiger Wear a Necktie?' in 1974. Ed works for the State Department in helping find employment for minority youths. His hometown is Waco, Texas."

-1976 New York Jets Media Guide