Ricky Bell was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with the first overall pick in 1977 as a running back out of the USC, where he was an All-American running back. John McKay chose him over Tony Dorsett who went to the Cowboys with the second selection in that year's draft. Bell sported The Number for the Buccaneers from 1977-1981.On December 29, 1979, Bell led the Buccaneers to a 27-17 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles and their first playoff game victory in team history by rushing for one hundred and, you guessed it, forty-two yards and 2 touchdowns on 37 carries
.
.Bell died November 28, 1984 of heart failure caused by dermatomyositis at the age of 29. Mario Van Peebles portrayed the player in the made for television movie, "A Triumph of the Heart: The Ricky Bell Story," which was based on Bell's illness.
