De Benneville " Bert " Bell (February 25, 1895 – October 11, 1959) was an American professional football executive and coach. He was the fifth chief executive and second commissioner of the National Football League (NFL) from 1946 until his death in 1959.

Bell began his pro football life as the founder-owner of the Philadelphia Eagles in 1933 and struggled with overwhelming financial adversity for the rest of the decade. A unique franchise shift in 1940 found Bell moving to Pittsburgh as part owner of the Steelers, a status he maintained until he was selected as commissioner.

Mar 24, 2020 · Bert Bell's stats, career highlights, accomplishments, and stories told by Bert Bell’s son, Upton Bell. Bert Bell is the man who started the NFL Draft.

Nov 5, 2019 · Philadelphia Eagles co-founder Bert Bell starred on the Penn football team and was later a coach, before embarking on his NFL career. Bert Bell, head coach and owner of the …

Mar 10, 2025 · 1936 NFL Draft: Oral history – Bert Bell's brainchild Superior’s Tuffy Leemans turned out to be the draft’s first sleeper

As a team owner and the second NFL commissioner, Bert Bell dedicated his life to the game he loved so much. Many of his contributions to the development of American football have lasted through the decades.

Bell, a former quarterback at the University of Pennsylvania, loved his home state so much, being a part of both NFL teams in Pennsylvania had to have been a dream come true for him. Bell was the co-founder and co-owner of the Philadelphia Eagles from 1933-40.

Nov 11, 2019 · If you’re even a little deep into Eagles trivia, you’ve probably heard of Bert Bell, the man who created the Philadelphia Eagles, invented the college draft, and arguably saved the NFL. But you may not have heard about the woman behind Bert: Frances Upton.

Bert Bell served as NFL Commissioner until October 11, 1959, when he suffered a fatal heart attack at Philadelphia's Franklin Field while watching a close game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Philadelphia Eagles.

As the father of the NFL Draft, and a key figure in the NFL’s marriage with national television, Bert Bell had a major impact on today’s NFL. Bell was the owner of the Philadelphia Eagles when,...