Todd Shell: key obituary facts
Is Todd Shell dead? Yes. Todd Shell died on November 1, 2026, at age 64.
Cause of death: Todd Shell's cause of death has not been publicly confirmed.
What was Todd Shell known for?
He was an American football player.
More about Todd Shell
Born: 24 June 1962.
Place of birth: Mesa.
Gender: male.
Nationality: United States.
Education: Mountain View High School.
Todd Shell, an American football player and coach who played linebacker for the San Francisco 49ers and later coached in the Arena Football League, died November 1, 2026, aged 64.
Born June 24, 1962, in Mesa, Arizona, he attended Mountain View High School. The 49ers selected Shell 24th overall in the first round of the 1984 NFL draft.
During his rookie season, in a Week 13 game against the New Orleans Saints, he recorded two sacks and returned an interception 53 yards for a touchdown. The performance made him the first NFL rookie to record at least two sacks and a touchdown in the same game. As of 2023, only Andy Katzenmoyer and Devon Witherspoon had also achieved that combination. Shell later coached in the Arena Football League, with the San Jose SaberCats, Arizona Rattlers and New York Dragons. His career included both NFL play as a linebacker and coaching roles with three AFL teams.