Elbert Shelley

{{Short description|American football player (born 1964)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}} {{Use American English|date=August 2023}} {{Infobox NFL biography | name = Elbert Shelley | number = 37 | position = Safety | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1964|12|24}} | birth_place = Trumann, Arkansas, U.S. | height_ft = 5 | height_in = 11 | weight_lb = 190 | high_school = Trumann <br> (Trumann, Arkansas) | college = Arkansas State | draftyear = 1987 | draftround = 11 | draftpick = 292 | pastteams = * Atlanta Falcons ({{NFL Year|1987|1996}}) | highlights = * 3× All-Pro (1992, 1993, 1995) * {{nowrap|4× Pro Bowl (1992–1995)}} | statlabel1 = Tackles | statvalue1 = 53 | statlabel2 = Interceptions | statvalue2 = 1 | statlabel3 = Fumble recoveries | statvalue3 = 3 | pfr = ShelEl00 }}

'''Elbert Vernell Shelley''' (born December 24, 1964) is an American former professional football player who was a safety for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the Falcons in the 11th round of the 1987 NFL draft with the 292nd overall pick.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1987 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1987/draft.htm |access-date=2023-10-01 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> He went to the Pro Bowl four times as a special teams player.

Shelley's hometown is Trumann, Arkansas. He was an honor student as well as a star running-back for the football team. In college Shelley was switched from running back to safety by Coach Larry Lacewell.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.atlantafalcons.com/News/Articles/2006/06/Where_Are_They_Now_Elbert_Shelley.aspx |title=Where Are They Now? - Elbert Shelley |last=Oldham |first=Michael |date=2006-06-28 |publisher=Atlanta Falcons |accessdate=2008-10-13 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070922102758/http://www.atlantafalcons.com/News/Articles/2006/06/Where_Are_They_Now_Elbert_Shelley.aspx |archivedate=September 22, 2007 }}</ref> He now lives in Georgia . He retired on Friday, June 27, 2025 after working for the Gordon County Sheriff's Department for 16 years with 13 of those years as a School Resource Officer.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gordongazettega.com/post/gcso-s-sgt-elbert-shelley-recognized-with-distinguished-service-cross-upon-retirement|title=GCSO's Sgt. Elbert Shelley recognized with Distinguished Service Cross upon retirement |date=2025-06-27 |publisher=Gordon Gazette |accessdate=2025-06-27 }}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== *{{Footballstats |pfr=ShelEl00}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Shelley, Elbert}} Category:1964 births Category:Living people Category:People from Poinsett County, Arkansas Category:American football safeties Category:American football special teamers Category:Arkansas State Red Wolves football players Category:Atlanta Falcons players Category:National Conference Pro Bowl players Category:Players of American football from Arkansas Category:20th-century American sportsmen