Todd Shell, Former 49ers Linebacker and BYU Star, Dies at 64

Todd Shell, a former linebacker for the San Francisco 49ers, died on Sunday, November 1, 2026. He was 64.

Mesa Mountain View High School coach Andy Litten confirmed the death through Shell's family, The Arizona Republic reported. A cause of death was not given. The San Francisco 49ers announced the death on November 4 and extended condolences to his wife, Kelli, and the Shell family.

A Mountain View original

Shell starred at Mesa Mountain View High School in Arizona and helped lead the Toros to their first state football championship in 1978. That team went 13-1, three years after the school opened its doors. Litten said Shell matched the toughness of Jesse Parker, the school's first football coach, and stayed close to the program long after his playing days ended. He coached some of Mountain View's current players in the school's feeder program, and his family remains tied to the school.

"He was always a huge supporter of our program and a staple in our community," Litten said.

The tribute

Mountain View plans to honor Shell for the rest of the season. Players will wear No. 90 decals on their helmets. The school will hold a moment of silence before its game on Friday, November 6, the Toros' final regular season game, against Gilbert Highland. The team captains will bring Shell's No. 90 jersey out to midfield for the coin toss.

BYU and the 49ers

At BYU, Shell was named first-team All-WAC in 1983. He finished his college career with 13 sacks and nine interceptions.

The 49ers selected him in the first round of the 1984 NFL draft, 24th overall. He played for San Francisco from 1984 to 1987 and recorded seven sacks and five interceptions. He was a Super Bowl champion with the 49ers, and the team marked his death with condolences to the Shell family.

Coaching in the Arena league

After his NFL career, Shell moved into coaching in the Arena Football League. He was defensive coordinator of the Arizona Rattlers in 1994, when the Rattlers won their first Arena Bowl title. He later served as head coach of the Rattlers, in 2005. He coached the San Jose SaberCats from 1995 to 1998 and was named Arena Football League Coach of the Year in 2003 with the New York Dragons.

Family

Shell's son Tanner, a former Arizona State basketball player, died in June 2025 at the age of 44. Tanner Shell helped Mountain View win back-to-back state basketball titles in 1998 and 1999. Todd Shell was the grandfather of former Toros wide receiver Talan Arnett, who set a single-season 6A state record in 2024 as a junior with 24 touchdown catches. Arnett now plays football at Utah State.