He played college football for the Nebraska Cornhuskers, earning consensus All-American honors and winning the Outland Trophy.

Shields played his entire, 14-year professional career with the Kansas City Chiefs and never missed a game.

Shields was one of six Nebraska Cornhuskers selected to this team; the others being Johnny Rodgers, Dave Rimington, Steinkuhler, Tommie Frazier and Taylor.

Shields was the third-round (74th overall) pick of the Kansas City Chiefs in the 1993 NFL draft,[5] after signing now Big Ten Commissioner Kevin Warren to be his agent.

In 14 seasons, Shields never missed a game, and he failed to start only one contest, his first regular-season outing, as a rookie in 1993.

Shields is married to his wife Senia (a native of Denmark);[10] they have one daughter, Sanayika, and two sons, Shavon and Solomon.