The Pittsburgh Steelers drafted running back Le'Veon Bell in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft. During his five years with the Steelers, Bell dazzled the league with his exceptional performances. He made three Pro Bowl teams and two All-Pro teams, rushing 1,229 times for 5,336 yards and 35 touchdowns.
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Former Steelers running back, Le'Veon Bell (#26) carries the ball up the field during an NFL matchup against the Detroit Lions in Detroit, MI.
Bell was also a formidable presence in the receiving game, accumulating 312 catches for 2,660 yards and seven touchdowns. However, his time with the Steelers ended controversially when he sat out the 2018 season. In 2019, he signed a four-year, $52.5 million deal with the New York Jets, but his career was never the same.
Bell has since expressed regret about how he left the Steelers. Former Steelers General Manager Kevin Colbert recently shared on the All Things Covered podcast his own regret, wishing the team could have kept Bell for his entire career. Despite their efforts, it just didn't work out as hoped.
“He created a market for himself. We tried to get a contract done and, unfortunately, we didn’t. And it was disappointing. I saw Le’Veon came to one of our games last year and we hugged and talked. He’s doing good. I wish he would have stayed with us for his whole career because it could have been special.”
Bell was a unique type of running back in Pittsburgh, known for his dominant performance and patient running style. He also excelled as a receiver, which led to his desire for higher compensation, believing he deserved to be paid for both his rushing and receiving abilities. Colbert explained why he thinks Bell's career declined after leaving the Steelers.
“If you take a year off in your career, it’s hard to get back out there. I don’t think he found the same traction. I was disappointed for him. We tried to move on, and we did the best we could, and we wished him luck. But I wish we would’ve had him. But we didn’t. And that’s just the way this thing goes sometimes.”
The NFL is a business, and often, it must be treated as such. The Steelers attempted to retain Bell, offering him a $14.5 million franchise tag for the second straight year, but he was unhappy with the offer. Bell believed he deserved more money and security. He sat out the entire 2018 season and gave up on the Steelers.
New York Jets
Former Steelers RB Le'Veon Bell looks on during a game with the New York Jets.
His career with the Jets lasted just 17 games before he moved on to brief stints with the Kansas City Chiefs, Baltimore Ravens, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, playing a total of only 17 games with those three teams combined.
Steelers' Killer B's Trio Lit The NFL On Fire
During the offseason, Bell teased fans with the possibility of a comeback, but those rumors have died down, and it seems unlikely that he will return to the Steelers. He is now focusing on building his boxing career. For Steelers fans, watching Bell play was a joy. He was a key part of one of the most dynamic offenses in football, featuring the "Killer B's" trio of Ben Roethlisberger, Antonio Brown, and Bell.
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The Steelers' "Killer B's" trio featuring Ben Roethlisberger (7), Antonio Brown (84) and Le'Veon Bell (26).
James Conner replaced Bell and eventually left the Steelers as well, yet he has carved out quite a career in the NFL. However, Steelers fans will always wonder what could have been if Bell had stayed with the team for his entire career. Bell himself acknowledges that leaving Pittsburgh was a mistake and believes his career would have turned out much better had he stayed.
Colbert also expressed his regret, wishing Bell had never left. Sometimes, that's just how the NFL works. It's difficult to keep every player on a roster happy, especially when multiple stars are seeking big contracts. Bell will likely continue to regret how his NFL career ended.
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