Le'Veon Bell facts for kids
Bell with the New York Jets in 2019
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| No. 26, 17, 6 | |||||||||||||
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| Position: | Running back | ||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||
| Born: | February 18, 1992 Reynoldsburg, Ohio, U.S. |
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| Height: | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | ||||||||||||
| Weight: | 225 lb (102 kg) | ||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||
| High school: | Groveport Madison (Groveport, Ohio) | ||||||||||||
| College: | Michigan State (2010–2012) | ||||||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 2013 / Round: 2 / Pick: 48 | ||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||||||||||||
Le'Veon Andrew Bell Sr. (born February 18, 1992) is an American professional boxer and former football player. He was a talented running back in the NFL. Bell played college football for the Michigan State Spartans. He was picked by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2013 NFL Draft. He also played for the New York Jets, Kansas City Chiefs, Baltimore Ravens, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
After a strong first season, Bell became a star in his second year with the Steelers. He gained over 2,200 total yards and was chosen for the Pro Bowl. Even though he missed some games in 2015 and 2016, he still played very well. In 2017, he led the league in carries and had many rushing and receiving yards. He made his third Pro Bowl that year. In 2018, Bell did not play the whole season because of a contract disagreement with the Steelers. He later joined the New York Jets but did not play as well as before. After playing for the Chiefs, Ravens, and Buccaneers, Bell decided to start a career in professional boxing in 2022.
Contents
- Early Life and High School Years
- College Football Days
- Professional Football Career
- Life Outside Football
- Becoming a Boxer
- See also
Early Life and High School Years
Le'Veon Bell was born on February 18, 1992, in Reynoldsburg, Ohio. He went to Groveport Madison High School in Groveport, Ohio. There, he played football, basketball, and ran track.
He was a running back for the Groveport Cruisers football team. As a sophomore, he ran for 789 yards and scored nine touchdowns. In his junior year, he gained 1,100 yards and 13 touchdowns. As a senior, Bell ran for 1,333 yards and scored 21 touchdowns. He was named first-team All-Ohio Capital Conference.
In basketball, Bell was named second-team All-OCC Ohio Division as a junior. He also did track and field, where he was good at the high jump. His best high jump was 6 feet 8 inches (2.03 meters).
Even though he was a three-year starter in high school, Bell did not get many scholarship offers. He hoped to go to Ohio State University. His principal, Donis Toler Jr., helped him get noticed by Michigan State. Bell received a scholarship offer from Michigan State and started attending early in 2010.
College Football Days
Bell went to Michigan State University and played for the Michigan State Spartans football team from 2010 to 2012. His coach was Mark Dantonio.
2010 Season: A Strong Start
Bell quickly became an important player for the Spartans. They won 11 games, which was a school record at the time. In his first college game, he ran for 141 yards and scored two touchdowns.
He played in 13 games that year. He rushed for 605 yards and scored eight touchdowns. He also caught 11 passes for 97 yards. Bell was named an All-Big Ten Freshman by ESPN.com.
2011 Season: More Responsibilities
As a sophomore, Bell's role grew bigger. He started the season with two rushing touchdowns against Youngstown State. Later, he had three rushing touchdowns against Central Michigan.
In a game against Minnesota, he gained 165 total yards and scored two touchdowns. He led the Spartans in rushing with 948 yards and 13 touchdowns. In the 2012 Outback Bowl, he scored two touchdowns, helping Michigan State win in overtime.
2012 Season: Leading the Team
As a junior, Bell carried the ball most often for the Spartans. He started the season with 210 rushing yards and two touchdowns against Boise State. He set a career high with 253 rushing yards against Eastern Michigan.
Bell finished the season with 1,793 rushing yards, which was the second-highest in school history. He also scored 12 rushing touchdowns. He was named First-team All-Big Ten. After this great season, Bell decided to enter the NFL Draft early.
College Statistics Overview
| Season | Team | Games | Rushing | Receiving | Kick returns | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Att | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Y/G | Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Y/G | Ret | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | ||
| 2010 | Michigan State | 13 | 0 | 107 | 605 | 5.7 | 75 | 8 | 46.5 | 11 | 97 | 8.8 | 35 | 0 | 7.5 | 6 | 142 | 23.7 | 32 | 0 |
| 2011 | Michigan State | 14 | 6 | 182 | 948 | 5.2 | 35 | 13 | 67.7 | 35 | 267 | 7.6 | 45 | 0 | 19.1 | 1 | 31 | 31.0 | 31 | 0 |
| 2012 | Michigan State | 13 | 13 | 382 | 1,793 | 4.7 | 40 | 12 | 137.9 | 32 | 167 | 5.2 | 20 | 1 | 12.8 | 4 | 46 | 11.5 | 31 | 0 |
| Total | 40 | 19 | 671 | 3,346 | 5.0 | 75 | 33 | 83.7 | 78 | 531 | 6.8 | 45 | 1 | 13.3 | 11 | 219 | 19.9 | 32 | 0 | |
Professional Football Career
Bell was expected to be picked in the second or third round of the 2013 NFL Draft. Scouts saw him as a strong running back with quick feet.
Pittsburgh Steelers: Becoming a Star
The Pittsburgh Steelers chose Le'Veon Bell in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft. He was the second running back picked that year.
2013 Season: Rookie Year
Bell missed the first three games of his rookie season due to a foot injury. He played his first NFL game in London, scoring two rushing touchdowns. He finished his rookie year with 860 rushing yards and eight touchdowns. He also caught 45 passes for 399 yards. Bell broke a Steelers rookie record for total yards from scrimmage.
2014 Season: All-Pro Performance
In his second season, Bell became a true star. He rushed for over 100 yards in many games. He also caught his first NFL receiving touchdown. Bell had seven straight games with over 100 yards from scrimmage, a Steelers record.
He had a huge game against the Tennessee Titans, rushing for 204 yards. He also had 159 receiving yards against the New Orleans Saints. Bell tied an NFL record with three straight games of over 200 yards from scrimmage.
Bell finished the 2014 season with 1,361 rushing yards, eight rushing touchdowns, 83 catches, and 854 receiving yards. His 2,215 total yards from scrimmage set a new Steelers record. He was named to the Pro Bowl and was a First-team All-Pro player.
2015 Season: Injury Setback
Bell was suspended for the first two games of the 2015 season due to a league rule. He returned in Week 3 and quickly started scoring touchdowns. However, in Week 8, he suffered a season-ending knee injury. He finished the season with 556 rushing yards and three touchdowns in just six games.
2016 Season: Strong Comeback
Bell was suspended for the first three games of the 2016 season. When he returned, he played exceptionally well. He set a Steelers franchise record with 236 rushing yards in a game against the Buffalo Bills, scoring three touchdowns.
He finished the 2016 season with 1,268 rushing yards and seven touchdowns, despite missing four games. He also had 75 catches for 616 receiving yards. He was named to his second Pro Bowl.
In the playoffs, Bell set new Steelers records for rushing yards in a playoff game, with 167 yards against the Miami Dolphins and 170 yards against the Kansas City Chiefs. He was the first NFL player to rush for over 150 yards in his first two playoff games.
2017 Season: Another Great Year
The Steelers used the "franchise tag" on Bell, meaning they kept him for another year at a high salary. He had a league-high 321 carries for 1,291 rushing yards and nine touchdowns. He also caught 85 passes for 655 yards and two touchdowns.
Bell was named to his third Pro Bowl and was a First-team All-Pro for the second time. He was ranked among the top players in the NFL by his peers.
2018 Season: Sitting Out
The Steelers used the franchise tag on Bell again in 2018. However, Bell chose not to sign it because he wanted a long-term contract. He did not play any games during the entire 2018 season. In 2019, the Steelers decided not to use the franchise tag on him, making him a free agent.
New York Jets: A New Chapter
In March 2019, Bell signed a contract with the New York Jets. He played his first game with the Jets in September, rushing for 60 yards and catching a touchdown.
In the 2019 season, Bell had 789 rushing yards and three touchdowns. He also caught 66 passes for 461 yards and one touchdown.
2020 Season: Short Stay
Bell started the 2020 season as the Jets' main running back. He suffered a hamstring injury in Week 1 and was placed on injured reserve. After returning, he played a few more games. The Jets released him in October 2020.
Kansas City Chiefs: Joining a Super Bowl Team
On October 17, 2020, Bell signed a one-year contract with the Kansas City Chiefs. He scored his first touchdown as a Chief in Week 11. He finished the 2020 season with 328 rushing yards and two touchdowns for the Chiefs.
Baltimore Ravens and Tampa Bay Buccaneers
In 2021, Bell signed with the Baltimore Ravens practice squad and later joined their active roster. He scored two touchdowns for the Ravens before being released. In December 2021, he signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He played in three games and caught a touchdown pass from Tom Brady. He was released in January 2022.
Playing Style
Bell is known for his unique running style. He is very patient, often waiting for his blockers to create open lanes before quickly speeding through for a big gain. This style earned him the nickname "The Great Hesitator" from sportscasters.
NFL Career Statistics Overview
| Legend | |
|---|---|
| Led the league | |
| Bold | Career high |
Regular Season
| Year | Team | Games | Rushing | Receiving | Fumbles | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Att | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Fum | Lost | ||
| 2013 | PIT | 13 | 13 | 244 | 860 | 3.5 | 43 | 8 | 45 | 399 | 8.9 | 43 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 2014 | PIT | 16 | 16 | 290 | 1,361 | 4.7 | 81 | 8 | 83 | 854 | 10.3 | 48 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 2015 | PIT | 6 | 6 | 113 | 556 | 4.9 | 42 | 3 | 24 | 136 | 5.7 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2016 | PIT | 12 | 12 | 261 | 1,268 | 4.9 | 44 | 7 | 75 | 616 | 8.2 | 32 | 2 | 4 | 1 |
| 2017 | PIT | 15 | 15 | 321 | 1,291 | 4.0 | 27 | 9 | 85 | 655 | 7.7 | 42 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| 2018 | PIT | 0 | 0 | Did not play due to holdout | |||||||||||
| 2019 | NYJ | 15 | 15 | 245 | 789 | 3.2 | 19 | 3 | 66 | 461 | 7.0 | 23 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 2020 | NYJ | 2 | 2 | 19 | 74 | 3.9 | 13 | 0 | 3 | 39 | 13.0 | 30 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| KC | 9 | 2 | 63 | 254 | 4.0 | 16 | 2 | 13 | 99 | 7.6 | 18 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2021 | BAL | 5 | 0 | 31 | 83 | 2.7 | 12 | 2 | 1 | -1 | -1.0 | -1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| TB | 3 | 0 | 8 | 18 | 2.3 | 7 | 0 | 4 | 31 | 7.8 | 15 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| Career | 96 | 81 | 1,595 | 6,554 | 4.1 | 81 | 42 | 399 | 3,289 | 8.2 | 48 | 9 | 10 | 5 | |
Playoffs
| Year | Team | Games | Rushing | Receiving | Fumbles | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Att | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Fum | Lost | ||
| 2016 | PIT | 3 | 3 | 65 | 357 | 5.5 | 38 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 0.8 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2017 | PIT | 1 | 1 | 16 | 67 | 4.2 | 21 | 1 | 9 | 88 | 9.8 | 22 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2020 | KC | 1 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 3.0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2021 | TB | 0 | 0 | Did not play | |||||||||||
| Career | 5 | 4 | 83 | 430 | 5.2 | 38 | 3 | 13 | 91 | 7.0 | 22 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
NFL Records and Achievements
- First NFL player to rush over 150 yards in his first two playoff games.
- Most rushing yards in a player's first two playoff games: 337 yards.
Steelers Team Records
- Most rushing yards per game: 86.1
- Most receptions by a running back: 307
- Most receptions by a running back in a season: 85 (2017)
- Most receiving yards by a running back in a season: 854 (2014)
- Most receiving yards in a single game by a running back: 159 (November 30, 2014)
- Most scrimmage yards in a season: 2,215 (2014)
- Most rushing yards in a game: 236 (December 11, 2016)
- Most rushing yards in a playoff game: 170 (January 15, 2017)
- Most games with at least 200 rushing yards: 2 (tied with Willie Parker)
Life Outside Football
Bell has also explored other interests beyond football.
Television and Music
In 2022, Bell appeared on The Masked Singer as "Milkshake." He was eliminated on "90s Night."
Bell also has a music career under the stage name "Juice." He released his first album in 2017. He has also released singles and projects about his experiences.
Gaming
In May 2020, Bell teamed up with professional gamer Juan "Hungrybox" DeBiedma to create an online Super Smash Bros. Ultimate tournament called "The Box." It was the largest Super Smash Bros. tournament ever, with 8,192 players. Bell played in the tournament and did very well.
Personal Life
Le'Veon Bell was raised by his mother, Lisa A. Bell, and his grandfather. He has two older sisters and two younger brothers. His mother and grandfather were big fans of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Bell credits his high school principal, Donis Toler Jr., and his mother for helping him succeed.
He has several tattoos, including quotes from Christian scriptures.
Becoming a Boxer
| Le'Veon Bell | |
|---|---|
| Statistics | |
| Nickname(s) | The Juice |
| Height | 6 ft 2 in |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 3 |
| Wins | 2 |
| Losses | 1 |
Bell had shown interest in boxing as another career choice. In December 2021, he planned to retire from the NFL to become a professional boxer.
First Fights
In July 2022, Bell announced he would skip the 2022 NFL season to focus on boxing. His first exhibition match was against fellow NFL veteran Adrian Peterson. Bell won the fight by technical knockout in the fifth round.
On October 29, 2022, Bell made his professional boxing debut against mixed martial arts fighter Uriah Hall. Hall won the fight by a unanimous decision.
On March 4, 2023, it was announced that Bell would fight British YouTuber JMX. Bell won this fight by unanimous decision.
Cruiserweight Tournament
On April 12, 2024, Bell announced he would join the MFB Cruiserweight Title Tournament. The winner would become the new MFB cruiserweight champion. His first fight in the tournament was against Tristan Hamm. Bell won this fight by unanimous decision.
Boxing Record Summary
Professional Fights
| 3 fights | 2 wins | 1 loss |
| By decision | 2 | 1 |
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | Win | 2–1 | Tristan Hamm | UD | 5 | May 25, 2024 | NRG Arena, Houston, Texas, US | MFB cruiserweight tournament quarter-final |
| 2 | Win | 1–1 | JMX | UD | 4 | April 21, 2023 | XULA Convocation Centre, New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. | |
| 1 | Loss | 0–1 | Uriah Hall | UD | 4 | Oct 29, 2022 | Desert Diamond Arena, Glendale, Arizona, U.S. |
Exhibition Fights
| 1 fight | 1 win | 0 losses |
| By knockout | 1 | 0 |
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Win | 1–0 | Adrian Peterson | TKO | 5 (5), 0:30 | Sep 10, 2022 | Banc of California Stadium, Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
See also
In Spanish: Le'Veon Bell para niños
