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. (pronounced LAY-vee-on; born February 18, 1992) is an American professional boxer and former football running back. He played college football for the Michigan State Spartans. The Pittsburgh Steelers selected him in the second round of the 2013 NFL draft. He also played for the New York Jets, Kansas City Chiefs, Baltimore Ravens, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
After a strong rookie year, Bell had a breakout second season with the Steelers. He gained over 2,200 combined yards and was chosen for the Pro Bowl. In 2017, he led the league with 321 carries for 1,291 yards. He also caught 85 passes for 655 yards, earning his third Pro Bowl selection. Bell later signed with the New York Jets but was released after less than two seasons. He then played for the Kansas City Chiefs, Baltimore Ravens, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In 2022, he began a career in professional boxing.
Contents
Early Life and High School Football
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, Bell ran for 789 yards and nine touchdowns. In his junior year, he gained 1,100 rushing yards and scored 13 touchdowns. As a senior, he ran for 1,333 yards and 21 touchdowns. He was named first-team All-Ohio Capital Conference Ohio Division. In basketball, Bell earned second-team All-OCC Ohio Division honors. He was also a top high jumper in track and field.
Bell was considered a two-star recruit by ESPN.com. He hoped to attend Ohio State University. His high school principal, Donis Toler Jr., helped him get noticed by Michigan State. After his senior football season, he received a scholarship offer from Michigan State. He graduated early and started at Michigan State in the spring of 2010.
College Football Career
Bell played for the Michigan State Spartans football team from 2010 to 2012. His coach was Mark Dantonio.
2010 Season Highlights
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 two touchdowns. He also had 114 rushing yards against Notre Dame. Overall, he played in 13 games. He rushed for 605 yards and eight touchdowns. He also caught 11 passes for 97 yards. He was named All-Big Ten Freshman by ESPN.com and Rivals.com.
2011 Season Highlights
As a sophomore, Bell's role grew. He started the season with two touchdowns against Youngstown State. Against Central Michigan, he ran for 81 yards and three touchdowns. In a game against the Minnesota Golden Gophers, he had 165 total yards and two touchdowns. He also played well in the Big Ten Championship Game. In the Outback Bowl, he scored two touchdowns, helping Michigan State win in overtime. Bell led the Spartans in rushing with 948 yards and 13 touchdowns.
2012 Season Highlights
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. Against Eastern Michigan, he ran for a career-high 253 yards. This earned him the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week Award. He had many strong games, including 121 yards against Indiana and 188 yards against Nebraska.
In the Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl, he ran for 145 yards and one touchdown. He was named the Offensive MVP for the bowl game. Bell finished the season with 1,793 rushing yards, which was the second-most in school history. He was named First-team All-Big Ten. After this 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 a second or third-round pick in the NFL draft. Scouts saw him as a strong runner with quick feet. They liked his ability to run straight and make strong cuts.
Pittsburgh Steelers Years
2013 Rookie Season
The Pittsburgh Steelers drafted Bell in the second round, as the 48th overall pick. He was the second running back chosen that year. On June 3, 2013, Bell signed a four-year contract with the Steelers.
Bell missed the first three weeks of the season due to a foot injury. He played his first NFL game on September 29 in London. He rushed for 57 yards and two touchdowns. On November 28, he had a 43-yard touchdown run. In Week 16, he ran for 124 yards and a touchdown. Bell broke a Steelers rookie record for total yards from scrimmage with 1,259 yards. He finished his rookie season with 860 rushing yards and eight touchdowns. He also had 45 catches for 399 yards.
2014 Breakout Season
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Bell started his second season strong. In Week 1, he had 109 rushing yards and a touchdown. In Week 3, he ran for 147 yards, including an 81-yard run. He scored his first NFL receiving touchdown in Week 7. Bell became the first Steelers running back with seven straight games of 100+ yards from scrimmage. He had his best rushing game in Week 11 with 204 yards and a touchdown.
In Week 13, he had 159 receiving yards, a career high. He earned AFC Offensive Player of the Week honors. The next game, he scored three touchdowns. Bell tied an NFL record with three straight games of at least 200 yards from scrimmage. He finished the 2014 season with 1,361 rushing yards and eight touchdowns. He also had 83 catches for 854 receiving yards and three touchdowns. His 2,215 yards from scrimmage set a new Steelers record. He was named to the Pro Bowl and ranked 16th among NFL players.
2015 and 2016 Seasons
Bell missed some games in 2015 due to a suspension. He made his 2015 debut in Week 3. He scored his first rushing touchdown of the season. In Week 7, he rushed for 88 yards. On November 1, Bell suffered a season-ending knee injury. He finished the 2015 season with 556 rushing yards and three touchdowns.
Bell was suspended for the first three games of the 2016 season. He returned in Week 4 with 144 rushing yards. In Week 7, he caught a career-high 10 passes. On December 11, Bell broke the Steelers' franchise record for rushing yards in a game with 236 yards and three touchdowns. He was named AFC Offensive Player of the Week. He was also named to his second Pro Bowl. Bell finished the 2016 season with 1,268 rushing yards and seven touchdowns. He also had 75 catches for 616 receiving yards.
In the playoffs, Bell set a Steelers record with 167 rushing yards in the Wild Card Round. The next week, he broke his own record with 170 rushing yards. He became the first NFL player to rush over 150 yards in his first two playoff games. He was ranked #9 among NFL players in 2017.
2017 and 2018 Seasons
In 2017, the Steelers used the franchise tag on Bell. This meant he played for the team for one year at a set salary. In Week 4, he had 144 rushing yards and two touchdowns. In Week 6, he rushed for 179 yards, earning him AFC Offensive Player of the Week. He had 182 total yards in Week 13. Bell was named to his third Pro Bowl. He was also named a First-team All-Pro. He finished the 2017 season with a league-high 1,291 rushing yards and nine touchdowns. He also had 85 catches for 655 yards. He was ranked fifth among NFL players in 2018.
In 2018, the Steelers used the franchise tag on Bell again. Bell chose not to sign the tag and did not play the entire 2018 season. On February 20, 2019, the Steelers announced they would not use the franchise tag on him again, making him a free agent.
New York Jets Years
2019 Season
On March 13, 2019, Bell signed a four-year contract with the New York Jets. He played his first game with the Jets on September 8, 2019. He rushed for 60 yards and caught a touchdown pass. In Week 6, he scored his first rushing touchdown of the season. In Week 16, he played against his former team, the Steelers. He rushed for 72 yards in the win. Overall, in 2019, Bell had 789 rushing yards and three touchdowns. He also had 66 catches for 461 yards.
2020 Season
Bell started the 2020 season as the Jets' main running back. In Week 1, he suffered a hamstring injury. He returned in Week 5, rushing for 60 yards. Bell was released by the Jets on October 13, 2020.
Kansas City Chiefs
On October 17, 2020, Bell signed a one-year contract with the Kansas City Chiefs. In Week 11, he scored his first touchdown as a Chief. Bell finished the 2020 regular season with 328 rushing yards and two touchdowns. He also had 16 catches for 138 yards.
Baltimore Ravens
On September 7, 2021, the Baltimore Ravens signed Bell to their practice squad. He played in Week 4 and Week 6, scoring a touchdown in the latter game. He was signed to the active roster on October 19, 2021, but was released on November 16, 2021.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
On December 22, 2021, Bell signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He joined former Steelers teammates there. He played in three games for the Buccaneers. He caught a touchdown pass from Tom Brady in Week 18. He was released on January 22, 2022.
Playing Style
Bell was known for his unique running style. He was not the fastest runner, but he was hard to tackle because of his patience. He would wait for his blockers to create open paths before quickly speeding up for a big gain. This was different from what many coaches taught. CBS sportscaster Phil Simms called Bell the "Great Hesitator" because of this style.
NFL Career Statistics
| Legend | |
|---|---|
| Led the league | |
| Bold | Career high |
Regular Season Statistics
| 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 | |
Playoff Statistics
| 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 | DNP | |||||||||||
| Career | 5 | 4 | 83 | 430 | 5.2 | 38 | 3 | 13 | 91 | 7.0 | 22 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
NFL Records and Steelers Franchise Records
- 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.
Steelers Franchise 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, against the New Orleans Saints).
- Most scrimmage yards in a season: 2,215 (2014).
- Most rushing yards in a game: 236 (December 11, 2016, against the Buffalo Bills).
- Most rushing yards in a playoff game: 170 (January 15, 2017, in the Divisional Round against the Kansas City Chiefs).
- Most games with at least 200 rushing yards: 2 (tied with Willie Parker).
Other Ventures
Television and Music
In 2022, Bell appeared on The Masked Singer as "Milkshake." He was eliminated on "90s Night."
Bell also started a music career under the name "Juice." He released a 16-song album in 2017. In 2018, he released a single called "Target." He followed this with a four-song project titled "My Side of Things." On March 13, 2019, Bell released an album called "Life is a Gamble."
Gaming and Esports
In May 2020, Bell teamed up with professional Super Smash Bros. player Juan "Hungrybox" DeBiedma. They created an online Super Smash Bros. Ultimate tournament called The Box. It was the largest Super Smash Bros. tournament ever, with 8,192 participants. Bell had a record of 7 wins and 2 losses in the tournament. He played as Mega Man.
Professional Boxing Career
| Le'Veon Bell | |
|---|---|
| Statistics | |
| Nickname(s) | The Juice |
| Height | 6 ft 2 in |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 3 |
| Wins | 2 |
| Losses | 1 |
Bell became interested in boxing as another career path. In December 2021, he planned to retire from the NFL to become a professional boxer. He even challenged famous boxer Jake Paul.
First Fight: Bell vs. Peterson
In July 2022, Bell announced he would take a break from the NFL to box. His first exhibition match was against fellow NFL veteran Adrian Peterson. The fight happened on September 10, 2022. Bell defeated Peterson in the fifth round by technical knockout.
Bell vs. Hall
On October 29, 2022, Bell had his first professional boxing match. He fought American mixed martial arts fighter Uriah Hall. Hall won the fight by a unanimous decision.
Bell vs. JMX
On March 4, 2023, it was announced that Bell would fight British YouTuber JMX. The fight took place on April 21, 2023. Bell won the match by unanimous decision.
MFB Cruiserweight Title Tournament
Bell vs. Hamm
On April 12, 2024, Bell announced he would join the MFB Cruiserweight Title Tournament. The winner would become the new MFB cruiserweight champion. He was matched against Canadian influencer Tristan Hamm for the quarter-final. The fight happened on May 25, 2024. Bell defeated Hamm by unanimous decision.
Boxing Record
Professional Matches
| 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 Matches
| 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. |
Images for kids
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LeVeon Bell 2013.jpg
Bell in 2013
See also
In Spanish: Le'Veon Bell para niños
