Mike Bell (running back) facts for kids
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| Position: | Running back | ||||||||||
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| Born: | April 23, 1983 Denver, Colorado, U.S. |
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| Height: | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | ||||||||||
| Weight: | 225 lb (102 kg) | ||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||
| High school: | Tolleson (AZ) Union | ||||||||||
| College: | Arizona | ||||||||||
| Undrafted: | 2006 | ||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||
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Michael Steven Bell, born on April 23, 1983, is a former American professional football player. He was a running back in the National Football League (NFL) from 2006 to 2010. Mike Bell played college football for the Arizona Wildcats. He later joined the Denver Broncos as a player who wasn't chosen in the draft. Bell also played for the New Orleans Saints, Philadelphia Eagles, and Cleveland Browns. A big highlight of his career was winning Super Bowl XLIV with the Saints.
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Early Life and High School Football
Mike Bell grew up in Arizona and played football at Tolleson Union High School. He was an amazing runner in high school. He became the second player in Arizona history to run for over 2,000 yards in two seasons in a row. He also achieved the second-highest total of 4,692 rushing yards in Arizona high school history. In his senior year, The Arizona Republic newspaper named him Player of the Year.
College Football Career
Bell continued his football journey at the University of Arizona. During his four years there, he ran for 3,163 yards and scored 17 touchdowns. For three of those years, he was the main starting running back. In his final year, he had a fantastic game against the undefeated UCLA Bruins. He ran for 153 yards and helped his team win 52–14. Mike Bell is still ranked third all-time in rushing yards for the University of Arizona.
Professional Football Journey
After college, Mike Bell hoped to join the NFL. He wasn't picked by any team in the 2006 NFL draft, but he still got a chance to play.
Joining the Denver Broncos
On May 8, 2006, the Denver Broncos signed Mike Bell as an undrafted free agent. This meant he joined the team even though he wasn't drafted. He had a very strong training camp, which is like practice before the season starts. Because of his hard work, he was even promoted to a starting position before the first preseason game.
During the 2006 season, Bell got a chance to play more. In a game against the undefeated Indianapolis Colts, he stepped in and ran for 135 yards and scored two touchdowns in just one half! He averaged nine yards every time he carried the ball. He even started the next game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Bell led the Broncos with eight rushing touchdowns that season. He left the Broncos on July 21, 2008.
Time with the New Orleans Saints
Mike Bell signed with the New Orleans Saints on November 19, 2008. He played in four games that season, carrying the ball 13 times for 42 yards and scoring one touchdown. His first touchdown as a Saint was a one-yard leap against Detroit.
In the 2009 season, Bell played a much bigger role for the Saints. He was part of a group of three main running backs, along with Pierre Thomas and Reggie Bush. He led the team in carries with 172 and gained 654 rushing yards, scoring 5 touchdowns. The biggest moment came on February 7, 2010, when the Saints won Super Bowl XLIV. Mike Bell was part of that championship team!
Later NFL Teams
After his time with the Saints, Mike Bell moved to other teams. On March 23, 2010, he joined the Philadelphia Eagles. Later that year, on October 13, 2010, he was traded to the Cleveland Browns. In 2011, he signed with the Detroit Lions, but he was waived by them on August 29, 2011.
