Le’Veon Bell, born on February 18, 1992, in Reynoldsburg, Ohio, is a former professional American football running back and current professional boxer. He played college football at Michigan State University before being selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft.
NFL Career:
- Pittsburgh Steelers (2013–2017): Bell quickly established himself as one of the league’s premier running backs. In his second season (2014), he amassed over 2,200 total yards from scrimmage and earned First-team All-Pro honors. Despite facing suspensions and injuries in subsequent seasons, he continued to perform at a high level, earning Pro Bowl selections in 2016 and 2017.
- Contract Dispute and Holdout (2018): After being franchise-tagged by the Steelers for the second consecutive year, Bell chose to sit out the entire 2018 season due to contract disagreements.
- New York Jets (2019–2020): Bell signed with the Jets in 2019 but struggled to replicate his previous success. He was released by the team in October 2020.
- Subsequent Teams (2020–2021): Following his release from the Jets, Bell had brief stints with the Kansas City Chiefs, Baltimore Ravens, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He last played in the NFL during the 2021 season.
Boxing Career:
Transitioning to boxing, Bell made his professional debut in October 2022 against former UFC fighter Uriah Hall. Although he lost that bout, he secured a victory in April 2023 against British YouTuber JMX via unanimous decision. In May 2024, Bell participated in the MFB Cruiserweight Title Tournament, defeating Canadian influencer Tristan Hamm in the quarterfinals.
Recent Developments:
- Legal Issues: In March 2025, an Ohio jury awarded $25 million in damages to a relative of Bell who accused him of sexual abuse during her childhood. Bell has denied these allegations and, through his attorney, plans to challenge the default judgment, asserting that he was never served with the civil suit documents.
- Political Involvement: Bell has been an outspoken supporter of former President Donald Trump. In November 2024, he posted a video celebrating Trump’s election victory while wearing a “Make America Great Again” hat. Previously, in October 2024, he criticized Vice President Kamala Harris for her response to a question about her planned closing-argument speech, implying she did not directly answer the question.
Personal Life:
Beyond his athletic pursuits, Bell has ventured into music under the stage name “Juice,” releasing several projects. He also competed in the eighth season of “The Masked Singer” as “Milkshake,” where he was eliminated during “90s Night.”