Le’Veon Andrew Bell Sr. (born February 18, 1992) is an American professional boxer and a former football running back. He played college football at Michigan State and was picked by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the second round of the 2013 NFL draft. Bell later played for the New York Jets, Kansas City Chiefs, Baltimore Ravens, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Bell rushed for 860 yards as a rookie, then had a breakout second season with the Steelers, gaining over 2,200 total yards and earning a Pro Bowl spot. He missed games in 2015 and 2016 because of suspensions and injuries, but still performed well and was named to the NFL Top 100 both years. In 2017, he led the league with 321 carries for 1,291 yards, caught 85 passes for 655 yards, and made his third Pro Bowl. In 2018, Bell chose not to sign the franchise tag from the Steelers and sat out the entire season.
Bell joined the Jets the next off-season, but did not return to his earlier success. After less than two seasons, the Jets released him. He finished the 2020 season with the Chiefs. In 2021, Bell played for the Ravens and Buccaneers before starting a professional boxing career in 2022.
Profile Summary & NFL Career Stats
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Name | Le’Veon Bell |
| Position | Running Back |
| Date of Birth | February 18, 1992 (age 34) |
| Place of Birth | Reynoldsburg, Ohio, U.S. |
| Listed Height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) |
| Listed Weight | 225 lb (102 kg) |
Football Career Information
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| High School | Groveport Madison (Groveport, Ohio) |
| College | Michigan State (2010–2012) |
| NFL Draft | 2013: 2nd round, 48th overall pick |
NFL Career History
| Years | Team |
|---|---|
| 2013–2018 | Pittsburgh Steelers |
| 2019–2020 | New York Jets |
| 2020 | Kansas City Chiefs |
| 2021 | Baltimore Ravens |
| 2021 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
Awards and Highlights
| Award / Honor | Year(s) |
|---|---|
| First-team All-Pro | 2014, 2017 |
| Second-team All-Pro | 2016, 2017 |
| Pro Bowl | 2014, 2016, 2017 |
| First-team All-American | 2012 |
| First-team All-Big Ten | 2012 |
Career NFL Statistics
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Rushing Yards | 6,554 |
| Rushing Average | 4.1 |
| Rushing Touchdowns | 42 |
| Receptions | 399 |
| Receiving Yards | 3,289 |
| Receiving Touchdowns | 9 |
| Statistics Source | Pro Football Reference |
Boxing Career
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Nickname | The Juice |
| Height | 6 ft 2 in (188 cm) |
| Weight Class | Cruiserweight |
| Stance | Orthodox |
Boxing Record
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Fights | 3 |
| Wins | 2 |
| Losses | 1 |
Age
Le’Veon was born on February 18, 1992, in Reynoldsburg, Ohio, United States. He is 34 years old.
Biography
Bell was born on February 18, 1992, in Reynoldsburg, Ohio. He went to Groveport Madison High School in Groveport, Ohio, where he played football, basketball, and ran track. As a running back for the Groveport Cruisers, he rushed for 789 yards and nine touchdowns as a sophomore, 1,100 yards and 13 touchdowns as a junior, and 1,333 yards on 200 carries with 21 touchdowns as a senior.
As a senior, he was named first-team All-Ohio Capital Conference Ohio Division. In basketball, Bell made the second-team All-OCC Ohio Division as a junior. He also competed in track and field, running the 100 and 200-meter dashes and excelling in the high jump with a personal best of 6 feet 8 inches (2.03 meters).
Playing style
Bell was known for his unique running style. He was not the fastest runner, but he was elusive because he patiently waited for his blockers to open lanes before quickly accelerating for big gains. Although coaches and analysts often tell running backs to “hit a hole with authority,” Bell’s approach was different. CBS sportscaster Phil Simms called him the “Great Hesitator” for this style.
Career highlights
Awards and honors
NFL
- 2× First-team All-Pro (2014, 2017)
- 2× Second-team All-Pro (2016, 2017)
- 3× Pro Bowl (2014, 2016, 2017)
- First-team All-American (2012)
- FedEx Ground Player of the Year (2014)
College
- First-team All-Big Ten (2012)
- Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl Offensive MVP (2012)
Records
NFL 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)
Musical career
Bell, who uses the stage name “Juice,” began his music career by releasing a 16-song album on SoundCloud on March 27, 2017. On May 27, 2018, he put out a single called “Target” to respond to critics about his contract dispute with the Steelers. He followed this with a four-song project, “My Side of Things,” where he shared his perspective on his second contract holdout with the Steelers. On March 13, 2019, Bell released another album, “Life is a Gamble.”
Boxing career
Bell showed interest in boxing as another career path. In December 2021, before joining the Buccaneers, he planned to retire from the NFL to become a professional boxer. He also tweeted a challenge to Jake Paul, saying Paul fought “small dudes who can’t box.”
Personal life
Bell was born on February 18, 1992, in Reynoldsburg, Ohio, to Lisa A. Bell. His mother and grandfather have always been Pittsburgh Steelers fans. Growing up, his mother raised him and his siblings alone and faced financial challenges. Bell has two older sisters and two younger brothers, who also play football. He credits his high school principal, Donis Toler Jr., and his mother for helping him succeed. Toler acted as a father figure and helped Bell get noticed by Michigan State.
Bell has many tattoos, including quotes from Christian scriptures. On his left arm, he has Jeremiah 1:5 and a picture of his mother hugging him after Michigan State lost the Big Ten Championship. He also has John 3:16 on his left arm, along with the words “That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.”
In May 2020, Bell teamed up with professional Super Smash Bros. player Juan “Hungrybox” DeBiedma and Team Liquid to organize an online Super Smash Bros. Ultimate tournament called The Box. With 8,192 participants, it became the largest Super Smash Bros. tournament ever. Bell finished with a 7–2 record, just missing the round of 256, and played as Mega Man throughout the event.
Bell endorsed Donald Trump in the 2024 United States presidential election.
Legal issues
On August 20, 2014, Bell was driving with his then-Steelers teammate LeGarrette Blount and Bell’s girlfriend at the time, Mercedes Dollson, when he was pulled over by the police. The officer searched the car after he claimed to notice the smell of marijuana. The search yielded 20 grams of marijuana, and the three were arrested for marijuana possession. Bell was sentenced to 15 months of probation, a 60-day suspension of his driver’s license, DUI education classes, and $2,400 in court costs.
In February 2025, an Ohio jury found Bell liable for $25 million in compensatory and punitive damages related to a sexual abuse case brought by a female relative for events which occurred when she was a minor. His brother La’Vonte, a co-defendant in the case, was ordered to pay $11 million.
Net Worth
Le’Veon Bell is a former American professional football player, rapper, and boxer with a net worth of $1 million.
