Le'Veon Bell is a professional boxer and former American football running back. He played college football at Michigan State before being drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft. His NFL career also included stints with the New York Jets, Kansas City Chiefs, Baltimore Ravens, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. After retiring from professional football, he transitioned to a career in boxing.
1985: Lorenzo White's Rushing Record
In 1985, Lorenzo White set the Michigan State single-season rushing record, which Le'Veon Bell nearly surpassed years later.
1989: Tim Worley's Rookie Season
Tim Worley was the last rookie to lead the Steelers in rushing prior to Le'Veon Bell achieving the feat in 1989.
February 18, 1992: Birth of Le'Veon Bell
Le'Veon Andrew Bell Sr. was born on February 18, 1992.
1992: Barry Foster's Record
In 1992, Barry Foster set a Steelers franchise record for yards from scrimmage, which Le'Veon Bell later broke in 2014.
2006: Previous Steelers Rushing Record
In 2006, Willie Parker set the Steelers franchise record for rushing yards in a game, later broken by Bell.
2010: High School Recruitment and College Enrollment
Despite being a two-star recruit, Le'Veon Bell's principal advocated for him, leading to a scholarship offer from Michigan State University. He graduated high school early and enrolled in the spring semester of 2010.
2011: Sophomore Season at Michigan State
In the 2011 season, Bell had several strong performances, including a game with over 160 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns against Minnesota.
2012: Outback Bowl Victory
Bell contributed significantly to Michigan State's 2OT victory against Georgia in the 2012 Outback Bowl, scoring two touchdowns and gaining 87 all-purpose yards.
2012: College Career at Michigan State
Le'Veon Bell played for the Michigan State Spartans football team from 2010 to 2012 under coach Mark Dantonio.
June 3, 2013: Signing with the Steelers
Le'Veon Bell officially signed his rookie contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers on June 3, 2013.
2013: Entry into NFL Draft
After his junior season in 2012, Le'Veon Bell declared for the 2013 NFL draft.
2013: Improved Performance from Rookie Season
In 2013, Le'Veon Bell significantly increased his yards-per-carry average from his rookie season.
2013: NFL Draft Selection
Le'Veon Bell was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft.
August 2014: Arrest and Initial Suspension
In August 2014, Le'Veon Bell and teammate LeGarrette Blount were arrested on DUI and marijuana possession charges, leading to Bell's initial four-game suspension.
August 20, 2014: Bell Arrested for Marijuana Possession
Le'Veon Bell was arrested for marijuana possession on August 20, 2014, along with teammate LeGarrette Blount.
2014: All-Pro Season
Le'Veon Bell had a stellar 2014 season, finishing second in multiple rushing categories and earning Pro Bowl and NFL Top 100 honors.
2014: Breakthrough and Injury
Le'Veon Bell's 2014 season was marked by outstanding performance, tying Walter Payton's record, but ended with a knee injury in the regular season's final game.
April 9, 2015: Suspension Reduction
On April 9, 2015, Le'Veon Bell's initial four-game suspension was reduced to two games.
September 27, 2015: 2015 Season Debut
Le'Veon Bell made his 2015 season debut on September 27, against the St. Louis Rams, rushing for 62 yards and one touchdown, and catching seven passes for 70 yards.
2015: Suspension and Return
Le'Veon Bell faced a reduced suspension for the first two games of the 2015 season due to a previous arrest. He still performed well upon returning.
2015: Season-Ending Injury
Le'Veon Bell suffered a season-ending torn MCL against the Cincinnati Bengals in 2015, ending his season after six starts with 556 rushing yards and three touchdowns, and 24 receptions for 136 yards.
2015: NFL Top 100 Recognition
Le'Veon Bell was recognized among the top 100 NFL players in 2015, as voted by his peers.
August 19, 2016: Suspension
On August 19, 2016, Le'Veon Bell was suspended for three games for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy due to a missed drug test.
December 20, 2016: Pro Bowl and Player of the Month
Le'Veon Bell was named to his second Pro Bowl and AFC Offensive Player of the Month for December 2016.
2016: Solid Performance Despite Setbacks
Despite facing injuries and suspensions in 2016, Bell maintained a good performance level and earned recognition in the NFL Top 100.
2016: Post-Injury and Ranking
In 2016, Le'Veon Bell underwent successful surgery to repair his MCL/PCL and was ranked 41st on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2016, despite his injury.
2016: Rejected Contract Offer
Le'Veon Bell reportedly turned down a two-year, $30 million deal in 2016.
January 8, 2017: First Playoff Game
Le'Veon Bell started his first NFL playoff game on January 8, 2017, rushing for a franchise record 167 yards and two touchdowns against the Miami Dolphins.
February 27, 2017: Franchise Tag
The Steelers placed the franchise tag on Le'Veon Bell on February 27, 2017.
March 27, 2017: Bell Releases Debut Album
Le'Veon Bell, under the stage name "Juice," released his first music album on SoundCloud on March 27, 2017.
2017: Career High Season
Le'Veon Bell led the league in carries in 2017 and also had impressive receiving stats, culminating in his third Pro Bowl selection.
January 11, 2018: Contract Dispute Considerations
On January 11, 2018, Le'Veon Bell stated he would consider sitting out or retiring if franchise tagged again, prioritizing being valued over money.
March 6, 2018: Second Franchise Tag
On March 6, 2018, the Steelers placed the franchise tag on Le'Veon Bell for the second consecutive year.
May 27, 2018: Bell Releases "Target" Single
On May 27, 2018, Le'Veon Bell released the single "Target," addressing his contract dispute with the Steelers.
2018: Contract Dispute and Absence
Due to a contract dispute with the Steelers, Le'Veon Bell chose not to play the entire 2018 season.
2018: NFL Top 100 Ranking
In 2018, Le'Veon Bell was ranked fifth by his peers on the NFL Top 100 Players list.
2018: Missed Season
Le'Veon Bell missed the entire 2018 NFL season after not signing his franchise tender by the November 13 deadline.
February 20, 2019: Steelers Decline Franchise Tag on Bell
On February 20, 2019, the Pittsburgh Steelers announced that they would not use the franchise tag on Le'Veon Bell, allowing him to become a free agent when the new NFL year officially began on March 13.
March 13, 2019: Bell Signs with the Jets
Le'Veon Bell signed a four-year, $52.5 million contract with the New York Jets on March 13, 2019. The deal included $35 million in guaranteed money, making him the second-highest-paid running back in the NFL at the time.
September 8, 2019: Bell's Jets Debut
On September 8, 2019, Le'Veon Bell played his first game for the New York Jets against the Buffalo Bills. He had 60 rushing yards, 32 receiving yards, and a receiving touchdown in the 17-16 loss.
May 2020: Bell Creates Smash Bros. Tournament
In May 2020, Le'Veon Bell partnered with a professional Super Smash Bros. player and esports organization to create "The Box," the largest Super Smash Bros. tournament at the time.
September 15, 2020: Hamstring Injury and IR Placement
Le'Veon Bell suffered a hamstring injury in Week 1 of the 2020 season against the Buffalo Bills and was subsequently placed on injured reserve on September 15, 2020.
October 17, 2020: Bell Signs with Chiefs
On October 17, 2020, Le'Veon Bell signed a one-year contract with the Kansas City Chiefs after being released by the New York Jets.
2020: Kansas City Chiefs Stint
Le'Veon Bell signed and played with the Kansas City Chiefs to finish the 2020 season.
September 7, 2021: Bell Joins Ravens Practice Squad
The Baltimore Ravens signed Le'Veon Bell to their practice squad on September 7, 2021.
October 19, 2021: Bell Activated to Ravens Active Roster
On October 19, 2021, Le'Veon Bell was promoted from the practice squad to the active roster for the Baltimore Ravens.
November 16, 2021: Bell Released by Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens released Le'Veon Bell on November 16, 2021.
December 2021: Bell Expresses Interest in Boxing
In December 2021, Le'Veon Bell announced his intention to retire from the NFL to pursue a professional boxing career, even challenging Jake Paul on social media.
December 22, 2021: Bell Signs with Buccaneers
Le'Veon Bell signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on December 22, 2021, joining former Steelers teammates.
2021: Final NFL Season
In 2021, Le'Veon Bell played his final NFL season, splitting time between the Baltimore Ravens and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
January 22, 2022: Bell Released by Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers released Le'Veon Bell on January 22, 2022.
July 2022: Bell Announces Boxing Focus
Le'Veon Bell announced in July 2022 that he would sit out the 2022 NFL season to focus on boxing, with a planned exhibition match against Adrian Peterson.
October 29, 2022: Bell's Professional Boxing Debut
Le'Veon Bell made his professional boxing debut against Uriah Hall on October 29, 2022, losing by unanimous decision.
2022: Bell Appears on The Masked Singer
In 2022, Le'Veon Bell, performing as "Milkshake", competed on season eight of The Masked Singer. He was eliminated on "90s Night".
2022: Boxing Career Pursuit
Le'Veon Bell transitioned to a professional boxing career in 2022 after his time in the NFL.
March 4, 2023: Bell vs. JMX Announced
On March 4, 2023, a boxing match between Le'Veon Bell and YouTuber JMX was announced for April 21.