The Pittsburgh Steelers selected running back Le'Veon Bell in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft. Over his five seasons with the Steelers, Bell started 62 games and amassed 1,229 carries, 5,336 rushing yards, and 35 touchdowns. Additionally, he made a significant impact in the receiving game, recording 312 receptions for 2,660 yards and seven touchdowns.
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In 2017, Bell was franchise-tagged, a situation he accepted without issue. However, he believed the Steelers had promised to address his contract situation favorably after that year. When the team offered him another franchise tag worth $14.544 million, Bell was disappointed, feeling it contradicted the earlier agreement. This led to his decision to sit out the entire 2018 season.
Bell discussed this contract dispute in depth on his former teammate Antonio Brown's podcast, CTESPN, offering his side of the story.
“Year one, I was really so cool. I was like this is what I want. Don’t even worry about it if we can’t do this. I’ll play on the franchise tag and I will prove it again to y'all. Don’t even worry about it. I’m going to go out there and play on the franchise tag and then next year, I will make sure we get right. They said, ‘Yeah, we gonna do that.’ Alright, boom.”
By sitting out the 2018 season, Bell forfeited the $14.544 million that the Steelers had offered him through the franchise tag. This decision led to significant backlash from the organization and their fans.
Despite the criticism, Bell wants to make it clear that his choice was not about the money but rather about upholding his principles and the promise he believed the Steelers had made to him.
“So next year, franchise tag comes and they thinking, ‘Oh, we are going to franchise tag him and he will sit out for training camp and come back for Week 1,’ like I did the year before. It was like, no bro, I did that last year and y'all told me you were going to get me right this year.”
During his first year under the franchise tag, Bell was given a heavy workload with 321 carries. He felt that taking on such a demanding role again, without assurances for his future, posed a significant risk.
“Am I going to go out there and get another 400 carries and heaven forbid in between these 400 carries I get hurt? That’s what I always kept thinking. Even after that year four, I was banged up and I had to go get surgery. People don’t even know that… I’m sitting here thinking like at least get me like the APY higher or give me the guaranteed money higher. It was one or the other, but they were trying to do neither. That’s why the contract never happened. It was never about the money.”
After sitting out the 2018 season, Bell hoped to secure a contract that would compensate for the money he forfeited and ensure his future. He eventually signed a four-year, $52.5 million deal with the New York Jets, which included $27 million guaranteed. However, his career took a downturn as he played in a struggling offense, and he never regained his previous form. Bell has since admitted he regrets leaving the Steelers.
During his time with the Steelers, Bell was a dominant running back, on track to become one of the franchise's all-time greats. However, he felt it was necessary to prioritize his future and safety, as he believed the Steelers were not meeting his demands.
Steelers' Le'Veon Bell Never Regained Momentum In His Career After Leaving Pittsburgh
Although the gamble didn't pay off, as his career never reached the same heights after leaving Pittsburgh, some Steelers fans have come to understand Bell's perspective more as details of the contract dispute emerged.
Bell's situation was complicated by the advice of his agent, which some believe led him astray. Despite the unfortunate outcome, Steelers fans appreciate the positive comments and support Bell has since offered the organization. However, they still wish his tenure with the team had lasted longer. Bell even teased a return to playing for the Steelers in the 2024 season. Bell felt like he could still play and be a productive back. Nothing has transpired on those efforts.
