Rewind back to 2018 for a second. The Pittsburgh Steelers had just placed the franchise tag on star running back Le'Veon Bell for the second straight year. But Bell wasn't having it. He didn't want to play the 2018 season without any long-term security. Even though the franchise tag would've paid him 14.4 million in 2018 Bell declined to ever sign the offer and sat out the entire season.
Pittsburgh Post Gazette
Bell was coming off a season in 2017 where he rushed for 1291 yards on 321 carries. He also managed to catch 85 passes for 655 more yards. He was the Steelers bell cow. Paired with Antonio Brown, and Ben Roethlisberger the Steelers had one of the most prolific offenses to ever play. Because of that Bell wanted to re-set the market for running backs. He also believed he should be paid like a wide receiver. Wide receivers generally carried a much more lucrative price tag than running backs.
Pittsburgh tried to accomplish that feat for Bell. While they wouldn't change their ways when it came to guaranteed money for a position outside of a quarterback, they reportedly offered Bell a 5-year contract worth 70 million. That would've made Bell the highest paid running back in the NFL. It took TJ Watt prior to the 2021 season for Pittsburgh to give guaranteed money to a non-quarterback position.
After sitting out all of 2018 Pittsburgh let Bell walk. James Conner had filled the void perfectly in Bell's absence in 2018 and there was no longer a need for Pittsburgh to attach such a big payment to a running back. Conner, working on his rookie contract would be good enough. Especially considering that he was running behind one of the best offensive lines in football.
From @NFLTotalAccess: A look at what contract offer #Steelers RB Le’Veon Bell turned down and how close they actually came to a deal. pic.twitter.com/Tnt7EMfvTc
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) July 16, 2018
Bell signed for four years and $52.5 million with the New York Jets . The deal had a max value of $61 million and included $35 million guaranteed. But that marriage would only last one season before Bell was released. He received $28,031,250 in exchange for 17 games, 264 carries, 69 receptions, four touchdowns and 1,363 net yards gained.
Had he taken the Steelers offer he likely would've played out his entire contract and received the 70 million. He wouldn't have been stuck running in one of the worst offenses in the NFL behind one of the worst offensive lines in the game. And he wouldnt of forfeited 14.4 million in 2018.
DENVER, CO - OCTOBER 25: Le'Veon Bell #26 of the Kansas City Chiefs carries the ball against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High on October 25, 2020 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)
After playing a full season in New York he would never complete a full season in the NFL with one team again. He'd bounce around the league spending different points with Kansas City, Tampa Bay, and Baltimore. A once potential Hall of Fame career was derailed with one poor decision after the next.
On Wednesday evening Bell took to Instagram to post an 'unofficial' retirement message.
"I’m excited for this next chapter of my life, my journey to be the BEST at what I do … The NFL has done great things for me, & I truly appreciated every single year of my NFL journey … obviously, I (we, whoever) wish things would’ve played out differently in 2018, like if I legit had a time machine to go back to 2018, that would be soo litttt ? for soo many reasons but I don’t … all I can do, all WE can do is keep moving forward with life… & life has taught me a lot of valuable lessons & formed me into the person i am today … I had moments in the last 6-7 years or so where it felt as if I was on top of the world, I could do no wrong, & I loved every minute of it…it’s also been moments where I felt alone, betrayed, disrespected, or used…it definitely didn’t make me feel the best but I never blinked…i’ve managed to embrace ALL of it, and use it as motivation to prove TO MYSELF I’m gonna be the BEST as I shift my focus solely to my new sport, boxing! I’ve been blessed & fortunate enough to make a lot of money playin the game of football, & I couldn’t be more thankful for being able to provide for my family & close ones & form relationships with other coaches & other great athletes all across the league … but clout? money? thats not what this is about & that’s just what I want people to understand … it’s not about the money for me, it’s about proving to MYSELF & showing the world that I’m not done yet … I appreciate everyone who decides to support my journey, y’all the reason I keep goin! I appreciate everyone who doesn’t, I use it as fuel & motivation but regardless it’s time for me to move on with my next chapter of life & I’m super excited about it … & it’s starts July 30th, at krypto.com arena vs Adrian Peterson … grab ya tickets or tune in, and prepare for me to put on a SHOW ??"
As Bell says in his message, he has turned his attention to boxing now. He will square off against former NFL running back Adrian Peterson in a few weeks in Los Angeles.
But inside of that message seems to be a regretful Bell. He says:
"I (we, whoever) wish things would’ve played out differently in 2018, like if I legit had a time machine to go back to 2018."
It's certain that many Steelers fans wish he would've made better decisions in 2018, too. At that moment he went from fan favorite, Pro Bowl running back on a path to potentially climb into the Steelers record books to a flop. And onto of that he lost millions of dollars.
Good luck in your retirement, Lev.
