Steelers insider addresses the possibility team actually allows Le'Veon Bell to retire with Pittsburgh
Le’Veon Bell was in a mood last week during an interview on a Steelers-themed podcast. He was nostalgic, but also felt the need to apologize for a wrong and confess some sins.
But he did hit one theme. He wants to be part of the Steelers again, whether it be for a moment or maybe an extended stay. The former Steelers running back, who hasn’t played a down of football since the end of the 2021 season, would like to retire wearing the black and gold. And maybe, he’d like another chance in training camp. Maybe he can regain the magic that made him one of the most dynamic backs in the league.
“The day when I do retire, it is going to be with Pittsburgh,” Le’Veon Bell told the Steel Here podcast. “Before I do that, I may be like, ‘Hey, let me get a couple of carries in the preseason so I can show y’all something.’”
Given the past, would Steelers welcome back Le’Veon Bell?
At least one Steeler insider doesn’t think Pittsburgh will go along with the scenario. Bob Labriola, who works for Steelers.com, did a Q&A for Pittsburgh fans. It was published Tuesday. Several asked about Bell or other ex-Steelers like him.
Here’s one of the questions:
Some once great (but disgruntled) former Steelers have recently expressed hope to retire in their Steelers jerseys. Have the Steelers ever given a one-day contract for a former player to retire as a member of the franchise?
ANSWER: In terms of the whole one-day contract thing, no. The Steelers did once allow James Harrison to announce his “first” retirement (on Sept. 5, 2014) in the media room inside the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex.
And there was a follow up:
Any chance the Steelers actually give Le’Veon Bell a shot for a couple of games in August? If not, would they even allow him to sign a one-day contract and retire as a member of the Steelers?
ANSWER: A “shot for a couple of games in August” for a 31-year-old running back whose most recent NFL season was in 2021 when he had 39 carries for 101 yards (2.6 average) and 2 touchdowns? Why? And as explained in the previous answer, the Steelers haven’t been a team that does the one-day contract thing.
There probably are a lot of lingering feelings about Le’Veon Bell, who didn’t leave the Steelers on the best of terms. We bring you back to 2018. He was coming off consecutive seasons of at least 1,200 yards rushing. And most considered Bell as an elite back in the NFL.
The Steelers placed the franchise tag on Bell, offering him $14.5 million for that season. But Bell turned it down. He wanted fully guaranteed money. Bell wouldn’t sign the offer and he didn’t play. The impasse pushed past a November deadline, which made him ineligible to play for the rest of the season.
“It was like a little petty, the guarantee stuff… I’m thinking could I have just ate it?” Le’Veon Bell said. “Yeah, I probably could’ve, yeah, I probably could’ve really ate it.”
Bell then signed with the Jets for $52 million over four years, with $27 million guaranteed. And his career nosedived. He rushed for 789 yards with the Jets in 2019, while adding 66 passes for 461 yards.
Then he turned football nomad. He butted heads with the Jets head coach, who cut him. Bell signed with the Chiefs. He stayed there through the end of 2020. In 2021, he played for the Bucs and Ravens. The running back doesn’t consider himself retired. But it seems kind of obvious the NFL retired him.