Le’Veon Bell hasn’t played in the NFL since 2021, but he aims to change that soon. The former All-Pro recently announced plans to return to the NFL. Bell said in a series of Snapchat videos that he will work toward an NFL opportunity this offseason.
More specifically, he added that he aims to return to the Steelers, where he started his career. Bell played five seasons in Pittsburgh. “I just want to be honest with myself and go out there and put my feet on the ground,” Bell said. “I feel it? I’m sick? Can you come out and play? And I’m telling you now, if I decide to go to practice in March and play in the NFL in April, mark my words. I will be better than ever. .”I will come back just for the team. You all know who that is. Needless to say, I don’t have a team. “Everybody knows who that person is.”Bell’s tenure with the Steelers ended when he entered the 2018 season and declined to play under the franchise tag.
The move allows him to sign a four-year, $52.5 million contract with the Jets in free agency next year. But his tenure in New York (and subsequent brief stints with the Chiefs, Raiders and Buccaneers) didn’t go as planned. The three-time Pro Bowler hasn’t played football the past two seasons and will be 32 when the 2024 campaign begins.
Those factors put a lot of pressure on all players, not just quarterbacks. The market for this position has declined in recent years due to the drop in production that players experience in their late 20s. Bell’s past workload is also a concern for interested teams, as he had a league-leading 402 touchdowns in 2017.
The Michigan State graduate expressed regret about leaving the Steelers fold, but it would be surprising if Pittsburgh reciprocates his desire to sign him.
The team has Jaylen Warren under contract for two more years and Naji Harris with a fifth-year option in 2025. With the backfield tandem on the short-term horizon, the Steelers are unlikely to be very interested in a major RB move this offseason. However, if Bell returns to game form, he could be a name to watch in free agency.
