The Pittsburgh Steelers have a tandem that is second to none at the running back position in Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren, but one former player is doing everything he possibly can to make a comeback on the gridiron in the NFL and has his old team set in his sights as his hopeful landing spot.
Former All-Pro tail back Le’Veon Bell recently posted on social media saying he is attempting an NFL comeback, and the team he hopes to play for this season is the Steelers. He is expecting to be in the best shape he has been in as a pro, and says if the Steelers call, he is coming back.
“I won’t start training until like March,” Bell said. “And I’m gonna be honest with myself, I got to go out there and be like, I’m going to put my foot in the ground. Do I feel it? Am I hurting? Can I go out there and really play again? And bro, I’m telling you all right now when I go out there and train in March and if I hit April and I make this decision to come back to play in the NFL again, mark my words down — I will be better than I ever was. And I will only come back for that one team. You all know who it is. I don’t have to say no team. You all know who it is.”
Bell has earned three Pro Bowl nods, was twice a first-team All-Pro with the Steelers and is ranked fourth all-time in franchise history with 5,336 rushing yards. However, after holding out the 2018 season, he never got back to his old self. He signed with the New York Jets as a free agent in 2019 and it was a complete and utter disaster, before being released the following season and playing for three other teams in 2020 and 2021.
Embed from Getty ImagesBell was spotted at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex during the 2023 campaign and got to see his former coach, Mike Tomlin. The visit was just to say hello, but it may have scratched the itch and sparked the urge to get back on the field for Bell.
Pittsburgh likely is not looking for another running back, but Bell’s ability as a running back and wide receiver could be intriguing if he does reach out.
Since his exit from the ‘Steel City’, which ended with plenty of controversy after his season-long holdout due to failed contract negotiations, he has admitted he regrets leaving and has apologized to the fanbase.
“I never apologized to the fans for sitting out, or leaving the Steelers,” Bell said in the video. “I never apologized. So, I want to say I apologize for leaving the best damn fans there is in this damn world. I shouldn’t have left. I apologize, I should never have left. I apologize. That’s my fault. That’s on me.”
Bell spent five seasons with the Steelers. The last time he played in the NFL was in 2021 with the Baltimore Ravens and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
