Le'Veon Bell mulled retirement before signing with Bucs

Running back Le'Veon Bell. Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

Le'Veon Bell says he considered retiring from NFL before signing with Bucs

By Chelena Goldman | Last updated 12/22/21

Six weeks was apparently all it took for Le'Veon Bell to think his football career was over.

Following his first practice with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Wednesday -- who had just signed Bell that day -- the 29-year-old running back admitted the weeks between being released from the Baltimore Ravens and joining the Bucs made him wonder if it was time to retire from football. And focus on boxing.

"I'm not even gonna lie -- I got to the point where I had thought about kinda calling it quits, just 'cause of the fact that it wasn't working out for me the last couple spots I've been at," Bell said, via ESPN.

"This was like literally the only spot that I felt like made me want to play football and go out there and be excited to play. This was, like, literally the only place that could have called me and got me to really go play. I was gonna start boxing and focusing on boxing."

Here’s first look at Bucs running back Le’Veon Bell, wearing No. 6 and walking out to his first practice with Ke’Shawn Vaughn. (and @kyle_zedaker photobomb) pic.twitter.com/VM1WB6tJEr
— Greg Auman (@gregauman) December 22, 2021

Bell, a three-time Pro Bowler who has amassed 6,536 rushing yards and 42 touchdowns over his career, admitted how discouraged he felt when he didn't instantly get picked up by a new team after his release from Baltimore.

"It's one of the worst feelings in the world, honestly," Bell said. "Just knowing what I can do, how much I do got left, and the game that I love and playing my whole life -- it's tough when it's really not going the way you envision it."

The last few years really must not have gone the way Bell envisioned. After a contract holdout in 2018 inevitably led to a messy split from the Steelers, he had a short and tumultuous tenure with the Jets before landing on Baltimore's practice squad this year.

Now signed to a reigning Super Bowl champion team, Bell hopes to move forward.

"The last three or four years have definitely been tough," Bell admitted. "I think it kind of humbled me in a real good way. It made me work so much harder. I know how bad I want it, to help a team win, and to still show people I'm still a great football player. I just think that will and desire and [those] last couple years of humbleness kinda helped me out."

More must-reads: