Le'Veon Bell apologizes to Steelers fans for leaving the team in 2018

Maybe someday Le’Veon Bell will come to grips with his break-up from the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2018.

But today probably isn’t that day.

Over the weekend, Bell released a video on social media apologizing for leaving the Steelers in a contract dispute five years ago.

“I never apologized to the fans for really sitting out or leaving the Steelers,” Bell said. “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.”

A second-round pick in the 2013 draft, Bell played five largely successful seasons with the Steelers. He’s fourth on the franchise’s all-time rushing list with 5,336 yards and third in rushing touchdowns with 35.

In 2017, Bell played on the franchise tag. In 2018, instead of playing on the franchise tag again for a salary of $14.4 million, Bell sat out the season and eventually signed a four-year, $52.5 million deal with the New York Jets in 2019.

Bell has said the sticking point in his contract negotiations with the Steelers was guaranteed money.

Bell was released in 2020 after playing 17 games for New York. After leaving the Steelers, he amassed 1,218 rushing yards and seven touchdowns in parts of three seasons with the Jets, Baltimore Ravens, Kansas City Chiefs and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.