Former Pittsburgh Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell found himself behind bars in Stark County, Ohio, after being arrested on a child support warrant from Michigan over the weekend.
The 34-year-old was taken into custody Saturday in Jackson Township while appearing at a public meet-and-greet event at Belden Village Mall. Bell is being held on a courtesy hold for another agency, according to Stark County jail records.
Bell’s attorney, Thomas Shaffer, offered up an explanation, TMZ reports.
He said the former NFL star is being assessed for child support based on his high earnings from his playing days rather than his current income. Shaffer noted that Bell recently cashed in part of his NFL pension to pay $50,000 toward the obligation and argued the guidelines no longer reflect reality, especially since Bell has not played in the league since 2021.
“Le’Veon is struggling to make support payments, which are based on a healthy NFL salary – a salary he’s not earned in years,” Shaffer said.
The Michigan Attorney General’s Office is involved due to the amount owed. Reports indicate he is still behind by over $50,000.
🚨 EXCLUSIVE: Former NFL star Le'Veon Bell arrested over alleged child support neglect. https://t.co/zghh4pLd38 pic.twitter.com/BxFZzY0V01
— TMZ (@TMZ) July 20, 2026
Le’Veon Bell Child Support Dispute
The case stems from a child Bell has in Michigan.
His lawyer claims the calculations are outdated and based on salaries from his peak years with teams like the Chiefs, Ravens, and Buccaneers. Bell earned the bulk of his career earnings, in excess of $45 million, during his successful run with the Steelers and a 4-year, $52.5 million contract he signed with the New York Jets in 2019.
Bell has not been in the NFL since 2021. He’s actually since pursued a professional boxing career. He has a record of 2-1.
Shaffer described the situation as frustrating, saying the court needs to update the numbers to match Bell’s actual finances.
Bell appeared in Stark County over the weekend despite the warrant. He remains in custody as the matter is sorted out between states.
This is not Bell’s first brush with legal issues since retiring from football, though his playing career included three Pro Bowl selections and a reputation as one of the league’s most elusive backs. In February 2025, an Ohio jury found Bell liable for $25 million in compensatory and punitive damages in a civil sexual abuse case brought by a female relative.
Bell has denied the allegations through his attorney, who stated that his client was never properly served and adamantly rejects the claims. The verdict came after a default judgment was entered when the brothers did not appear in court.
The former NFL running back earned three Pro Bowl selections and rushed for over 6,500 career yards. As of Monday morning, no court date had been set for his extradition or hearing in Michigan.
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Rusty Weiss is a lifelong Los Angeles Dodgers, Dallas Cowboys, and Xavier Musketeers fan. He has been writing professionally ... More about Rusty Weiss