Former Pittsburgh Steelers star running back Le'Veon Bell was arrested over the weekend, per TMZ, due to an alleged lack of child support payments.
Even though Bell lives in California, the child for whom his payments are being directed lives in Michigan. Thomas Shaffer, Bell's attorney, said that Bell has not made payments that were based on his salary as an NFL player (which he hasn't been for years) and noted that payments must be calculated based on current income.
Bell reportedly owes more than $50,000 in payments. According to his representation, Bell has already used a part of his pension from the NFL to pay a portion of his payments earlier in the year. Bell's post-NFL life continues to take a turn for the turbulent.
Former Pittsburgh Steelers RB Le'Veon Bell arrested for non-payment of child support
"Six months ago, he cashed in an NFL pension to pay $50,000 in child support for that child. His guidelines are still inaccurately being deemed based on his NFL salary and his professional boxing career," Shaffer said, via the Canton Repository. "This is a revolving door because he pays a number that doesn't reflect his true income. The issue will never end. The court needs to reflect his true income."
Bell famously chose to sit out the 2018 season at the peak of his powers due to a contract dispute with the Steelers, and his departure came when he signed a meaty free agent deal with the New York Jets. Bell would see his yards per carry average fall to a whopping 3.2 in 2019, and he was sent away after playing just two games in 2020. Bell would have brief stints with the Chiefs, Ravens and Buccaneers after this.
Since football has ended, Bell has tried to pivot to celebrity boxing. Not even a decade after being regarded as an All-Pro and signing an eight-figure contract, Bell has fought "Supah Hot Fire" and "JMX" in exhibition fights that aren't exactly Hagler-Hearns in terms of quality.
In 2025, Bell was also deemed liable for $25 million in total damages after a cousin filed a sexual abuse lawsuit against him. His brother La'Vonte was also named as a defendant in this case and was ordered to pay $11 million as part of the ruling. Bell denies the allegations.
In a few years, Bell's post-football life has become just as messy as his time with the pads on after he and Pittsburgh parted ways.
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