Le’Veon Bell, a veteran NFL running back, said that he will not be playing football this season in order to focus on his boxing career.
He admitted to Grant Gordon of NFL Media, “This year, I know I’m not going to be playing because I want to focus on boxing.”
On July 30 at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles for the Social Gloves 2 competition, Bell is already scheduled to box another NFL veteran, running back Adrian Peterson. Although it will not be considered a professional debut, it will be the two men’s first fight and an exhibition match.
Rapper Blueface will square off against former NBA player Nick Young in the undercard fight, while YouTube stars Austin McBroom and AnEsonGib will fight in the main event.
A number of athletes from other sports have followed suit since Jake and Logan Paul introduced a new craze of celebrity boxing matches, including former NFL players Frank Gore and Chad Johnson and former NBA players Deron Williams and Nate Robinson.
Bell, 30, is the most recent to do so. Between the Baltimore Ravens and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he appeared in just eight games last season, rushing for 101 yards and two touchdowns.
Although he has not carried for more than 1,000 yards since the 2107 season, his final in the Steel City, the three-time Pro Bowler and two-time first-team All-Pro pick was one of the deadliest weapons in football during his early years with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Bell has reportedly decided to pursue boxing as his second act now that his NFL career appears to be coming to an end.