Running back Le’Veon Bell has had a wild week. While still challenging Youtuber Jake Paul to a boxing match over the weekend, he’s back on an NFL field just days later. As he now reveals, he was actually on the verge of ending his football career.

Munich – After his release by the Baltimore Ravens in mid-November, things got quiet around running back Le’Veon Bell.

Then on Wednesday, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers dropped the bombshell. Replacing star running back Leonard Fournette, who is currently injured, the reigning Super Bowl champions signed Bell for the rest of the season.

Bell nearing end of career

As the veteran explained on Wednesday, the Buccaneers caught him at just the right moment in the process. “To be honest, I was already at the point of hanging up my career,” he told “ESPN”. “It was mainly because things weren’t working out with my last few teams,” the 29-year-old continued.

After five very successful years with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Bell moved to the New York Jets in 2019 following disagreements. However, because things never really clicked here either, he was on the squad with the Kansas City Chiefs last season.

At the beginning of the current season, he finally moved to the Ravens, but he never really found his feet there either and ultimately had to leave.

“This is really the only place I could see myself going again,” he said of his new employer. “This is where I want to go out and play football with enthusiasm,” said the three-time Pro Bowler.

Had the Buccaneers not signed on, Bell might have been marvelling in another sport before long.

Boxing career as plan B?

“I was just going to start boxing professionally and concentrate on that,” he said of his plans off the football field. Nevertheless, he is in good shape because he has built up a lot of stamina through boxing training.

He already had a first opponent in mind. After Youtube star Jake Paul defeated former martial artist Tyron Woodley by knockout in a boxing match on Sunday, Bell went on the attack.

I’m tired of watching him out box ppl who don’t even wanna box…if he wanna boxing match, a real one, he’d fight me…period, stop fightin small dudes who can’t box https://t.co/EaxEBbJFR9

– Le’Veon Bell (@LeVeonBell) December 19, 2021

“I’m tired of watching him fight people who don’t even box,” Bell wrote on Twitter, “If he wants a real fight, dare him to fight me. Stop fighting tiny guys who can’t,” the running back said.

He also took a shot at Paul’s last opponent Woodley: “People like you who can’t box at all think I’m only in it for the money. I’d donate every dollar of prize money just to be able to show what I can do,” Bell railed.

any revenue I would make for the fight I would donate to charity…every single dollar! since ppl who can’t box like YOU think i’m in it for money…lol it’s not about money, it’s about me doin what you couldn’t do … I don’t need to pocket a dime, I already got “a bag” . . https://t.co/fDuU4vtZDH

– Le’Veon Bell (@LeVeonBell) December 20, 2021

Last chance with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers?

Already on Wednesday, Bell was on the practice field with his new teammates. “I played against him a couple of times, but never really talked to him,” Bell explained about his first encounter with quarterback Tom Brady. “He was very nice, it went great,” he continued.

Whether Bell will take his first snaps in a Buccaneers jersey on Sunday against the Carolina Panthers is still up in the air. “He’s always been a good receiver. We’ll see how fast he learns and what he can give us the next few weeks,” said head coach Bruce Arians.

It is probably one of the last chances for the 29-year-old to find his feet in the NFL again. Should the adventure with Brady and Co. also come to an end sooner than hoped, he would at least have an alternative directly at hand with boxing.