Former Pittsburgh Steelers star Le’Veon Bell was captured with a smug expression as he stared down the camera for a mugshot in an Ohio jail.
The former running back, 34, was arrested on Sunday on a warrant out of Michigan in connection to child support payments, according to multiple reports.
Bell was reportedly detained by Jackson Township police at Belden Village Mall in Canton, Ohio, where he had appeared for a meet-and-greet and autograph event on Sunday afternoon. He is being held in custody on a ‘courtesy hold for another agency.’
Upon being booked, the three-time Pro Bowler smirked at the camera as he stood for his mugshot.
He allegedly owes more than $50,000 for child support, with his attorney, Thomas Shaffer, claiming that he had to withdraw his NFL pension to make the payments amid his financial struggles.
Shaffer said that his client is ‘inaccurately’ being charged based on the salary he received as an NFL player.
Former Pittsburgh Steelers star Le’Veon Bell smirked at the camera in his mugshot
The former running back, 34, was arrested on Sunday on a warrant out of Michigan
‘Six months ago he cashed in an NFL pension to pay $50,000 in child support for that child,’ Shaffer told the Canton Repository.
‘His guidelines are still inaccurately being deemed based on his NFL salary and his professional boxing career. 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.’
The child in question reportedly lives in Michigan, therefore involving the Michigan Attorney General.
Bell has proven a divisive character since stepping away from the NFL in 2022, with his outlandish behavior on social media often sparking contention.
Amid his support for Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election, the two-time First Team All-Pro drew heavy criticism after sharing a photo of himself in a T-shirt which labeled his rival Kamala Harris a ‘tramp’.
A number of fans accused him of sexism and misogyny after the offensive slur about Harris, before he went on to taunt them after Trump cruised to victory in the election.
Just months later, Bell was forced to deny allegations that he raped his cousin for around a decade – starting when she was just a child.
That was despite a jury ordering in March 2025 that the woman received damages totaling $25million from Bell and another $11.05m from his brother La’Vonte, according to court documents.
The ex-NFL star, who joined Donald Trump on his election campaign trail last year, has proven a divisive character since his final game in 2022
His attorney claimed that Bell ‘inaccurately’ being charged child support payments based on the salary he received as an NFL player
Both La’Vonte and Le’Veon were accused of starting nonconsensual ‘incestual relations’ with her when she was just six to seven years old. The civil complaint says they allegedly continued ‘through at least 2017’ – four years after Bell was drafted into the NFL.
An attorney for Bell initially told TMZ that he ‘adamantly denies’ the allegations in the case. Following the initial report, the ex-football player did a livestream on Twitch, calling the allegations ‘bulls***’ before boasting about his number of sexual partners.
‘Do y’all think Le’Veon Bell… do I need to force myself upon a woman? Anybody? Do I need to force myself upon them? I don’t,’ he said.
‘My number is so high… thousands of women, slayed by the dragon,’ he later continued. ‘I done slayed so many women it’s like a f***ing dragon bro. I’m a dragon slayer out here.’
Bell denied ever forcing himself upon a woman sexually.
A second-round draft pick by the Steelers out of Michigan State in 2013, Bell played five seasons with the Steelers before sitting out the 2018 season in a contract dispute.
Bell was second-round draft pick by the Steelers out of Michigan State in 2013
He continued his career with the Jets (pictured), Chiefs, Ravens and Buccaneers
He continued his career with the New York Jets (2019-20), Kansas City Chiefs (2020), Baltimore Ravens (2021) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2021).
Bell made three Pro Bowls, earned two All-Pro first-team selections and produced three 1,000-yard seasons with the Steelers.
He retired with 9,843 yards from scrimmage (6,554 rushing and 3,289 receiving) and 51 touchdowns in 96 career games (81 starts).
After football, Bell went 2-1 as a professional boxer from 2022-24.
