Fansided

25 best NFL running backs of the 21st century

By Brad Weiss

Charger RB LaDainian Tomlinson runs down the field as the San Diego Chargers defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 20 - 9 on December 17, 2006 at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, CA. (Photo by Tracy Frankel/Getty Images)
Charger RB LaDainian Tomlinson runs down the field as the San Diego Chargers defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 20 - 9 on December 17, 2006 at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, CA. (Photo by Tracy Frankel/Getty Images) /
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PITTSBURGH, PA – JANUARY 14: Le’Veon Bell #26 of the Pittsburgh Steelers carries a ball lateraled by Ben Roethlisberger #7 for a touchdown during the second half of the AFC Divisional Playoff game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Heinz Field on January 14, 2018, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Jaguars defeat Pittsburgh 45-42. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA – JANUARY 14: Le’Veon Bell #26 of the Pittsburgh Steelers carries a ball lateraled by Ben Roethlisberger #7 for a touchdown during the second half of the AFC Divisional Playoff game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Heinz Field on January 14, 2018, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Jaguars defeat Pittsburgh 45-42. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images) /

25 best NFL running backs of the 21st century

Le'Veon Bell. 19. player. 55. . .

The Pittsburgh Steelers had some of the better playmakers in football during the 2010s, as they had an elite quarterback in Ben Roethlisberger, an all-time great at wide receiver in Antonio Brown, and a running back in Le’Veon Bell that could hurt you in so many ways. While Bell’s time with Pittsburgh ended on a sour note, you cannot look past everything he was able to accomplish in the Steel City.

Nearly racking up 900 rushing yards as a rookie out of Michigan State, a school he helped win a Big Ten title, Bell broke out for the Steelers in Year 2. Another back who could hurt a team on the ground and through the air, the shifty Bell had over 2,200 all-purpose yards, a mark that included over 80 receptions from his running back spot.

Over the next two seasons, Bell had some issues that kept him from playing a full slate of games, but when he was available, he was as good as it gets at the NFL level. In fact, despite playing in only 12 games during the 2016 season, he still had nearly 2,000 all-purpose yards, and he followed that up with another monster season in 2017, his final year with the Steelers.

Since leaving Pittsburgh, Bell has bounced around the NFL, taking on a lead role with the New York Jets in 2018, but never really had success in the Big Apple. He was first or second-team All-Pro four times, and was named to three Pro Bowls, and you have to wonder how his career would have turned out if he stayed in Pittsburgh.

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