Former NFL running back Le'Veon Bell was arrested in Canton, Ohio, on Sunday due to an outstanding warrant for failing to pay a reported $50,000 in child support. Bell had been in Ohio for an autograph signing at Prime Time Sports and Framing at the time of his arrest.
Two days after his detention, Bell posted on social media, "F--K CHILD SUPPORT." He remains in custody in Stark County Jail.
Bell's attorney, Thomas Shaffer, stated that the issue stems from child support obligations calculated based on Bell's past NFL salary, even though the athlete last played in the league in 2021. "His guidelines are still inaccurately being deemed based on his NFL salary and his professional boxing career," Shaffer told 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."
During his eight seasons in the NFL, Bell earned over $45 million, according to Spotrac. He has seven children with six different women. In a previous podcast appearance, Bell was unable to name all seven of his children. It is not publicly specified which child's support payment led to the arrest warrant.
One of Bell's children resides in Michigan, where the former running back played college football at Michigan State before being drafted into the NFL. Bell spent the majority of his professional career with the Pittsburgh Steelers, later playing for the New York Jets, Kansas City Chiefs, Baltimore Ravens, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.