Browns' David Bell Retires from NFL After Injury Caused Risk to 'Life and Limb'

Cleveland Browns wide receiver David Bell is retiring from the NFL due to what he described as "an off-field injury that was beyond my control" in a Tuesday statement shared to social media.

"After consulting with medical experts and praying, I accept that continuing to play football would literally risk life and limb," Bell wrote. "Although it is the last thing I would otherwise want to do, with a heavy heart I am announcing my retirement."

Bell has not played since Week 2 of the 2024 season, when he suffered a season-ending right hip injury. He was placed on the active/non-football injury list in July.

Bell thanked class action and injury lawyer Brad Sohn in his statement "for making sure this never happens to anyone else again."

Sohn shared the post on X with the message, "One thing is for sure. This will NOT happen again."

Bell's lawyer also thanked the Browns, writing that the team has "stood by" his client.

Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski told reporters last September after Bell was carted off the field in Week 2 injury that the wide receiver's dislocated hip would require surgery.

"Feel badly for David. I know his teammates feel badly for him, but he'll bounce back," Stefanski said about the on-field hip injury last September (h/t NFL.com's Kelsey Russo). "But he's a guy that's a big part of this football team. He'll be here, I'm sure, as he rehabs, and can provide that steady hand as well, even just in this building."

Bell did not participate in minicamp or OTAs ahead of the 2025 season, although cleveland.com's Mary Kay reported that he had been seen catching passes from injured quarterback Deshaun Watson at the team facility in May.

Bell starred for three seasons at Purdue, where he set a program record with 17 career 100-receiving yard performances. He left the school having racked up 2,946 receiving yards for 21 receiving touchdowns between 2019 and 2021.

Selected by the Browns in the third round of the 2022 draft, Bell made 16 appearances and three starts while recording 214 receiving yards as a rookie in 2023.

Bell ultimately made 32 career NFL appearances (six starts) while recording 41 total catches, 408 receiving yards and three receiving touchdowns over parts of three seasons with the Browns.