Steelers Now
The Pittsburgh Steelers might have the best one-two tight end combo in the NFL. With Jonnu Smith gone, Mike McCarthy’s team will require some depth behind Pat Freiermuth and Darnell Washington.
Jaheim Bell is in that mix. The 6-foot-2, 241-pound Florida State product hasn’t had his name called over the public address system all that much during his professional career, but he showed as a collegian that he can be a viable receiving threat.
Bell’s biography on South Carolina’s athletics website describes him as a “‘Swiss Army Knife’ who can line up just about anywhere, including in the backfield.” The Steelers’ coaching staff has repeated that it values versatility, something that could give Bell a leg up on veteran Robert Tonyan, who has prior experience with Aaron Rodgers.
Bell played in 15 games as a rookie with the New England Patriots, who drafted him in the seventh round (No. 231 overall) in 2024. He pulled in two passes for 20 yards while sitting behind Hunter Henry and Austin Hooper on the depth chart.
If you’re looking for a reason to believe in Bell, he posted the top two performances by a tight end in South Carolina history, posting 159 yards against North Carolina and 136 against Vanderbilt in 2021.
Acquired: The Steelers signed Jaheim Bell to a one-year contract in May.
Last season: Bell split last season on the practice squad for the Philadelphia Eagles and the Steelers.
Career: Bell began his career with the New England Patriots in 2024, playing in 15 games and making two catches for 20 yards.
Bell joined the Gamecocks as a four-star recruit and one of Florida’s top 40 players in the 2020 class, per 247Sports’ composite rankings. He chose South Carolina over Alabama, Auburn, Florida and others.
Bell spent the first three seasons of his collegiate career in Columbia, becoming a major contributor as a sophomore. He racked up nearly 500 receiving yards that season, earning a second-team All-SEC nod from Pro Football Focus.
Bell transferred to Florida State for his senior season, posting 503 receiving yards on 39 grabs — both being career-bests. He was tabbed as a second-team All-ACC honoree for the campaign.
Bell was measured at 6-foot-2 and 241 pounds before the 2024 NFL Draft. He ran a 4.61-second 40-yard dash and registered a 35-inch vertical jump and 10-foot, 4-inch broad jump at the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine.
Bell was tagged with an 8.50 Relative Athletic Score, which ranked 167 out of 1,105 tight ends from 1987 to 2024.
Bell will be paid $1,005,000 in base salary this season. His cap hit is the same.
Bell accounted for more than 1,000 all-purpose yards during his junior and senior seasons in high school at Valdosta...
