Could the San Francisco 49ers be among the teams willing to at least give Pittsburgh a call?
The 49ers signed former Minnesota Vikings running back Jerick McKinnon in March. However, he suffered a season-ending torn ACL before the start of the regular season. In his absence, Matt Breida and Alfred Morris have been carrying the load for San Francisco.
Earlier this month, general manager John Lynch discussed on KNBR the possibility of upgrading at the running back position — specifically with Bell.
"Would you love a player like the guy you're talking about? Sure," Lynch responded while being careful not to name Bell. "But we've also got to stay measured here and keep on having a big picture. We're excited to go compete with the group we have."
Bell, who played college football at Michigan State, was a second-round draft pick by the Steelers in 2013. During his five NFL seasons, he has been selected to the Pro Bowl three times (2014, 2016, 2017) and named first-team All-Pro twice (2014, 2017).
Bell has posted 1,200-or-more yards in three of the past four seasons. In 2014, he rushed for 1,361 yards on 290 carries and eight touchdowns. In 2016, Bell rushed for 1,268 yards on 261 carries and seven touchdowns. This past season saw him rush for 1,291 yards on 321 carries and nine touchdowns.
A suspension for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy and a season-ending MCL tear shortened Bell's 2015 season to just six games.
Bell has been holding out in hopes of receiving a new contract from the Steelers.
More San Francisco 49ers News
-
Schefter: 49ers will have George Kittle and Nick Bosa vs. Rams
ESPN insider Adam Schefter shared some San Francisco 49ers injury updates ahead of their Week 1 clash with the Los Angeles Rams in Melbourne, Australia. His news should not come as a surprise to fans who have followed the team's injury updates throughout the week. But if you... -
49ers urged to trade for Maxx Crosby: 'You're in an arms race with the Rams right now'
The San Francisco 49ers will get an early test of how they stack up against one of the NFL's best teams when they face the Los Angeles Rams to open the 2026 season in Melbourne, Australia. The Rams enter the season as Super Bowl LXI favorites, making the Week 1 NFC West... -
49ers trade pitch lands former second-round draft pick
The NFL is unpredictable, and it's impossible to know what the San Francisco 49ers' biggest needs will be as they progress through the 2026 season. If wide receiver becomes an area of concern, one NFL writer has proposed a trade that could bolster the team's depth at the... -
49ers Notebook: Two-headed monster shines at running back; Familiar faces make triumphant returns; Myles Garrett gets shut out
The 2026 season started with a bang for the San Francisco 49ers, who ran away from the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday in a 27-7 win at Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne, Australia. There were a large number of positives to take from the game from the perspective of the...