While it’s hard to get excited about anything that happened Sunday in the Pittsburgh Steelers 20-13 loss to the New York Jets, it’s worth pointing out that running back Le’Veon Bell broke a franchise running back record that was set way back in 1994.
Bell’s eight receptions Sunday now gives him 55 for the season and that’s four more than fullback John L. Williams had back in 1994, his first season with the Steelers.
Bell is currently on pace to catch 88 passes this season and that would likely result in him being listed at seventh-place on the Steelers all-time single-season list for receptions baring anything happening to wide receiver Antonio Brown.
Bell has cooled off lately when it comes to running the football, however, as he’s gained all of 56 yards on the ground in the last two games on 21 carries. He’s still on pace to rush for 1195 yards and should he hit that number, it would leave him in tenth-place on the Steelers all-time single-season list for rushing yards in season.
Bell now needs 114 rushing yards to set a single-season career-high for rushing yards. (860 in 2013). He also needs 147 more rushing yards to pass Franco Harris (1972-73 – 1,753) for the most rushing yards by a Steeler in their first two seasons in the NFL (rookie to second year).
