Less than five months ago, the Pittsburgh Steelers, in need of some help at safety, brought in free agent Vonn Bell for a workout.
A nine-year veteran who started 107 games in his NFL career, Bell was looking for another shot to get back into the league. Pittsburgh didn’t sign him, but Bell has since found a new calling, as he begins his first year as a coach, mentoring the Colorado Buffaloes’ safeties.
“I was trying to run away from it at first,” Bell said of his post-playing career. “I was still trying to play, getting workouts and stuff like that. But, you know, there’s always a different life, a different calling and don’t run away from your gift that God got for you. And I really just embraced that and I’m just happy to be here.”
The 31-year-old Bell is only about 14 months removed from his last game, on Jan. 4, 2025, with the Cincinnati Bengals. A second-round draft choice in 2016 coming out of Ohio State, Bell played for the New Orleans Saints, Bengals and Carolina Panthers, racking up 760 tackles and eight interceptions.
Bell still looks like he could play and shows up daily to the CU facility at 4 a.m. to work out with Buffs strength and conditioning coach Andreu Swasey. He’s not looking for another playing opportunity, however.
“I’m done. Yeah, for sure,” he said after CU’s fifth practice of spring on Wednesday. “I’m in a new transition in life. I always said towards the end of my career I always wanted to coach.”
Last year was Bell’s first season out of the game and it was Swasey, his long-time trainer, who invited him to come to Boulder and be around the game and workout at CU. Initially, Bell said no.
“I was fighting it, I was praying about it,” he said.
Eventually, he made his way to Boulder, working out and being around the Buffs.
“I came out here and it just stuck with me,” he said. “Just being around the kids, how they looked at me. You see their eyes light up and itap just like, ‘Man, I got a new love and passion.’”
Originally, Bell was going to be part of the CU staff this year as an analyst, working under defensive coordinator Robert Livingston, who was one of his coaches in Cincinnati.
Then, on Feb. 25, just five days before the start of spring ball, Livingston took a job with the Denver Broncos. Linebackers coach Chris Marve was elevated to defensive coordinator, while Bell was asked to coach the safeties.
“Itap been a blessing for sure. What a journey,” he said. “I breathe, live, and eat football, so I’m happy to be here. Itap truly an opportunity and really blessed in how they think of me. I just embrace the grind. Embrace the opportunity and just being here wholeheartedly and fully committed.”
Bell said that during his time at Ohio State and in the NFL, he always felt he would be a coach one day. He studied the game and mentored younger teammates.
“I was still like a coach then,” he said. “I was helping the guys out, being a smart player. Always in the offices with the coaches, always picking their minds every day, always in the DC’s back pocket.
“It was always in me (to be a coach). I was just made official.”
When he was announced as the Buffs’ new safeties coach earlier this month, Bell heard from a lot of his former coaches who wanted to congratulate him.
“I always just told them, I said, ‘I appreciate you coaching me hard and really like pouring into me as a man and as a player too,’” he said.
Now, he’s trying to do the same for the Buffs’ safeties, passing on his experience and wisdom.
“I’m just pouring it into them and how I’ve been going along,” he said. “And, just been praying about it and asking God to just give me strength, give me the right words and right wisdom to give to them every day.”
So far, so good, as Bell has been embraced by the players.
“He’s a great mentor, a great leader of men,” CU safety Naeten Mitchell said. “Him coming in was a big thing for me. He played in the league, he’s done what I want to do; what I want to get to. So, not only coaching me football, but coaching me outside of football, coaching me to get ready for the league.”
Bell’s time in the league is done, he said, but he’s eager to help Mitchell and the other Buffs achieve their dreams.
“When I get in these meeting rooms, I hit the field, that fire is still going,” he said. “Thatap why I love it so much. Thatap why I’m so passionate. And thatap why I’m so blessed to be able to have an opportunity to go out there and run with the guys every day.”
