Levi Bell likely to retire from B.C. Lions

Photo courtesy: Steven Chang/B.C. Lions

American defensive lineman Levi Bell is likely to retire from the CFL after two seasons, sources have confirmed to 3DownNation. TSN’s Coty Wiles was first to report the news.

Bell appeared in 11 games with the Lions this season, starting opposite Mathieu Betts. He recorded 19 defensive tackles, two tackles for loss, and two sacks, but suffered a concussion in Week 17 against the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

The six-foot, 270-pound defender finished the regular season on the six-game injured list and was quietly added to the retired list ahead of the West Final on Saturday. He is a pending free agent should he change his mind.

The 27-year-old originally joined B.C. midway through the 2025 campaign, recording 12 defensive tackles, a sack, and a forced fumble in seven appearances.

Bell went unselected in the 2023 NFL Draft and initially signed with the Michigan Panthers of the USFL, recording 23 tackles and four sacks in seven games, including playoffs. That earned him an opportunity with the Seattle Seahawks, where he notched 10 tackles and a sack in three preseason games. He was waived as part of final cuts and spent the remainder of the season on the practice roster.

After a brief return to the UFL’s Panthers, where he saw minimal action, the native of Cedar Park, Tex., signed with the Indianapolis Colts and recorded six tackles in preseason action before being released. He again signed in the UFL at the start of the 2025 season but was released after recording four tackles in four games.

Bell wrapped up his collegiate career at Texas State University in 2022, notching 66 total tackles, 13.5 tackles for a loss, five sacks and seven hurries across 12 games. He was named second-team All-Sunbelt as a defensive tackle and received the third-highest grade of any defensive player in college football that season, according to Pro Football Focus. He earned third-team All-American honours from that publication.

He first attended the College of Idaho, a NAIA program in Caldwell, Idaho, in 2018, recording 17 tackles, 1.5 sacks, and a fumble recovery as a freshman. After a successful stint at Tyler Junior College, he entered the FBS ranks with Louisiana Tech and registered 27 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, and 4.5 sacks in 13 games.

The B.C. Lions concluded the 2026 CFL season with a 10-8 record and finished second in the West Division. They defeated the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the West Semi-Final, before losing to the Edmonton Elks in the West Final.