B. J. Bello

Amin Babajide "B. J." Bello (born October 31, 1994) is an American football linebacker for the Philadelphia Stars of the United States Football League (USFL). He played college football at Illinois and Illinois State.

B. J. Bello
refer to caption
Bello with the New York Jets in 2019
No. 49 – Philadelphia Stars
Position:Linebacker
Personal information
Born: (1994-10-31) October 31, 1994
New Lenox, Illinois, U.S.
Height:6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight:229 lb (104 kg)
Career information
High school:Lincoln-Way West
(New Lenox, Illinois)
College:Illinois
Illinois State
Undrafted:2017
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Roster status:Active
Career NFL statistics as of 2022
Total tackles:20
Sacks:0
Forced fumbles:0
Fumble recoveries:0
Interceptions:0
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Early years

B. J. Bello was born on October 31, 1994, in New Lenox, Illinois. He played high school football at Lincoln-Way West High School in New Lenox, Illinois. He recorded 81 tackles, 1 forced fumble and 1 interception his senior year in 2011. He also participated in track and field at Lincoln-Way West, earning All-State honors.[1]

College career

Bello played for the Illinois Fighting Illini of the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign from 2013 to 2015. He was redshirted in 2012. He played in four games in 2013 and recorded four tackle assists. He played in nine games in 2014 and totaled three tackle assists. Bello played in eight games in 2015, recording one solo tackle, five tackle assists and one pass breakup.[1] He transferred to play for the Illinois State Redbirds of Illinois State University in 2016.[2] He played in 12 games, starting 11, in 2016, totaling 72 total tackles, 6 sacks, 4 pass breakups and 2 forced fumbles.[3] Bello was named to the MVFC All-Newcomer Team in 2016.[2]

Professional career

Bello was rated the 45th best outside linebacker in the 2017 NFL Draft by NFLDraftScout.com.[4] Lance Zierlein of NFL.com predicted that he would go undrafted and be a priority free agent, stating that Bello "needs to be stronger and tougher to hold up as a 4–3 linebacker which is where he'll likely project. Teams could look to bulk him up and see if he could become a situational rusher off the edge, but he'll have to become a quality special teams player to make that a possibility."[5]

Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeightArm lengthHand span40-yard dash10-yard split20-yard split20-yard shuttleThree-cone drillVertical jumpBroad jumpBench press
6 ft 2 in
(1.88 m)		 228 lb
(103 kg)		 33+7⁄8 in
(0.86 m)		 9 in
(0.23 m)		4.56 s1.46 s2.46 s4.17 s6.71 s33+1⁄2 in
(0.85 m)		10 ft 9 in
(3.28 m)		10 reps
All values from Illinois State and Northwestern Pro Day[4][6][7]

Cleveland Browns

Bello signed with the Cleveland Browns as an undrafted free agent on May 4, 2017.[8] He was waived by the Browns on September 1 and signed to the team's practice squad on September 4.[9][10] He was promoted to the active roster on September 8, 2017.[11]

Bello was waived by the Browns on September 1, 2018.[12]

Arizona Cardinals

On September 3, 2018, Bello was signed to the Arizona Cardinals' practice squad.[13] He was released by the Cardinals on September 18, 2018.

Philadelphia Eagles

On October 16, 2018, Bello was signed to the Philadelphia Eagles practice squad.[14] He was promoted to the active roster on December 14, 2018.[15] On June 5, 2019, the Eagles waived Bello.[16]

Houston Texans

On July 27, 2019, Bello signed with the Houston Texans.[17] He was waived/injured during final roster cuts on August 31,[18] and reverted to the team's injured reserve list the next day. He was waived from injured reserve with an injury settlement on September 4.

Green Bay Packers

On October 1, 2019, Bello was signed to the Green Bay Packers practice squad, but was released three days later.[19][20]

New York Jets
Bello in a game against the Washington Redskins

On October 30, 2019, Bello was signed by the New York Jets, but was released eight days later.[21][22] He was re-signed on November 12.[23]

Bello re-signed with the Jets on April 23, 2020.[24] He was waived on September 1, 2020.[25]

Los Angeles Chargers

On September 30, 2020, Bello was signed to the Los Angeles Chargers practice squad.[26] He was elevated to the active roster on November 21, November 28, and December 12 for the team's weeks 11, 12, and 14 games against the New York Jets, Buffalo Bills, and Atlanta Falcons, and reverted to the practice squad after each game.[27][28][29] He was signed to the active roster on December 17, 2020.[30]

Tennessee Titans

Bello signed with the Tennessee Titans on April 23, 2021.[31][32] He was placed on injured reserve on August 15, 2021.[33]

Philadelphia Stars

Bello signed with the Philadelphia Stars of the USFL on May 9, 2023.[34]

Personal life

He is of Nigerian descent.[35]

References
  1. "B.J. Bello". FightingIllini.com. Archived from the original on October 9, 2017. Retrieved October 8, 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  2. "B.J. Bello". GoRedBirds.com. Archived from the original on October 9, 2017. Retrieved October 8, 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  3. "2016 Illinois State Football" (PDF). GoRedBirds.com. p. 5. Archived from the original on October 9, 2017. Retrieved October 8, 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  4. "B.J. Bello". NFLDraftScout.com. Archived from the original on October 9, 2017. Retrieved October 8, 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  5. "B. J. Bello". NFL.com. Archived from the original on October 9, 2017. Retrieved October 8, 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  6. Goss, Dick (May 10, 2017). "Pro football: Lincoln-Way graduate Bello rides strong senior season at ISU to NFL shot". TheHerald-News.com. Archived from the original on October 9, 2017. Retrieved October 8, 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  7. Reinhardt, Randy (March 29, 2017). "Five ex-Redbird football players test skills at Pro Day". Pantagraph.com. Archived from the original on October 9, 2017. Retrieved October 8, 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  8. "Browns agree to terms with 11 undrafted free agents". ClevelandBrowns.com. May 4, 2017. Archived from the original on October 9, 2017. Retrieved October 8, 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  9. "Browns reduce roster to 65". ClevelandBrowns.com. September 1, 2017. Archived from the original on October 9, 2017. Retrieved October 8, 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  10. "Browns claim OL Zach Banner". ClevelandBrowns.com. September 4, 2017. Archived from the original on October 9, 2017. Retrieved October 8, 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  11. "Browns elevate LB B.J. Bello and DB Kai Nacua to the active roster". ClevelandBrowns.com. September 8, 2017. Archived from the original on October 9, 2017. Retrieved October 8, 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  12. Gribble, Andrew (September 1, 2018). "Browns announce 53-man roster". ClevelandBrowns.com.
  13. "Cardinals round out practice squad with 3 defensive players". Cards Wire. USA Today. September 3, 2018.
  14. Foley, Graham (October 16, 2018). "Eagles Sign Dexter McDougle, Waive/Injure Destiny Vaeao". PhiladelphiaEagles.com.
  15. McPherson, Chris (December 14, 2018). "Eagles Place Jordan Mailata on Injured Reserve". PhiladelphiaEagles.com.
  16. Ulrich, Logan (June 5, 2019). "Eagles Sign S Trae Elston, Waive LB B.J. Bello".
  17. "Texans sign ILB B.J. Bello and S Tyvis Powell". HoustonTexans.com. July 27, 2019.
  18. "Texans trim roster to 53 players". HoustonTexans.com. August 31, 2019. Archived from the original on September 1, 2019. Retrieved September 1, 2019.
  19. "Packers sign LB B.J. Bello to practice squad". Packers.com. October 1, 2019.
  20. "Packers sign TE Evan Baylis to practice squad". Packers.com. October 4, 2019.
  21. "Jets Sign LB B.J. Bello, Place LB Albert McClellan on Injured Reserve". NewYorkJets.com. October 30, 2019. Archived from the original on October 30, 2019. Retrieved October 30, 2019.
  22. Greenberg, Ethan (November 7, 2019). "Jets Activate CB Bless Austin". NewYorkJets.com.
  23. Greenberg, Ethan (November 12, 2019). "Jets Place RG Brian Winters, TE Chris Herndon on Injured Reserve". NewYorkJets.com.
  24. Greenberg, Ethan (April 23, 2020). "Jets Sign 4 Exclusive Rights Free Agents". NewYorkJets.com. Retrieved April 23, 2020.
  25. Greenberg, Ethan (September 1, 2020). "Jets Sign RB Pete Guerriero, Waive LB B.J. Bello and DL Sterling Johnson". NewYorkJets.com.
  26. @Chargers (September 30, 2020). "we've signed LB B.J. Bello to our practice squad" (Tweet). Retrieved October 8, 2020 – via Twitter.
  27. "Los Angeles Chargers put leading tackler Kyzir White on COVID-19 list". ESPN.com. November 21, 2020. Retrieved December 27, 2020.
  28. "Los Angeles Chargers Activate Austin Ekeler from Injured Reserve". Chargers.com. November 28, 2020. Retrieved January 5, 2021.
  29. "Chargers Activate Justin Jackson from Injured Reserve". Chargers.com. December 12, 2020. Retrieved January 27, 2021.
  30. "Chargers Make Moves Before Thursday Night Football". Chargers.com. December 17, 2020.
  31. Wyatt, Jim (April 23, 2021). "Titans Add Four Players to Roster". TennesseeTitans.com. Retrieved April 23, 2021.
  32. "2021 NFL Transactions: Signings – April". NFL.com. Retrieved April 23, 2021.
  33. Wyatt, Jim (August 15, 2021). "Titans Agree to Terms with TE Deon Yelder, Waive TE Gabe Holmes". TennesseeTitans.com. Retrieved August 15, 2021.
  34. @USFLStars (May 9, 2023). "Free Agent Signing" (Tweet). Retrieved May 10, 2023 – via Twitter.
  35. Reinhardt, Randy (May 15, 2020). "Ex-Illinois State linebacker B.J. Bello revels in first NFL touchdown with New York Jets". The Pantagraph. Retrieved December 17, 2020.
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