Ex-NFL wide receiver David Bell has initiated legal action against a surgeon and several healthcare entities, demanding over $300 million in compensation. The former Cleveland Browns player, 25, along with his legal representatives, stated that the medical treatment he underwent after a surgery in May 2025 might have endangered his life and jeopardized his NFL career, as per a press release published on Thursday, October 15.
Before receiving medical care, Bell had recorded 41 catches for 408 yards and three touchdowns across his 32 regular-season career games. He sustained a hip injury in September 2024, which concluded his season.
In the announcement, initially covered by The New York Times’ The Athletic, Bell mentioned that he sought advice from surgeon Dr. William Meyers about a “core muscle repair” procedure to address ongoing pain from the injury before the 2025 season.
His legal team argued that the surgery was not needed and that when complications supposedly occurred during the procedure, it resulted in him needing urgent vascular care that was “life-saving but career-ending.”
It is claimed that during surgery, Bell’s femoral artery, which is the primary artery delivering blood to the leg, was severed.
Additional repair work was reportedly required to preserve his leg. Nathan Werksman, co-counsel for Bell, expressed in a statement:
“What happened to David Bell, an elite NFL athlete is just plain wrong. Even worse it was totally preventable.”
It seems the doctors have not submitted a formal response in court yet. The lawsuit includes Myers, Jefferson healthcare organizations — the regional health system located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania — and 14 additional parties.
