Quinton Bell (born May 9, 1996) is an American professional football linebacker for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Prairie View A&M Panthers.
Bell was born and raised in Long Beach, California.[1][2] He attended high school in Costa Mesa where he was a three-sport athlete. Standing 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) and weighing 210 pounds (95 kg), Bell's time in varsity sports included a year spent playing basketball and a year competing in track and field. In track and field, Bell won the Orange Coast League Championship in the 100 meter running event. He also set a new league record in the 4 x 100 League Championship.[3]
In football, Bell played wide receiver and outside linebacker with the Costa Mesa Mustangs. During the 2013 season, Bell earned 1st Team All-Area, All-Region, All-Conference and All-County honors. In that same season, Bell and the Mustangs earned Sectional and Conference honors. Bell graduated in 2014[3] and accepted a collegiate sports offer from Prairie View A&M University.[4]
Bell enrolled at Prairie View A&M in 2015. He played as a wide receiver alongside the Prairie View Panthers for three seasons from 2015 to 2017.[5] He also competed in track and field during the 2017 season.[6] Bell played his final season of football in 2018 as a defensive end. He went on to make HBCU history by becoming the first NFL draft pick from Prairie View since 1980.[5]
Bell was selected by the Oakland Raiders in the seventh round with the 230th overall pick in the 2019 NFL draft.[8] He was waived on August 31, 2019, and re-signed to the practice squad.[9][10] He was released on October 15.[11]
On November 5, 2019, Bell was signed to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers practice squad.[12] He signed a reserve/future contract with the Buccaneers on December 30, 2019.
Bell was waived by the Buccaneers on October 26, 2020,[13] and re-signed to the practice squad two days later.[14]
On February 9, 2021, Bell re-signed with the Buccaneers.[15] He was waived on August 22, 2021.[16]
On September 1, 2021, Bell was signed to the Atlanta Falcons practice squad.[17] He signed a reserve/future contract with the Falcons on January 10, 2022.[18]
Bell made the Falcons roster in 2022, playing three games before being waived on November 5, 2022, and re-signed to the practice squad.[19][20] He signed a reserve/future contract on January 9, 2023.[21] He was waived on April 14, 2023.[22]
Bell was signed by the Philadelphia Eagles on August 19, 2023.[23] He was released on August 29, 2023.[24]
On October 17, 2023, Bell was signed to the Miami Dolphins practice squad.[25] He signed a reserve/future contract on January 15, 2024.[26]
Bell has a son born January 19, 2023.[27] Bell named Calvin Johnson as his favorite athlete. He also named actor/comedian Kevin Hart as his favorite entertainer.[6]