Former Cleveland Browns wide receiver David Bell is suing well-known surgeon Dr. William Meyers, Jefferson Health, and 14 other parties for more than $300 million. Bell claims an unnecessary surgery nearly cost him his life and forced him to walk away from the NFL at just 24 years old.
The trouble started after Bell hurt his hip during Week 2 of the 2024 season.
David Bell No. 18 of the Cleveland Browns warms up before a game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Field in Jacksonville, Fla., on Sept. 15, 2024. (Getty Images)
According to the lawsuit filed in Philadelphia, doctors used misleading scan results to convince him he needed core muscle surgery, commonly known as a sports hernia repair, that he never actually required.
The complaint claims this was part of a profit-driven pattern of pushing pro athletes into procedures they did not need.
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David Bell #18 of the Cleveland Browns celebrates after catching a touchdown pass against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium on Jan. 7, 2024, in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Getty Images)
Things went wrong on the operating table. The lawsuit alleges that Dr. Meyers cut Bell’s femoral artery, the main artery supplying blood to the leg, causing massive internal bleeding.
The clinic was not equipped to handle that kind of emergency, so Bell was rushed by ambulance to Thomas Jefferson Hospital. Doctors there performed urgent surgery to repair the artery and save his leg, but the ordeal left him with lasting physical damage.
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Before the injury, Bell was a reliable target in Cleveland’s offense. The Browns drafted the former Big Ten Receiver of the Year out of Purdue in the third round back in 2022.
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Over three seasons, Bell appeared in 32 games, finishing his pro career with 41 catches for 408 yards and three touchdowns, highlighted by a 214-yard rookie season.
Between the original injury and the surgical fallout, Bell could no longer play, leading Cleveland to place him on the reserve/retired list in 2025.
David Bell #18 of the Cleveland Browns walks off the field after an NFL wild-card playoff game against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium on Jan. 13, 2024, in Houston, Texas. (Getty Images)
The $300 million lawsuit seeks payment for lost future NFL contracts, pain, and damages meant to hold the medical group accountable.
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The Browns are not named in the suit, and the doctors have not yet filed a formal response in court.
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