B. J. Bello

Did You Know?

• Bello recorded 81 tackles, one forced fumble, and one interception his senior year of high school in 2011.
• He earned All-State honors in track and field at Lincoln-Way West High School.
• Bello was born in New Lenox, Illinois.

College career

Bello played for the Illinois Fighting Illini from 2013 to 2015 after being redshirted in 2012. He appeared in four games in 2013 with four tackle assists, nine games in 2014 with three tackle assists, and eight games in 2015 with one solo tackle, five tackle assists, and one pass breakup. He transferred to Illinois State University in 2016, playing 12 games with 11 starts, recording 72 total tackles, six sacks, four pass breakups, and two forced fumbles. He was named to the MVFC All-Newcomer Team that year.

Professional career

Bello was rated the 45th best outside linebacker in the 2017 NFL draft by NFLDraftScout.com. Lance Zierlein of NFL.com predicted he would go undrafted and be a priority free agent, stating Bello needed to be stronger and tougher to hold up as a 4–3 linebacker and could be looked at as a situational rusher off the edge if he became a quality special teams player. Bello signed with the Cleveland Browns as an undrafted free agent on May 4, 2017. He was waived on September 1, signed to the practice squad on September 4, and promoted to the active roster on September 8, 2017. He was waived by the Browns on September 1, 2018. On September 3, 2018, he signed with the Arizona Cardinals' practice squad and was released on September 18, 2018. On October 16, 2018, he signed with the Philadelphia Eagles practice squad, was promoted to the active roster on December 14, 2018, and was waived on June 5, 2019. He signed with the Houston Texans on July 27, 2019, was waived/injured on August 31, reverted to injured reserve, and was waived from injured reserve with an injury settlement on September 4. He signed with the Green Bay Packers practice squad on October 1, 2019, and was released three days later. On October 30, 2019, he signed with the New York Jets, was released eight days later, and re-signed on November 12. He re-signed with the Jets on April 23, 2020, and was waived on September 1, 2020. On September 30, 2020, he signed with the Los Angeles Chargers practice squad, was elevated to the active roster for weeks 11, 12, and 14 games against the Jets, Bills, and Falcons, and was signed to the active roster on December 17, 2020. He signed with the Tennessee Titans on April 23, 2021, and was placed on injured reserve on August 15, 2021. Bello signed with the Philadelphia Stars of the USFL on May 9, 2023. On January 15, 2024, he was selected by the Arlington Renegades in the fourth round of the Super Draft portion of the 2024 UFL dispersal draft and was released on March 10, 2024.