Le'Veon Bell Recalls Bizarre Adam Gase Gameplan from Jets Days

The former Jets running back details a puzzling strategy from his former head coach.

Apr. 8, 2026 at 12:36pm

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In a recent podcast interview, former NFL running back Le'Veon Bell recounted a bizarre story from his time with the New York Jets in 2019. Bell said that then-head coach Adam Gase approached him before a game against the winless Cincinnati Bengals and instructed him to expect the team to throw the ball 40+ times, even though Bell was their top running back. The Jets ended up losing that game 22-6, with quarterback Sam Darnold throwing for 239 yards. Bell was critical of Gase's unconventional gameplan that went against the team's strengths.

Why it matters

This story provides insight into the dysfunctional relationship between Le'Veon Bell and Adam Gase during their brief tenure together with the Jets. It also raises questions about Gase's coaching acumen and decision-making, as the Jets struggled mightily during his two seasons as head coach, compiling a 9-23 record.

The details

According to Bell, Gase told him before the Jets' 2019 game against the 0-11 Bengals that they planned to have quarterback Sam Darnold throw the ball 40+ times, even though Bell was their top running back. Gase's reasoning was that the Bengals' defensive backs would be more likely to slip up and allow big plays through the air. However, the Jets ended up losing that game 22-6, with Darnold going 28-for-48 for 239 yards. Bell had just 4 receptions for 35 yards in the loss.

  • The Jets played the Bengals in Week 13 of the 2019 NFL season.

The players

Le'Veon Bell

A former NFL running back who spent two seasons with the New York Jets from 2019-2020 before being released and signing with the Kansas City Chiefs.

Adam Gase

The former head coach of the New York Jets, who was in his first season with the team in 2019 when this incident occurred. Gase had a 9-23 record as Jets head coach over two seasons.

Sam Darnold

The Jets' starting quarterback in 2019 who threw for 239 yards in the loss to the Bengals, despite Gase's plan to have him throw the ball over 40 times.

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What they’re saying

“He says, 'Look, man, it's going to be a lot of rain on Sunday. I need you to understand, we got to put the ball in the air, bro. We got to put the ball in the air 40-plus times.'”

— Le'Veon Bell, Former Jets running back

“'Think about it. When you pass, the receivers, they know where they're going, but the DBs (defensive backs), they don't. So we can make big plays because the DB might slip, and the receivers know where they're going, and think about it, a big play. Sam (Darnold) might hit up 400 yards Sunday.'”

— Adam Gase, Former Jets head coach

What’s next

There are no clear future newsworthy events related to this story.

The takeaway

This bizarre anecdote from Le'Veon Bell's time with the Jets highlights the questionable coaching decisions and dysfunctional relationship between Bell and former head coach Adam Gase. It provides further evidence of Gase's struggles as an NFL head coach and the challenges the Jets faced during his tenure.