Ben Coates facts for kids

Ben Terrence Coates Jr. (born August 16, 1969) is a former American football player. He was a tight end in the National Football League (NFL) for 10 seasons. Most of his career was with the New England Patriots.

Ben Coates played college football for the Livingstone Blue Bears. The Patriots chose him in the fifth round of the 1991 NFL draft. He played nine seasons with the Patriots. In his last season, he joined the Baltimore Ravens. With the Ravens, he won Super Bowl XXXV.

During his time with the Patriots, Coates was chosen for the Pro Bowl five times. He was also named a first-team All-Pro twice. He is part of the National Football League 1990s All-Decade Team. In 2008, he was inducted into the New England Patriots Hall of Fame. After retiring, Coates also worked as a coach.

Ben Coates' Early Life

Ben Coates was born on August 16, 1969, in Greenwood, South Carolina. He was the youngest of eight children. His older brother, Gary, helped him a lot. Gary encouraged him to go to college and practice football every day.

Ben Coates did not start playing football until his last year of high school. He attended Greenwood High School.

College Sports and Records

At Livingstone College, Coates played two sports. He was on both the football and basketball teams. In football, he became a very strong tight end. He set school records with 103 catches for 1,268 yards. He also scored 18 touchdowns.

Livingstone College was a small Division II school. Even so, Coates's great performance made him one of the best tight end players in the country. He was later inducted into the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Hall of Fame in 2018.

Ben Coates' NFL Career

Many people did not expect Coates to be a top player. But the New England Patriots drafted him in the fifth round of the 1991 NFL draft. His first two years were quiet. In his first year, he had 10 catches and one touchdown. In his second year, he had 20 catches and three touchdowns.

Becoming a Star Player

His career changed in 1993 when quarterback Drew Bledsoe and head coach Bill Parcells joined the Patriots. Coach Parcells liked to use tight ends a lot. He often had Bledsoe throw passes to Coates. In 1993, Coates led the Patriots in catches with 53. He gained 629 yards and scored eight touchdowns.

In 1994, Coates had an amazing year. He caught 96 passes, which was a record for a tight end at that time. He also gained 1,174 receiving yards. This was the only time in his career he gained over 1,000 yards in a season. He also scored seven touchdowns. This year, he was chosen for his first of five straight Pro Bowls.

Super Bowl Appearance and Victory

In 1996, Coates had 62 catches for 682 yards and nine touchdowns. One memorable play was against the New York Giants. He caught a 12-yard pass and pushed through defenders to score the winning touchdown. His efforts helped the Patriots reach Super Bowl XXXI. Although his team lost the game, Coates played well. He led the Patriots with 6 catches for 66 yards and a touchdown.

After the 1999 season, the Patriots released Coates. He then played for the Baltimore Ravens. With the Ravens, he won Super Bowl XXXV. After winning the Super Bowl, Coates retired. He finished his career as one of the top tight ends in NFL history. He had 499 catches for 5,555 yards and 50 touchdowns.

Coaching Career Highlights

After retiring from playing, Ben Coates became a coach. He returned to Livingstone College, his old school, as a coach from 2001 to 2004. He coached different parts of the offense, like the offensive line and quarterbacks.

In 2004, he worked with the Dallas Cowboys as an assistant coach. He helped evaluate and develop tight ends. Later that year, he coached tight ends for the Frankfurt Galaxy in NFL Europe.

From 2005 to 2007, Coates was the tight ends coach for the Cleveland Browns. He helped develop the tight end group. In 2006, under his coaching, tight end Kellen Winslow II set a team record for catches by a tight end.

He also coached at Central State University and Saint Augustine’s University.

Awards and Honors

• Super Bowl champion (XXXV)
• 2× First-team All-Pro (1994, 1995)
• Second-team All-Pro (1998)
• 5× Pro Bowl (1994–1998)
• NFL 1990s All-Decade Team
• New England Patriots All-1990s Team
• New England Patriots 50th Anniversary Team
• New England Patriots Hall of Fame
• Black College Football Hall of Fame
• The Sports Museum at The Tradition

Personal Life

Ben Coates is a father of nine children. He has said that his greatest achievement is seeing his children succeed. He wants all of them to go to school and be successful in life. He believes education and good character are most important.

Two of his sons play college football at Livingstone College, his old school. His son Ben Coates III plays tight end. His son Christopher Coates plays linebacker. Ben Coates emphasizes that getting their college degrees is the main goal for his sons.

Coates still has strong ties to his hometown of Greenwood, South Carolina. He helps mentor young athletes there. He supports youth development both in sports and in life.

Images for kids

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  Ben Coates playing for Livingstone College