Ben Wilkerson facts for kids

Benjamin Lorenza Wilkerson, born on November 22, 1982, is an American football coach and former player. He is currently the assistant offensive line coach for the Cleveland Browns in the National Football League (NFL).

Wilkerson played as a center in the NFL for four seasons, from 2005 to 2008. He played college football for the LSU Tigers. During his college career, he earned important honors like being a consensus All-American and winning the Rimington Trophy. He started his professional career with the Cincinnati Bengals in 2005. He also played for the Atlanta Falcons and the Florida Tuskers in the United Football League (UFL).

Early Life and High School

Ben Wilkerson was born in Port Arthur, Texas. He grew up and went to high school in Hemphill, Texas. He graduated from Hemphill High School.

College Football Career

Wilkerson received a sports scholarship to attend Louisiana State University. He played for the LSU Tigers football team from 2001 to 2004. His coach there was Nick Saban.

Winning a National Championship

In 2003, as a junior, Wilkerson was part of the Tigers' team that won the SEC Championship. They then defeated the Oklahoma Sooners 21–14. This victory earned them the BCS National Championship, a huge achievement in college football.

Top College Honors

After his senior season in 2004, Wilkerson received several major awards. He was named a first-team All-Southeastern Conference (SEC) player. He was also recognized as a consensus first-team All-American. This means he was considered one of the best college football players in the country. He also won the Rimington Trophy, which is given to the best college football center in the nation.

Professional Playing Career

Ben Wilkerson began his professional career in 2005. He was signed by the NFL's Cincinnati Bengals as an undrafted free agent. This means he wasn't chosen in the NFL draft but was still signed by a team.

Time with the Bengals and Falcons

He was with the Bengals from 2005 to 2006. During the 2006 season, he played in three games. After that, he joined the NFL's Atlanta Falcons. He played for the Falcons from 2007 to 2008. He appeared in twenty-nine games for them, often coming in from the bench.

Playing in the UFL

In 2009, Wilkerson also played for the Florida Tuskers. This team was part of the United Football League (UFL).

Coaching Career

After his playing career, Ben Wilkerson moved into coaching. He has coached at both college and professional levels.

Coaching at LSU

In 2011, Wilkerson returned to his old college team, the LSU Tigers. He worked as a graduate assistant coach under head coach Les Miles.

Coaching at Grambling State

From 2012 to 2013, he served as the offensive line coach at Grambling State University.

High School Coaching

In 2014, Wilkerson worked at North Shore Senior High School in Texas. He was a physical education teacher and an assistant coach for both football and track.

NFL Coaching Roles

Wilkerson has held several assistant coaching positions in the NFL.

Chicago Bears

On February 11, 2015, the Chicago Bears hired Wilkerson. He became their assistant offensive line coach.

New York Giants

On February 5, 2018, Wilkerson joined the New York Giants as their assistant offensive line coach. He stayed with the Giants even when they had a coaching change in 2020. Head coach Joe Judge decided to keep him on staff. Wilkerson even coached the team's offensive line in a game against the Dallas Cowboys on January 3, 2021. He left the Giants after the 2021 season.

New York Jets

On March 7, 2022, the New York Jets hired Wilkerson. He served as their assistant offensive line coach until January 29, 2025, when he and the Jets went their separate ways.

Cleveland Browns

On February 15, 2025, the Cleveland Browns hired Ben Wilkerson. He is currently their assistant offensive line coach.

Personal Life

Ben Wilkerson is married to Angi. They have four children: Brianna, Isabella, Jordan, and Benjamin II.