Ladell Betts facts for kids
Betts with the Redskins in 2006
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| New York Giants | |||||||||||||
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| Position: | Running backs coach | ||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||
| Born: | August 27, 1979 Kansas City, Kansas, U.S. |
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| Height: | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | ||||||||||||
| Weight: | 224 lb (102 kg) | ||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||
| High school: | Blue Springs (MO) | ||||||||||||
| College: | Iowa | ||||||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 2002 / Round: 2 / Pick: 56 | ||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||||||||||||
Ladell Betts (born August 27, 1979) is an American football coach and former running back. He is currently the running backs coach for the New York Giants. Betts played college football for the Iowa Hawkeyes. The Washington Redskins picked him in the second round of the 2002 NFL draft.
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Early Life and High School Football
Ladell Betts grew up in Kansas City, Missouri. He moved to Blue Springs with his mother when he was young. His mother worked very hard to support them. Ladell stayed close to his father, who was always a big part of his life.
Betts went to Blue Springs High School. There, he became a football star. He was teammates with another future NFL player, Brandon Lloyd. Ladell was also a fast sprinter in high school.
In his junior year, he ran for 1,813 yards and scored 34 touchdowns. As a senior, he rushed for 2,183 yards and 32 touchdowns. He did this even with a broken right hand for most of the season! His team had a great 10–1 record. Ladell was named Missouri Player of the Year by USA Today. He also won the Thomas Simone Award for the best high school player in the Kansas City area.
College Football Career
After high school, Betts went to the University of Iowa. He took a "redshirt" year in 1997. This means he practiced with the team but did not play in games. This allowed him to gain experience and still have four years of playing eligibility.
In 1998, as a freshman, he played in all 11 games. He set new school records for rushing yards in a game and a season for a freshman. He led the team in rushing and was named Iowa's offensive MVP in four games.
In 1999, Betts started all 11 games. He led the team in rushing again and was named Iowa's co-MVP. He was also chosen for the second-team All-Big Ten. In 2000, he started every game. He ran for 1,090 yards, which was all of Iowa's rushing offense that year.
As a senior in 2001, Betts again led Iowa in rushing. He was a co-captain and co-MVP for the season. He helped the Hawkeyes reach the 2001 Alamo Bowl. Betts finished his college career as Iowa's second all-time leading rusher. He had 3,686 total yards and scored 25 touchdowns. He is the only player in Iowa history to lead the team in rushing for four different seasons.
Professional Football Career
Playing for the Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins drafted Ladell Betts in the second round of the 2002 NFL draft. He was the 56th player chosen overall. His first game was on September 22, 2002, against the San Francisco 49ers. On December 22, 2002, he had his best game yet, rushing for 116 yards and a touchdown. In his first year, he ran for 307 yards and also returned kickoffs.
In 2003, Betts played nine games. He missed seven games because of a broken left arm. He still managed to rush for 225 yards and two touchdowns.
From 2004 to 2005, Betts was a backup to star running back Clinton Portis. He still played an important role. In 2005, he scored his first kickoff return touchdown, a 94-yard run against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The 2006 season was a big one for Betts. When Clinton Portis was injured, Betts stepped up. He started nine games and had his best year. He rushed for 1,154 yards and four touchdowns. He also caught 53 passes for 445 yards and another touchdown. On December 10, 2006, he ran for a career-high 171 yards in one game. He is the only running back for the Redskins to have two games in a row with over 150 rushing yards.
In a 2009 preseason game, his jersey had a funny mistake. It spelled his last name as "Bettis," like the famous player Jerome Bettis. The Redskins released him on March 4, 2010.
Time with the New Orleans Saints
On August 16, 2010, Betts signed a one-year contract with the New Orleans Saints. He was cut from the team on September 3, 2010. However, after another player, Reggie Bush, got hurt, the Saints signed Betts again on September 22, 2010. He played eight games for them. In a game against Seattle, he got a neck injury and a concussion. He was later placed on the injured reserve list on December 8, 2010.
NFL Career Summary
During his NFL career, Ladell Betts played in 111 games. He rushed for a total of 3,326 yards and scored 15 rushing touchdowns. He also caught 188 passes for 1,646 receiving yards and 3 receiving touchdowns. He was a versatile player who contributed to his teams in many ways.
Coaching Career
After his playing career, Ladell Betts became a coach. He coached at several high schools, including Coral Springs Christian Academy, Boca Raton HS, and Pine Crest School. He was an offensive coordinator and even a head coach.
In 2021, Betts joined the coaching staff at his old college, Iowa. He coached the running backs there until 2024. As of February 24, 2025, Ladell Betts is the running backs coach for the New York Giants.
