Ben Coates

Ben Terrence Coates Jr. (born August 16, 1969) is an American former professional football player who was a tight end in the National Football League (NFL) for 10 seasons, primarily with the New England Patriots. He played college football for the Livingstone Blue Bears and was selected by the Patriots in the fifth round of the 1991 NFL draft, where spent all but one season of his NFL career. In his final season, he was a member of the Baltimore Ravens.

Ben Coates

No. 87, 81
Position:	Tight end
Personal information
Born:	(1969-08-16) August 16, 1969 (age 55) Greenwood, South Carolina, U.S.
Height:	6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Weight:	245 lb (111 kg)
Career information
High school:	Greenwood
College:	Livingstone (1987-1990)
NFL draft:	1991: 5th round, 124th pick
Career history
New England Patriots (1991–1999) Baltimore Ravens (2000)
Career highlights and awards
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
Career NFL statistics
Receptions: 499 Receiving yards: 5,555 Touchdowns: 50 Stats at Pro Football Reference

During his nine seasons with the Patriots, Coates was a five-time Pro Bowler and two-time first-team All-Pro. He also made an appearance in Super Bowl XXXI. After being released by the Patriots, Coates signed with the Ravens and was part of the team that won Super Bowl XXXV. Coates pursued a coaching career following his retirement, serving as the head coach at his alma mater Livingstone and the tight ends coach for the Cleveland Browns. He was named to the second NFL 1990s All-Decade Team in 2000 and inducted to the New England Patriots Hall of Fame in 2008.

Early life

Coates was born on August 16, 1969, in Greenwood, South Carolina, the youngest of eight children^[1] of Ben Coates Sr. and Mozella Coates. His oldest brother Gary Coates, was a significant influence, pushing him towards college and staying committed to working out and catching balls daily. Coates did not play football until his senior year at Greenwood High School.

Ben Coates, Livingstone College

At Livingstone, Coates became a multi-sport athlete, competing in both football and basketball. On the football field, he emerged as a dominant tight end, setting school records with 103 receptions for 1,268 yards and 18 touchdowns. He joined Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, becoming a member through the Untouchable Upsilon Chapter on campus. Despite playing in the CIAA, a small-school Division II conference with limited national attention, Coates’s on-field production made him one of the top tight end prospects in the country. He was later inducted into the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Hall of Fame in 2018^[2].

Professional career

Considered an out-of-nowhere prospect, Coates was selected in the fifth round of the 1991 NFL draft by the New England Patriots.^[3][4] His first two years with the Patriots were fairly uneventful; in his rookie year he had ten catches for 95 yards and a two-yard touchdown against the Indianapolis Colts that forced overtime in a 23–17 Patriots win. In his second season, he had 20 catches for 171 yards and three touchdowns.

His career changed with the 1993 arrival of quarterback Drew Bledsoe and head coach Bill Parcells to the Patriots franchise. Parcells, known for his reliance on tight ends, frequently used then-rookie quarterback Bledsoe on passes to Coates, and the tight end led the Patriots in receptions in 1993 with 53 catches for 629 yards and eight scores, two of them in New England's season-ending overtime win over Miami.

In 1994, his breakout year, he caught 96 passes, the most ever for a tight end to that point,^[5] breaking a record previously set by Todd Christensen in 1986 (the record was later broken by Tony Gonzalez in 2004), for 1,174 yards receiving, the only time in his career he would gain 1,000 yards in a receiving season, while also scoring seven touchdowns. He appeared in his first of five consecutive Pro Bowls.

In 1996, Coates had 62 catches for 682 yards and nine touchdowns; the most dramatic was against the New York Giants in the final game of the regular season as he caught a 12-yard pass and bulled through Giants defenders for the game-winning score of a 23–22 New England win. His efforts helped New England to a championship appearance in Super Bowl XXXI. His team lost the game, 35–21, but he had a good performance in it, leading the Patriots in receiving with 6 catches for 66 yards and a touchdown. From 1995 to 1998, he caught 84, 62, 66, and 67 passes, respectively, in those four seasons.

After the 1999 season, which saw a significant decline in production, Coates was released by the Patriots. He subsequently played for the Baltimore Ravens, where he climbed the all-time receiving charts and won Super Bowl XXXV in the process. When Coates was released by the Ravens in the following year, he decided to retire, having become the fourth all-time leading receiver at tight end in NFL history, behind Ozzie Newsome, former teammate Shannon Sharpe, and Kellen Winslow. Coates played in 158 games with 499 receptions for 5,555 yards and 50 touchdowns.

After retiring, Coates returned to Livingstone College, where he was head coach, and also coached in NFL Europe. In 2004, he served an internship with the Dallas Cowboys as an assistant for the tight ends, reuniting him with head coach Parcells. In March 2005, Coates was named the tight ends coach for the Cleveland Browns, replacing Rob Chudzinski, under head coach Romeo Crennel, who had been the defensive line coach of the Patriots while Coates was with the team.

It was announced on July 7, 2008, that Coates would be inducted into the New England Patriots Hall of Fame. During his playing days with the Patriots, Coates was a fan favorite and was given the nickname "Winter" (as in "winter coat"), in addition to Ben "Technicolor Dream" Coates by ESPN commentator Chris Berman.

Pre-draft measurables

Height	Weight	Arm length	Hand span	40-yard dash	10-yard split	20-yard split	20-yard shuttle	Vertical jump	Broad jump	Bench press
6 ft 4+1⁄2 in (1.94 m)	243 lb (110 kg)	35 in (0.89 m)	10 in (0.25 m)	4.95 s	1.76 s	2.92 s	4.56 s	28.0 in (0.71 m)	9 ft 1 in (2.77 m)	15 reps

NFL career statistics

Year	Team	GP	Receiving						Fumbles
			Rec	Yds	Avg	Lng	TD	FD	Fum	Lost
1991	NE	16	10	95	9.5	17	1	6	0	0
1992	NE	16	20	171	8.6	22	3	55	1	1
1993	NE	16	53	659	12.4	54	8	32	0	0
1994	NE	16	96	1,174	12.2	62	7	65	2	1
1995	NE	16	84	915	10.9	35	6	51	4	4
1996	NE	16	62	682	11.0	84	9	37	1	1
1997	NE	16	66	737	11.2	35	8	37	0	0
1998	NE	14	67	668	10.0	33	6	45	0	0
1999	NE	16	32	370	11.6	27	2	20	0	0
2000	BAL	16	9	84	9.3	28	0	3	0	0
Career		158	499	5,555	11.1	84	50	308	8	7

Coaching career

Livingstone College (2001–2004)

After retiring from the NFL, Coates began his coaching career at Livingstone College, his alma mater, serving as an offensive assistant from 2001 to 2004. During his tenure, he worked as the offensive line coach, quarterbacks coach, and wide receivers coach before becoming offensive coordinator.

In 2004, he was invited to join the Dallas Cowboys as an assistant during training camp. Hand-picked by head coach Bill Parcells, Coates assisted in the evaluation and development of the tight ends group.

Frankfurt Galaxy (2004)

Later in 2004, Coates joined the Frankfurt Galaxy of NFL Europe as an assistant offensive coach for tight ends. The team finished the season with a 7–3 record, placing second in the league, and went on to compete in World Bowl XII.

Cleveland Browns (2005–2007)

From 2005 to 2007, Coates served as the tight ends coach for the Cleveland Browns. He managed the overall development of the tight end group and contributed to offensive game planning, scouting, and scripting. In 2006, under Coates’ coaching, tight end Kellen Winslow II recorded 89 receptions for 875 yards and 3 touchdowns — setting a franchise record for single-season receptions by a tight end and ranking 2nd in the NFL in tight end receptions, and 3rd in receiving yards by a tight end.

Central State University (2009–2012)

From 2009 to 2012, Coates served as the assistant head coach and offensive coordinator at Central State University in Ohio. In this role, he was responsible for implementing a comprehensive offensive system, supervising assistant coaches, and recruiting student-athletes.

Saint Augustine’s University (2013–2014)

Coates later worked as an assistant football coach at Saint Augustine’s University from 2013 to 2014, coaching wide receivers and supporting overall team development.

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

Coates is the father of nine children: Lauren, Brianna, Bre'Yana, Gabriella, Brittany, Ben III, Anthony, Christopher, and Natasha. He has described his greatest accomplishment in life as "being able to see all my kids being able to see and make sure they all go to school so they can be successful in life." He has spoken publicly about the deep pride he feels watching his children grow and succeed, emphasizing education and character as his top priorities as a parent.

Two of his sons have followed in his athletic footsteps by playing college football at Livingstone College, Coates’s alma mater. His son Ben Coates III plays tight end, while his son Christopher Coates plays linebacker. Despite their athletic potential, Coates has stressed that education comes first, stating that the most important goal is for them to obtain their college degrees, regardless of any future in professional sports.

Coates maintains a strong connection to his hometown of Greenwood, South Carolina, and has continued to be involved in mentoring young athletes and supporting youth development both on and off the field.^[1]