Ben Coates 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.
10 Facts About Ben Coates
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Ben 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.
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Ben Coates was named to the second NFL 1990s All-Decade Team in 2000 and inducted to the New England Patriots Hall of Fame in 2008.
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Ben Coates didn't play football until his senior year at Greenwood High School, and was a multi-sport player at Livingstone College located in Salisbury, North Carolina.
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Ben Coates finished his college career with 103 receptions for 1,268 yards and 18 touchdowns.
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Ben Coates's career changed with the 1993 arrival of quarterback Drew Bledsoe and head coach Bill Parcells to the Patriots franchise.
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Ben Coates appeared in his first of five consecutive Pro Bowls.
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When Ben 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.
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Ben Coates played in 158 games with 499 receptions for 5,555 yards and 50 touchdowns.
10.
In March 2005, Ben 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 Ben Coates was with the team.