Ben Coates is a former American football tight end who played in the National Football League (NFL) for nine seasons. He was born on August 16, 1969, in Greenwood, Mississippi, and attended Livingstone College in Salisbury, North Carolina, where he played college football.
Coates was selected by the New England Patriots in the fifth round of the 1991 NFL Draft. He spent his entire NFL career with the Patriots, from 1991 to 1999, and was one of the most dominant tight ends of his era. He was known for his size, strength, and ability to catch the ball in traffic.
Coates was a five-time Pro Bowler and two-time First-Team All-Pro selection. He was also named to the NFL 1990s All-Decade Team. In 1994, he set an NFL record for most receptions by a tight end in a single season with 96, a record that stood until 2011. He also had 1,174 receiving yards and seven touchdowns that season.
Coates was a key player on the Patriots team that reached Super Bowl XXXI in 1997, although they lost to the Green Bay Packers. He finished his career with 499 receptions for 5,555 yards and 50 touchdowns.
After retiring from the NFL, Coates was inducted into the New England Patriots Hall of Fame in 2008. He has also been involved in coaching, working as a tight ends coach for the Cleveland Browns and as an offensive coordinator for Livingstone College.
Overall, Ben Coates was one of the most dominant tight ends of his era and a key player on the New England Patriots teams of the 1990s. He was a five-time Pro Bowler, two-time First-Team All-Pro selection, and a member of the NFL 1990s All-Decade Team. He set an NFL record for most receptions by a tight end in a single season in 1994 and finished his career with 499 receptions for 5,555 yards and 50 touchdowns.
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