Ja'Whaun Bentley

Ja'Whaun Bentley was re-signed by the New England Patriots as an unrestricted free agent on March 21, 2022 ... Originally drafted by New England in the fifth round (143rd overall) of the 2018 NFL Draft.

PRONOUNCED ja-WAHN

CAREER TRANSACTIONS

Ja'Whaun Bentley was re-signed by the New England Patriots as an unrestricted free agent on March 21, 2022 ... Originally drafted by New England in the fifth round (143rd overall) of the 2018 NFL Draft.

SEASONAL REVIEWS

2023 (16/16)

• Named a team captain for the third time in his career.
• Served as a starting linebacker for the New England Patriots, played and started in 16 games, missing one game vs. Indianapolis (11/12) due to injury. Collected a team-leading 114 tackles (55 total, 59 assist), 41/2 sacks for a loss of 13.5 yards, 12 quarterback hits, five tackles for loss, three passes defensed and one forced fumble.
• Had his third-straight 100-tackle season after leading the Patriots with 114 total tackles. Bentley finished with 108 total tackles in 2021 and 122 total tackles in 2022. He is the first Patriots player since LB Jerod Mayo (five straight from 2008-12) to have at least three straight 100-tackle seasons.
• Part of the 7th-ranked Patriots defense that finished fourth in the NFL in rushing yards allowed per game. The 2023 defense allowed an average of 93.2 rushing yards per game, the third lowest in team history since the 1970 merger.
• Part of a defensive unit that allowed just 38 rushing yards. at the N.Y. Jets (9/24).
• Finished with 11 total tackles vs. New Orleans (10/8).
• Had his first career two-sack game with two fourth quarter sacks vs. Washington (11/5). His second sack came on a crucial 3rd-and-6 situation, which halted the Commanders' drive. He finished the game with a team-leading 13 tackles.
• Had his third 10-tackle game of the 2023 season and the 13th of his career vs. N.Y. Jets (1/7).

2022 (17/17)

• Started at linebacker in all 17 games and recorded a career-high and team-leading 122 total tackles (60 solo, 62 assists), three sacks for a loss of 25 yards, one interception, two passes defensed, one fumble recovery on special teams and three special teams tackles.
• Was named a co-captain for the second time in his career. He was also a captain during the 2020 season.
• Led the team in tackles in nine games: at Miami (9/11), at Green Bay (10/2), vs. Detroit (10/9), vs. Chicago (10/24), vs. Indianapolis (11/6), vs. N.Y. Jets (11/20), at Arizona (12/12), at Las Vegas (12/18) and vs. Miami (1/1).
• Had five 10-tackle games, including a stretch of three straight games with 10 tackles: at Green Bay (10/2), vs. Chicago (10/24), at Arizona (12/12), at Las Vegas (12/18) and vs. Cincinnati (12/24).
• Part of the defensive unit that pitched a shutout vs. Detroit (10/9) in a 29-0 win. The Lions entered the game with the top-ranked offense in the NFL. The defense stopped all 6 of Detroit's fourth down attempts.
• Part of the defensive unit that held Cleveland, who entered the game with the top ranked rushing attack, to 70 rushing yards. It was the first time in 2022 that the Browns had less than 170 rushing yards (10/16). Had one tackle.
• Had his second career interception when he picked off QB Zach Wilson at the end of the second quarter to give New England a first down at the New York 40-yard line at N.Y. Jets (10/30). The pick led to a Patriots field goal.
• Led the team with 8 total tackles (5 solo, 3 assist) vs. Indianapolis (11/6). Also recorded one sack for a 5-yard loss on third down to force the Colts to punt. It was one of the nine sacks the defense had, which is a season high and tied for the most under Coach Belichick. Played a key role for the defensive unit that forced the Colts to go 0-for-14 on third down and allowed just 121 total yards of offense.
• Led the team with 9 tackles vs. N.Y. Jets (11/20), including an assisted tackle with DB Myles Bryant on third-and-17 to keep the Jets from reaching the first down marker and forcing a punt. Was part of the defensive unit that held the Jets to just 103 total yards, the third-fewest yards allowed in Patriots history, only two total yards in the second half, the fewest ever allowed in a half in Patriots history, only six first touchdowns and no touchdowns.
• Led the team with 10 total tackles (3 solo, 7 assist) at Arizona (12/12). Part of the defensive unit that recorded six sacks, two takeaways, a touchdown and four fourth-down stops.
• Led the team with 10 total tackles (6 solo, 4 assist) at Las Vegas (12/18). Also recorded an 8-yard sack at the end of the third quarter at the four-yard line to force a fourth down punt to start the fourth quarter.
• Finished with 11 total tackles vs. Cincinnati (12/24) for his third consecutive 10-plus tackle game after he had 10 tackles at Arizona on Dec. 12 and 10 tackles at Las Vegas on Dec. 18. He became the first Patriots player since LB Jamie Collins in 2014 to register 10 tackles in three straight games. Collins had 13 tackles vs. N.Y. Jets on Oct. 16, 11 tackles vs. Chicago on Oct. 26 and 11 tackles vs. Denver on Nov. 2. Has a team leading 106 total tackles, reaching 100 total tackles for the second straight season.
• Added 7 total tackles at Buffalo (1/8) and became the 13th New England player to reach at least 120 total tackles in a season and the first Patriots player to do so since Jerod Mayo had 147 total tackles in 2012 after finishing the season with 122 total tackles. Also recovered a fumble on special teams in the fourth quarter.

2021 (16/16, 1/1)

• Started all 16 games he played in, recording a career-high 108 total tackles, one sack, two passes defensed, three forced fumbles and one special teams tackles.
• Was inactive vs. Tampa Bay (10/3) due to injury.
• Started in the Wild Card Round loss at Buffalo (1/15), totaling two tackles.
• Had three 10-plus tackle games with 13 vs. Dallas (10/17), 10 vs. Tennessee (11/28) and 17 at Miami (1/9).
• Had a team-high six solo tackles against N.Y. Jets (9/19). Pressured QB Zach Wilson on the opening drive that forced a contested throw picked off by J.C. Jackson.
• Led the team with 13 total tackles as a starter vs. Dallas (10/17).
• Forced a fumble when Dallas QB Dak Prescott reached over the goal line late in the first half to preserve a 1410 New England lead at the end of the first half. The play completed a goal line stand, as Dallas had a first -and-goal from the New England 1-yard line. He tackled RB Ezekiel Elliott on the one-yard line on first and goal on that drive.
• Led the team with 10 combined tackles vs. Tennessee (11/28) with two forced fumbles, one of which came on a fourth quarter sack but was recovered by the Titans.
• Missed most of the week for Covid reasons, but recorded four combined tackles and two solo tackles vs. Jacksonville (1/2).
• Set a new career high with a game-leading 17 combined tackles at Miami (1/9), pushing him over 100 tackles in a season for the first time in his career. It was his third 10-plus tackle game of the 2021 season. His previous high in tackles was 14 total tackles vs. Arizona on Nov. 29, 2020.

2020 (13/13)

• Elected defensive co-captain by his teammates for the first time.
• Started all 13 games that he played in and finished second on the team with a career-high 91 tackles, 1.5 sacks, and 2 passes defended. Posted double-digit tackles in Week 6 vs. Denver (12) and Week 12 vs. Arizona (14). Was inactive due to injury at NY Jets (11/9), vs. Baltimore (11/15), and vs. Buffalo (12/28).
• Started at linebacker in the season-opening vs. Miami (9/13) and registered five tackles.
• Started for the sixth time in his career, making one tackle and assisting on three other in Seattle (9/20). played all 63 defensive snaps.
• Helped out on four tackles as a starting linebacker in a Week 3 home win vs. Las Vegas (9/27)
• Started at linebacker and delivered 6 total tackles in a Week 4 loss at Kansas City (10/5).
• Teamed up with Shilique Calhoun to record his first career sack in a Week 6 loss vs. Denver (10/18) that resulted in a 12 yard loss in the third quarter. Totaled 12 tackles, the most of his career, including 8 solos.
• Started at linebacker in a Week 7 loss vs. San Francisco (10/25). Made seven total tackles including five solos.
• Totaled five tackles as a starting linebacker in a Week 8 loss at Buffalo (11/1). He was credited with his first full sack when he dropped QB Josh Allen for a 5-yard loss in the second quarter. He combined with LB Shilique Calhoun on a sack vs. Denver on Oct. 18.
• Was inactive due to injury Week 9 at the Jets (11/9) and Week 10 vs. Baltimore.
• Returned to action and the starting lineup in a Week 11 loss at Houston (11/22) after missing the last three games due to injury. Recorded five tackles and now has 100 career total tackles.
• Started at linebacker and posted a career-high 13 total tackles in a Week 12 win vs. Arizona (11/29). His previous best was 12 tackles vs. Denver on Oct. 18, 2020. He combined with DL Akeem Spence on a goal line tackle on Arizona RB Kenyan Drake to prevent a score as time expired in the first half. Played a key role in limiting Arizona to 298 net yards. They entered the game with the NFL's top ranked offense, averaging 414.3-yards per game and it was their second-lowest output of the season to the 262 yards at Carolina Oct. 4.
• Compiled six total tackles as a starting linebacker in a Week 13 win at the Chargers (12/6).
• Racked up nine total tackles in a Week 14 loss at the Rams (12/10).
• Started at linebacker and made three tackles in a Week 15 loss at Miami (12/20) before leaving the game due to injury in the first half.
• Was inactive due to injury Week 16 vs. Buffalo (12/28).
• Returned to action after missing last week due to injury and finished with a team high seven total tackles in a Week 17 win over the Jets (1/3).

2019 (16/2, 1/0)

• Appeared in all 16 regular-season games with two starts and finished with 39 tackles, one pass defensed and five tackles on special teams as part of a defense that finished No. 1 in the NFL in total defense (275.9 yards per game) and scoring (14.1 points allowed per game).
• Contributed as a reserve on defense and special teams and made four defensive tackles in the AFC Wild Card loss vs. Tennessee (1/4).
• Made his first start of the season and finished with three tackles at linebacker and a special teams tackle in the win at Buffalo (9/29).
• Led the team with a season-high eight tackles in the win at Cincinnati (12/15). His second-quarter tackle on fourth-down led to a Nick Folk field goal that tied the game. Also made one special teams tackle in the game.

2018 (3/2, 0/0)

• Played in the first three games of the season with two starts and posted 13 tackles, one interception, one pass defensed and one special teams tackle before being placed on injured reserve on Sept. 26, after suffering an injury at Detroit (9/23).
• Made the start at linebacker in his first career NFL game in the victory vs. Houston (9/9) and combined for seven total tackles.
• Contributed in a reserve role at linebacker and finished with one tackle, while also contributing on special teams with one special teams tackle at Jacksonville (9/16).
• Started at linebacker and finished with five tackles and a pass defensed, while also recording his first NFL interception when he picked off QB Matthew Stafford to end the Lions first drive of the third quarter in the game at Detroit (9/23). The turnover led to a touchdown for the Patriots on the ensuing drive.

COLLEGE

• Played in 38 games over his four-year career at Purdue and registered 272 tackles, one sack, two interceptions, one interception returned for a touchdown, seven passes defensed, two forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries.
• Was a three-time team captain at Purdue.
• Appeared in 12 games with 11 starts as a senior and totaled a career-high 97 tackles, one sack, one interception he returned for a touchdown, three passes defensed and two forced fumbles.
• Played in nine games as a junior with eight starts and finished fifth on the team with 50 tackles and one pass defensed.
• Started the first five games of the season as a sophomore before injuring his knee at practice. Finished fifth on the team with 49 tackles despite missing the final seven games of the season.
• Started all 12 games as a freshman and recorded 76 tackles, one interception returned for 44 yards, one pass defensed and three fumble recoveries.

PERSONAL

• Four-year letter-winner in high school.
• Two-time first team all-metropolitan, all-conference and all-state as a junior and senior.
• Made 113 tackles, 26 tackles for loss, four sacks and one interception returned for a TD as a senior, helping lead his team to the WCAC championship.
• Recorded 116 tackles and six sacks as a junior.
• Played in Offense-Defense 2014 All-American Bowl.
• Recorded 10 sacks and one forced fumble as a freshman.
• Majored in organizational leadership at Purdue.

HONORS AND AWARDS

• 2020, 2022 and 2023 Team Captain

EXTRA POINTS

• Ja'Whaun Bentley was the first three-time captain in Purdue history.
• Ja'Whaun and his family had been homeless since his freshman year of high school, living with one set of grandparents, then the other, then an aunt. Bentley and his brother slept on couches and floors for periods of time of several years until Ja'Whaun entered the NFL and was able to secure permanent housing for his family.
• Bentley and former Boston Celtics guard Carsen Edwards met as student athletes at Purdue in 2016. Bentley was a junior on the football team and Edwards was a freshman on the basketball team. The duo quickly formed a tight bond and have been close friends ever since.