Report: Former Patriots Tight End Selected To Black College Football Hall Of Fame

The Black College Football Hall of Fame revealed the Class of 2022 on Tuesday. Former Patriots tight end Ben Coates found his spot on the Hall of Fame list. This list also has six other former players and contributors. Donald Driver and Nate Newton are there, too. This Hall of Fame was founded in 2009 and has almost 100 honorees.

Coates was a fifth-round pick in the 1991 NFL Draft. The Patriots selected him straight out of Livingston College. He played at Livingston College from 1987-1990 and recorded 103 catches for 1,268 yards and 18 touchdowns. Coates spent nine seasons with the Patriots and made five Pro Bowls. He was an AP First-Team All-Pro on two occasions. His great performance earned him a spot in the NFL’s and the Patriots’ All-Decade team for the 1990s. Impressive, right?

Patriots tight end Ben Coates earned his spot on the Hall of Fame list

Coates was Drew Bledsoe’s favorite target and he scored 50 touchdowns during his time with the team. The former Patriot played his best in 1994 as he recorded 96 catches for 1,174 yards and seven touchdowns. Coates brought his time with the Patriots to an end and went to Baltimore. He stayed there for a season and won a title in 2000.

Coates became an inductee in the Patriots Hall of Fame in 2008.

The Class of 2022 will be inducted during the Black College Football Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony & Juneteenth Celebration, Presented by the Atlanta Falcons. The great event will take place on June 18, 2022, at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta, Georgia.

Inductees will also appear at the inaugural HBCU Legacy Bowl on February 19, 2022 in New Orleans, Louisiana. This will be their very first public appearance.

A group of journalists, commentators, historians, and former NFL execs selected nominees. Each contributor earned their spot for all the great things they did in their careers. Coates is a legend and he deserves every prize and reward. The same goes to other nominees in this class.