Ja’Whaun Bentley Bio
Ja’Whaun Louis Bentley is an American professional football linebacker who has been active in the National Football League since 2018. He played college football for the Purdue Boilermakers before being selected by the New England Patriots in the fifth round of the 2018 NFL draft. Throughout his career, Bentley has earned recognition for his performance, including being part of the Super Bowl LIII championship team and making significant contributions to the Patriots’ defensive lineup.
Standing 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) and listed at 255 lb (116 kg), Bentley is known for his work in the middle of the field. After spending the majority of his career with New England, he signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers’ practice squad in September 2025.
Early Life and Background
Ja’Whaun Louis Bentley was born on August 24, 1996, in Glenarden, Maryland, USA. He grew up in the Hyattsville area of Maryland and attended DeMatha Catholic High School, a well-known program that has produced several college and professional football players. His time at DeMatha helped lay the foundation for his career as a linebacker.
Coming out of high school, Bentley was rated as a 3-star linebacker recruit. He received scholarship offers from several college football programs, including Iowa, Marshall, Maryland, Massachusetts, Pittsburgh, Rutgers, Syracuse, Virginia, and West Virginia. He ultimately chose to continue his football career at Purdue University, where he would spend four seasons developing into a starter and team leader.
Path to American Football
Bentley committed to Purdue over a wide list of suitors, drawn by the opportunity to play as a four-year starter. He became a three-time team captain for the Boilermakers and grew into one of the steadier linebackers in the Big Ten Conference. His steady development at the college level positioned him as a legitimate NFL prospect by the end of his senior season.
In his senior year in 2017, Bentley played in 12 games, starting 11, and recorded 97 tackles, one sack, two forced fumbles, three pass breakups, and one interception that he returned for a touchdown. His performance earned him honorable mention All-Big Ten honors, and he was named the defensive MVP of the 2017 Foster Farms Bowl. Over 38 career games at Purdue from 2014 to 2017, he compiled 272 tackles, one sack, two interceptions, seven pass deflections, two forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, and one defensive touchdown.
Ja’Whaun Bentley Career
Early Career (2018)
The New England Patriots selected Bentley in the fifth round, 143rd overall, of the 2018 NFL draft. The Patriots acquired the pick in a trade that sent their third-round selection to the San Francisco 49ers in exchange for the fifth-round pick and offensive tackle Trent Brown. Bentley was the 18th linebacker taken in the 2018 draft. On May 12, 2018, the Patriots signed him to a four-year, $2.76 million contract that included a signing bonus of $303,954.
Bentley made his professional regular season debut on September 9, 2018, and earned his first career start alongside Dont’a Hightower and Kyle Van Noy, recording seven combined tackles in a 27–20 victory over the Houston Texans. In Week 3 against the Detroit Lions, he recorded five combined tackles, a pass deflection, and his first career interception. He finished his rookie season with 14 combined tackles, one pass deflection, one tackle for a loss, and an interception in three games and two starts before being placed on injured reserve with a torn bicep.
New England Patriots Breakthrough (2018–2024)
Without Bentley, the New England Patriots finished the 2018 NFL season with an 11–5 record and won Super Bowl LIII by defeating the Los Angeles Rams 13–3. Bentley returned in time for 2019 training camp and earned a backup linebacker role, recording 43 combined tackles in 16 games and two starts. The Patriots finished atop the AFC East at 12–4 before losing to the Tennessee Titans in the AFC Wildcard Game.
In 2020, Bentley was named the starting middle linebacker after the Patriots lost their top four linebackers from the previous season. He recorded his first career sack on October 18, 2020, against the Denver Broncos and added a full sack on Josh Allen in a Week 8 loss to the Buffalo Bills. Prior to 2021, he changed his jersey number from 51 to 8, becoming the first Patriots player to use a new number under the league’s relaxed jersey number rule.
On March 18, 2022, the New England Patriots signed Bentley to a two-year, $6.00 million contract extension that included $3.90 million guaranteed and a signing bonus of $1.60 million. He started all 17 games in 2022, recording a career-high and team-leading 125 tackles, along with three sacks, two passes defensed, and an interception. On June 29, 2023, the Patriots signed him to a two-year, $13.50 million contract extension that included $9.00 million guaranteed and a signing bonus of $5.50 million. In 2024, Bentley played the first two games and recorded 12 combined tackles before suffering a torn pectoral muscle in Week 2 against the Seattle Seahawks that ended his season. On March 28, 2025, he was released by the Patriots.
Pittsburgh Steelers Era (2025)
On September 17, 2025, Bentley signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers’ practice squad. He was released on October 7, 2025. Through 2024, his career NFL statistics included 509 total tackles, 10.5 sacks, four forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, 11 pass deflections, and two interceptions.
Driving Style and Strengths
Bentley is best known for his work as a downhill, run-stopping middle linebacker. He excels at reading offensive formations quickly, filling gaps against the run, and communicating defensive adjustments to the rest of the front seven. His role in the Patriots’ defense has been built on toughness, dependable tackling, and leadership in the heart of the defensive unit.
Notable Events and Milestones
Bentley’s signature early moment came in his rookie preseason, when he recovered a fumble forced by Adrian Clayborn and returned it 54 yards for a touchdown in a 37–20 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles. He was part of the Patriots team that won Super Bowl LIII, and his career-high 125-tackle season in 2022 highlighted his growth into one of the most productive linebackers on the New England roster.
Ja’Whaun Bentley Career Wins
Bentley has been a consistent contributor since entering the NFL, with his statistics reflecting his role as a starting linebacker for the New England Patriots. He recorded a career-high 125 tackles in 2022, along with three sacks, two passes defensed, and an interception, while starting all 17 games that season.
New England Patriots Highlights
During his Patriots tenure from 2018 to 2024, Bentley became a core member of the defense, eventually serving as a team captain. He was part of the 2018 Super Bowl LIII championship team and later emerged as a defensive leader after the departures of Dont’a Hightower, Kyle Van Noy, Jamie Collins, and Elandon Roberts. His 2022 season stood out as the most productive of his career to that point.
Other Wins and Performances
At the college level, Bentley was a three-time team captain at Purdue and the defensive MVP of the 2017 Foster Farms Bowl. He finished his college career with 272 tackles, one sack, two interceptions, seven pass deflections, two forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, and one defensive touchdown across 38 games.
Ja’Whaun Bentley Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public information on Bentley’s parents and family lineage is limited, and no further details can be verified from available sources.
Personal Life
Public details about Bentley’s spouse, children, and personal relationships are not confirmed in available sources.
2025 Season Performance
Bentley’s 2025 storyline began with his release by the New England Patriots on March 28, 2025, ending a seven-year tenure with the organization. He signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers’ practice squad on September 17, 2025, in search of a fresh opportunity. His time with the Steelers proved brief, as he was released on October 7, 2025.
Heading into 2025, Bentley remained a 29-year-old veteran linebacker with significant starting experience in the Patriots’ defense. His career statistics through 2024, including 509 total tackles, 10.5 sacks, four forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, 11 pass deflections, and two interceptions, reflect a player capable of contributing on a regular defensive rotation. His outlook beyond 2025 will depend on his health and his ability to secure a role with another NFL team.