The NFL announced in a press release that LeCharles Bentley is the new Senior Advisor of Player Performance and Development.
Great hire today by the NFL. I’ve learned something every time I’ve spoken with LeCharles Bentley. He cares deeply about the future of football and the ongoing transition to keep it viable for future generations. pic.twitter.com/EBNgqppY09
— Kevin Seifert (@SeifertESPN) April 2, 2021
To longtime Cleveland Browns fans, LeCharles Bentley is a familiar name.
Bentley, 41, is a native of Cleveland and former Pro Bowl center/guard for the New Orleans Saints and Cleveland Browns.
Who Is LeCharles Bentley?
LeCharles Bentley (@64AMDG) has been named @NFL Senior Advisor of Player Performance and Development.
The former Pro Bowler will work with the league to develop resources, metrics and best practices to enhance the game & improve player development: https://t.co/1dZNvOZCEA pic.twitter.com/fgyifHb2QR
— NFL Football Operations (@NFLFootballOps) April 2, 2021
After playing four seasons with the New Orleans Saints, the Cleveland Browns pulled off one of the biggest free agent signings of the 2006 offseason by signing LeCharles Bentley.
Bentley was supposed to sign with the Philadelphia Eagles.
However, the Browns pulled out the stops to sign the hometown boy ranked by ESPN as the top-rated free agent that season.
Unfortunately, Bentley’s homecoming did not go as planned.
He tore his patellar tendon in training camp on July 27, 2006.
Bentley was out the entire 2006 season.
He endured many complications from his traumatic injury including four operations, a staph infection, and he nearly lost his leg.
Though his knee was believed to be at 70% for the beginning of the 2007 season, Bentley ended up sitting out the entire season.
Unlike Alex Smith who endured a horrific injury and miraculously played competitive football again, Bentley never played again.
The two-time Pro Bowler retired after playing only 57 career games.
After His Playing Days, Bentley Stayed Involved In The Game Of Football
After he retired from playing the game, Bentley never left the game behind.
He founded the world’s first training center for offensive line development in 2009 called the L. Bentley O-Line Academy.
In addition to training offensive lineman at his academy, Bentley also founded LB O-Line Performance providing equipment specific to offensive linemen.
Bentley’s undergraduate degree from Ohio State in human development and family science served as the building block for his other educational pursuits.
He earned certifications in strength and conditioning, sports nutrition, Functional Movement Screening, Olympic weightlifting, and Fascial Stretch Therapy.
His Experience Led To His New NFL Position
Bentley has plenty of football experience to draw upon for his new role.
In a statement, Bentley said:
“I’m honored to be able to use cutting-edge research and data to assist leadership at the NFL in player protection and risk reduction throughout all levels of football. Under the leadership of [Commissioner] Roger Goodell and [Executive Vice President of Football Operations] Troy Vincent, along with head coaches around the NFL, we are committed to growing and enhancing the game of football all over the world.”
Regarding Bentley’s new position, Vincent added:
“The game of football continues to evolve by applying science, technology, and rules in its ongoing effort to advance player protection and remove unnecessary risk from the game. LeCharles Bentley is a world-class thought leader in analyzing the metrics and developing improved playing techniques.”
In addition to his other duties, Bentley will also work with youth and high school football programs.
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