More than a decade after his playing career was cut short by a knee injury, LeCharles Bentley is back in the NFL.
The NFL announced Friday that it had named Bentley, who played for Ohio State from 1998-2001, as its new Senior Advisor of Player Performance and Development.
LeCharles Bentley (@64AMDG) has been named @NFL Senior Advisor of Player Performance and Development.
— NFL Football Operations (@NFLFootballOps) April 2, 2021
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
In his new role, Bentley “will advise NFL Executive Vice President of Football Operations Troy Vincent, Sr., on player performance and the development of resources, enhancements, metrics and best practices designed to enhance the game. He will also work closely with NFL youth, high school football and other key stakeholders to promote the growth of football across all levels,” according to the NFL's news release.
“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.” Bentley said in a statement. “Under the leadership of Roger Goodell and Troy Vincent, along with head coaches around the NFL, we are committed to growing and enhancing the game of football all over the world.”
The Rimington Trophy winner as college football's best center in 2001, Bentley made two Pro Bowls in first four NFL seasons with the New Orleans Saints, but he never played in another game after rupturing the patellar tendon in his left knee, shortly after signing with his hometown Cleveland Browns in 2006.
Since his retirement from the league, Bentley has remained involved in the sport of football through Offensive Line Performance, a training center for offensive linemen that he founded in 2008. Last year, he also launched his own sports agency, AMDG Sports, which now represents more than 20 NFL offensive linemen including former Ohio State offensive linemen Taylor Decker, Branden Bowen, Pat Elflein, Jamarco Jones and Isaiah Prince.
