The New England Patriots are going through an intense off-season. They are rolling with Drake Maye as QB1, they own the fourth overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, and they just signed WR Stefon Diggs to a massive three-year contract.
Now, they have a long-time starter walking away from the team.
BREAKING: Patriots Long-Time Starter Abruptly Says Goodbye, Walks Away From Team
According to Ja’Whaun Bentley’s official Twitter (X) account:
New England!!
Thank You for Everything!!
It’s Been a Blessing!!
According to Patriots reporter Mike Reiss:
Patriots LB Ja’Whaun Bentley says goodbye.
Expectation is that the team will be releasing him today.
Three-time captain. Has been with team for 7 seasons. Just said over the weekend he has been fully cleared recently after sustaining a torn pec Week 2 last season.
Here is a look at Bentley’s career stats:
| Def Interceptions | Fumbles | Tackles | |||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Age | Team | Lg | Pos | G | GS | Int | Yds | IntTD | Lng | PD | FF | Fmb | FR | Yds | FRTD | Sk | Comb | Solo | Ast | TFL | QBHits | Sfty | AV | Awards |
| 2018 | 22 | NWE | NFL | LB | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 14 | 9 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| 2019 | 23 | NWE | NFL | LB | 16 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 44 | 29 | 15 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 | |
| 2020 | 24 | NWE | NFL | LLB | 13 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.5 | 91 | 50 | 41 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 7 | |
| 2021 | 25 | NWE | NFL | LILB | 16 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.0 | 109 | 68 | 41 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 9 | |
| 2022 | 26 | NWE | NFL | LILB | 17 | 17 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3.0 | 125 | 62 | 63 | 5 | 6 | 0 | 9 | |
| 2023 | 27 | NWE | NFL | LB | 16 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4.5 | 114 | 55 | 59 | 5 | 12 | 0 | 9 | |
| 2024 | 28 | NWE | NFL | LB | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.5 | 12 | 7 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| 7 Yrs | 83 | 68 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 11 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 10.5 | 509 | 280 | 229 | 21 | 29 | 0 | 40 | |||||
| 17 Game Avg | 17 | 14 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2.2 | 104 | 57 | 47 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 8 | |||||
