Cornelius Bennett

{{Infobox NFL biography

| name = Cornelius Bennett

| number = 55, 97

| position = Linebacker

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1965|8|25|mf=y}}

| birth_place = Birmingham, Alabama, U.S.

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 3

| weight_lb = 240

| high_school = Ensley (Birmingham)

| college = Alabama (1983–1986)

| draftyear = 1987

| draftround = 1

| draftpick = 2

| pastteams =

Indianapolis Colts (1987)*
Buffalo Bills ({{NFL Year|1987|1995}})
Atlanta Falcons ({{NFL Year|1996|1998}})
Indianapolis Colts ({{NFL Year|1999|2000}})

| highlights =

3× First-team All-Pro (1988, 1991, 1992)
5× Pro Bowl (1988, 1990–1993)
NFL 1990s All-Decade Team
PFWA All-Rookie Team (1987)
Buffalo Bills 50th Anniversary Team
Lombardi Award (1986)
Unanimous All-American (1986)
2× First-team All-American (1984, 1985)
SEC Player of the Year (1986)
3× First-team All-SEC (1984, 1985, 1986)

| statlabel1 = Tackles

| statvalue1 = 1,190

| statlabel2 = Sacks

| statvalue2 = 71.5

| statlabel3 = Forced fumbles

| statvalue3 = 31

| statlabel4 = Interceptions

| statvalue4 = 7

| pfr = BennCo00

| CollegeHOF = 2156

}}

Cornelius O'Landa Bennett (born August 25, 1965) is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL). He played for the Buffalo Bills from 1987 to 1995, Atlanta Falcons from 1996 to 1998, and the Indianapolis Colts from 1999 to 2000. Bennett was a five-time Pro Bowler, being elected in 1988, and 1990–1993, and won the AFC Defensive Player of the Year award twice (1988 and 1991).

Early life

Bennett was born in Birmingham, Alabama.{{Cite web |last=Kausler Jr. |first=Don |date=June 28, 2011 |title=Ex-Tide star Cornelius Bennett spends his days helping others now |url=https://www.al.com/sports/2011/06/ex-tide_star_cornelius_bennett.html |access-date=September 16, 2023 |website=AL.com |language=en}} He played halfback and several other positions while attending Ensley High School in Birmingham. Bennett was an excellent basketball and baseball player during his high school career. Bennett was an all-state performer for the football team his senior year, amassing over 1,000 yards on 101 rushes. Bennett was nicknamed "Biscuit" by friends because he always had room for one more.{{Cite web |last=Utterback |first=Bill |date=September 2, 1988 |title=Trying To Avoid Bills' Bennett Has Become Foes' No. 1 Pastime |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1988/09/02/trying-to-avoid-bills-bennett-has-become-foes-no-1-pastime/ |access-date=September 16, 2023 |website=Chicago Tribune|agency=Scripps Howard News Service}}

{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Stephen M. |date=June 25, 2015 |title=Cornelius Bennett's Path To The NFL |url=https://tdalabamamag.com/2015/06/25/cornelius-bennett-from-ensley-to-the-nfl/ |access-date=September 16, 2023 |website=TD Alabama Magazine |language=en-US}}

College career

Bennett played for the University of Alabama from 1983 to 1986.{{Cite web |date=May 18, 2005 |title=Cornelius Bennett voted into Hall of Fame |url=https://www.tuscaloosanews.com/story/news/2005/05/19/cornelius-bennett-voted-into-hall-of-fame/27887968007/ |access-date=September 16, 2023 |website=The Tuscaloosa News |language=en-US}} Bennett was a first selection on the College Football All-America Team three times (1984–1986). He is one of only two Alabama players to be named to three All-America teams, the other being fellow linebacker Woodrow Lowe. As a senior, he won the Lombardi Award, SEC Player of the Year honors, and finished 7th in the balloting for the Heisman Trophy.{{Cite web |title=Vince Lombardi Award Winners |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/awards/lombardi.html |access-date=September 16, 2023 |website=Sports Reference |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=SEC Player of the Year Winners |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/awards/sec-poy.html |access-date=September 16, 2023 |website=Sports Reference |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=1986 Heisman Trophy Voting |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/awards/heisman-1986.html |access-date=September 16, 2023 |website=Sports Reference |language=en}} In his four seasons at the University of Alabama, Bennett recorded 287 tackles, {{frac|21|1|2}} sacks, and 3 fumble recoveries. His most famous play was in 1986 when he leveled Notre Dame quarterback Steve Beuerlein, immortalized in a painting by artist Daniel Moore titled simply, ‘The Sack.’{{Cite web |last=Eskenazi |first=Gerald |date=January 5, 1989 |title=Bennett of Bills Already Rated As One of the N.F.L.'s Best |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/01/05/sports/bennett-of-bills-already-rated-as-one-of-the-nfl-s-best.html |access-date=September 16, 2023 |website=New York Times}} In 2005, Bennett was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame.{{Cite web |date=August 12, 2006 |title=Cornelius Bennett Enshrined into College Football Hall of Fame |url=https://rolltide.com/news/2006/8/12/Cornelius_Bennett_Enshrined_into_College_Football_Hall_of_Fame |access-date=September 16, 2023 |website=University of Alabama Athletics |language=en}}

Professional career

{{Cquote|L. T.'s in a class all by himself. I'll put L. T. first, then Tippett, and Bennett behind him.|15px|15px|Jets fullback Roger Vick, ranking the NFL's best pass rushers during the 1988 season.{{Cite web |last=Eskenazi |first=Gerald |date=October 17, 1988 |title=Bills' Bennett Says He's Best |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/10/17/sports/bills-bennett-says-he-s-best.html |access-date=2023-09-16 |website=New York Times}}}}

After his college career, Bennett was selected by the Indianapolis Colts with the second pick of the 1987 NFL draft.{{Cite web |title=1987 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1987/draft.htm |access-date=September 16, 2023 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} The 1987 draft class was deemed the "Year of Linebacker", but Bennett was considered to stand "head-and-shoulders above the rest."{{Cite magazine |last=Horrigon |first=Joe |title=The MMQB NFL All-Time Draft |url=https://www.si.com/specials/mmqb-nfl-all-time-draft/rosters/joe-horrigan.html |access-date=September 16, 2023 |magazine=Sports Illustrated |language=en}} Bennett was Alabama's highest draft selection since quarterback Richard Todd went 6th overall in 1976.{{Cite web |title=Alabama Drafted Players/Alumni |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/schools/alabama/drafted.htm |access-date=September 16, 2023 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}

Bennett and the Colts were unable to come to an agreement on a contract. Bennett was then dealt to the Buffalo Bills from the Colts in a three-way trade that also included Los Angeles Rams running back Eric Dickerson and Bills running back Greg Bell. This trade occurred in the fall of the 1987 season, just before the trade deadline, and has been called "the trade of the decade" by The New York Times.{{Cite web |last=Eskenazi |first=Gerald |date=December 18, 1987 |title=Trade for Bennett Pays Off for Bills |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/12/18/sports/nfl-matchups-trade-for-bennett-pays-off-for-bills.html |access-date=September 16, 2023 |website=New York Times}}

In the NFL, Bennett's talent at the left outside linebacker position helped the teams he played for to five Super Bowl appearances (four with Buffalo and one with Atlanta), but they lost them all (an NFL record he shares with offensive lineman Glenn Parker{{Cite web |last=Weinfuss |first=Josh |date=January 31, 2014 |title=Cards broadcaster lost 5 Super Bowls |url=https://www.espn.com/blog/arizona-cardinals/post/_/id/4411/cards-broadcaster-lost-5-super-bowls |access-date=September 16, 2023 |website=ESPN.com}}). In his 14 NFL seasons, he recorded {{frac|71|1|2}} sacks, 7 interceptions, 31 forced fumbles, 27 fumble recoveries and three touchdowns (one interception, one fumble return, and one blocked field goal return).{{Cite web |title=Cornelius Bennett Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BennCo00.htm |access-date=2024-12-25 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}

At the time of his retirement, Bennett's 27 defensive fumble recoveries were the third most in NFL history.{{citation needed|date=September 2023}}

Bennett was inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame in 2004.{{Cite web |date=August 7, 2019 |title=Cornelius Bennett |url=https://ashof.org/inductees/cornelius-bennett/ |access-date=September 16, 2023 |website=Alabama Sports Hall of Fame |language=en-US}}

Bennett is a cousin of former New England Patriots defensive end, the late Marquise Hill.{{Cite news |date=May 28, 2007 |title=FOX Facts: NFL Player Marquise Hill Found Dead in New Orleans' Lake Ponchartrain |language=en-US |work=Fox News |url=https://www.foxnews.com/story/fox-facts-nfl-player-marquise-hill-found-dead-in-new-orleans-lake-ponchartrain |access-date=November 17, 2017}}

NFL career statistics

class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"

! colspan="2"| Legend

Bold

| Career high

=Regular season=

rowspan="2"\| Year ! rowspan="2"\| Team ! colspan="2"\| Games ! colspan="5"\| Tackles ! colspan="4"\| Interceptions ! colspan="2"\| Fumbles
class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
GP	GS	Cmb	Solo	Ast	Sck	TfL	Int	Yds	TD	PD	FF	FR
1987	BUF \| 8 \|\| 7 \|\| 69 \|\| – \|\| – \|\| 8.5 \|\| – \|\| – \|\| – \|\| – \|\| – \|\| 5 \|\| 0
1988	BUF \| 16 \|\| 16 \|\| 103 \|\| – \|\| – \|\| 9.5 \|\| – \|\| 2 \|\| 30 \|\| 0 \|\| – \|\| 3 \|\| 3
1989	BUF \| 12 \|\| 12 \|\| 54 \|\| – \|\| – \|\| 5.5 \|\| – \|\| 2 \|\| 5 \|\| 0 \|\| – \|\| 1 \|\| 2
1990	BUF \| 16 \|\| 16 \|\| 96 \|\| – \|\| – \|\| 4.0 \|\| – \|\| – \|\| – \|\| – \|\| – \|\| 3 \|\| 2
1991	BUF \| 16 \|\| 16 \|\| 107 \|\| – \|\| – \|\| 9.0 \|\| – \|\| – \|\| – \|\| – \|\| – \|\| 4 \|\| 2
1992	BUF \| 15 \|\| 15 \|\| 81 \|\| – \|\| – \|\| 4.0 \|\| – \|\| – \|\| – \|\| – \|\| – \|\| 2 \|\| 3
1993	BUF \| 16 \|\| 16 \|\| 102 \|\| – \|\| – \|\| 5.0 \|\| – \|\| 1 \|\| 5 \|\| 0 \|\| – \|\| 2 \|\| 2
1994	BUF \| 16 \|\| 16 \|\| 77 \|\| 58 \|\| 19 \|\| 5.0 \|\| – \|\| – \|\| – \|\| – \|\| – \|\| 1 \|\| 3
1995	BUF \| 14 \|\| 14 \|\| 104 \|\| 81 \|\| 23 \|\| 2.0 \|\| – \|\| 1 \|\| 69 \|\| 1 \|\| – \|\| 1 \|\| 2
1996	ATL \| 13 \|\| 13 \|\| 60 \|\| 52 \|\| 8 \|\| 3.0 \|\| – \|\| 1 \|\| 3 \|\| 0 \|\| – \|\| 2 \|\| 2
1997	ATL \| 16 \|\| 16 \|\| 90 \|\| 68 \|\| 22 \|\| 7.0 \|\| – \|\| – \|\| – \|\| – \|\| – \|\| 2 \|\| 1
1998	ATL \| 16 \|\| 16 \|\| 92 \|\| 69 \|\| 23 \|\| 1.0 \|\| – \|\| – \|\| – \|\| – \|\| – \|\| 0 \|\| 2
1999	IND \| 16 \|\| 16 \|\| 105 \|\| 72 \|\| 33 \|\| 5.0 \|\| 10 \|\| – \|\| – \|\| – \|\| 5 \|\| 5 \|\| 2
2000	IND \| 16 \|\| 15 \|\| 50 \|\| 36 \|\| 14 \|\| 3.0 \|\| 6 \|\| – \|\| – \|\| – \|\| 4 \|\| 0 \|\| 1
colspan="2"\| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BennCo00.htm Career] \|\| 206 \|\| 204 \|\| 1,190 \|\| 436 \|\| 142 \|\| 71.5 \|\| 16 \|\| 7 \|\| 119 \|\| 1 \|\| 9 \|\| 31 \|\| 27

Personal life

In May 1997,{{Cite web |last=Fabrizio |first=Tony |title=Cornelius Bennett: Back on Top - TheCabin.net |url=http://thecabin.net/stories/012699/sup_2.shtml |website=thecabin.net |access-date=May 16, 2017 |archive-date=September 13, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170913232841/http://thecabin.net/stories/012699/sup_2.shtml |url-status=dead }} Bennett committed "vicious acts"{{Cite journal |date=April 1, 1998 |title=JUDGE SAYS CORNELIUS BENNETT MUST DO JAIL TIME IN SEX ASSAULT |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-23045631.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140921200600/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-23045631.html |archive-date=September 21, 2014}} during a sexual assault of a woman at the Hyatt Regency hotel in Buffalo. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 60 days in jail for sexual misconduct. He was also placed on three years' probation, fined $500, ordered to perform 100 hours of community service, ordered to pay back $617 in medical bills for the woman,{{Cite news |date=February 27, 1998 |title=N.F.L.: NOTEBOOK; Bennett Draws Jail Term in Sex Case |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/02/27/sports/nfl-notebook-bennett-draws-jail-term-in-sex-case.html |agency=Associated Press}} and ordered to undergo anger-management and substance-abuse counseling.{{cite web | title=Cases involving athletes and sexual assault | website=USATODAY.com | date=2004-05-28 | url=https://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/2003-12-22-athletes-assault-side_x.htm | access-date=2025-02-22}}

Bennett lives in Hollywood, Florida, with his second wife, Kimberly Bennett.{{citation needed|date=February 2023}}

In May 2010, Bennett announced he will donate his brain for a CTE study, Chronic traumatic encephalopathy, of long-term brain injuries resulting from football-related injuries.{{Cite web |last=Segrast |first=Doug |date=May 12, 2010 |title=Cornelius Bennett's putting brain where his mouth is for future NFL players |url=http://blog.al.com/segrest/2010/05/cornelius_bennetts_putting_bra.html |access-date=September 16, 2023 |website=AL.com}}