He’d run 43 times for 134 yards, and catch 15 passes for 101 yards that season before injury ended his season after 5 games.
Then he returned stateside for camp and practice squad action with the Colts in 2007, and the Panthers from 2007-’09.
He’d wrap up his playing career on the off-season roster of the Toronto Argonauts of the CFL in 2010.
DeCori pursued a career in law enforcement and as of 2025 has become a decorated member of Texas DPS Enforcement.
NOTES:
DeCori is most famously known by Razorback faithful for catching the TD pass from Matt Jones with seconds to play, to upset the 18th ranked LSU Tigers in what is known as the Miracle on Markham.
Great card. Great autograph from DeCori. A fun, deep cut player.
Ended up being one of the league’s most effective punter, averaging 42.3 yards on 39 punts.
Had a 62 yard boomer against Birmingham during the season.
Did not return to franchise for the 1992 season and has lived in fair anonymity ever since.
NOTES:
I’ve tried Bobby a few times TTM with no success. What’s even more frustrating is that he resided somewhere in Central Texas- or at least used to. He’s a zero burger through the mail, but I just kept trying.
My reverse search led me to Facebook, and I realized he was friend with a mutual contact of mine, John Walker. John and I had built up a rapport. I had done some custom card work for him and in exchange he promised to help me get Bob’s autograph. That time has come and gone. What? A year? Two?
Anyway, I got tired of waiting so I secured Bob’s autograph on his Pro Set card via eBay, knocking out one of 3 set needs from this elusive Longhorn.
CARD: Pro Set 1993 ACQUIRED: TTM 2022, C/o Home SENT: 4/11/22 RECEIVED: 7/5/22 (85 days)
CAREER SNAPSHOT:
Ben Coates played TE at Livingstone College from 1987-’90.
He had 103 receptions for 1,268 yards and 18 touchdowns over his college career.
5th round pick of the New England Patriots in 1991.
Career took off in 1993 with the arrival of rookie Drew Bledsoe.
Caught 53 passes for 659 yards and 8 TDs that season.
In 1994 had a career high 96 receptions for 1174 yards and 7 TDs.
And in 1995 had another 84 catches for 915 yards and 6 TDs.
Had a career high 9 TD receptions on 62 receptions in 1996.
Coates then had two back to back 65+ catch seasons in ’97 and ’98.
After a subpar 1999- Ben played one final season in Baltimore.
Returned to his alma mater as a coach for Livingstone College from 2000-’04.
From there he hopped over to the NFLE working with the Frankfurt Galaxy’s TEs that year.
Worked with Browns TEs from ’05-’07.
Assistant head coach and OC for Central State from 2009-’12.
And then Saint Augustine’s from 2013-’14.
ACCOLADES:
All Pro 1994, ’95, ’98
NFL All-Decade Team 1990’s
Pro Bowl 1994-’98
Black College Football Hall of Fame
Patriots Hall of Fame
Patriots 50th Anniversary Team
Patriots All-90’s team
NOTES:
Ugh! Ben was so gracious to me. I accidentally sent him I think a card of Daniel Graham too! He was kind enough to sign this one and put a note on the other letting me know that it wasn’t him. Not my finest moment.
Coates gets little traction outside of the AFC East and the Patriots for Hall of Fame consideration. He’s got a lot of great skills to do it all and was considered the freak of his day at the position. Greatly overshadowed by Shannon Sharpe out of Denver, Coates could block and catch with ease.
He really should be in the HoF. At the time of his retirement Ben was ranked 4th in receptions among tight ends trailing only Ozzie Newsome, Shannon Sharpe, and Kellen Winslow.
Celebrating the game, the players, the cards, and the autographs for over 25 years.
