Ben Terrence Coates, Jr. (born August 16, 1969) is an American former professional football player who was a tight end in the National Football League for 10 seasons, primarily with the New England Patriots. He played college football at Livingstone and was drafted by the Patriots in the fifth round of the 1991 NFL Draft where spent all but one season of his professional career. In his final season, he was a member of the Baltimore Ravens. After his playing career, he became a coach on the collegiate and professional levels, returning to Livingstone as the head football coach and holding assistant positions with the NFL.