Manning the defensive end position for the Philadelphia Eagles in the National Football League (NFL) is Michael Bennett the professional American footballer. He is not to be confused with the Ohio-born American football player Michael Bennett who plays defensive tackle for the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Michael who started his professional career with the Seattle Seahawks as an undrafted free agent in 2009 was first known for playing as a defensive lineman in his high school years where he was also honored with first-team All-District honors. As a professional, he made his first success in 2014 when he won the Super Bowl XLVIII.
Michael Bennett Biography
Born in Avondale, Louisiana, Bennett is an American citizen who grew up and had his early education in Houston. He was born on November 13, 1985, and he lived mostly with his father and stepmother as his mother was busy taking care of his four siblings.
Bennett went to Alief Taylor High School in Houston, Texas where he began playing with the school football team and also played other sports such as track and field and baseball. He once revealed that he got his strong tackling skills while playing with his cousins in his early years, he also claimed to have learned about being tough and focused on his grandfather.
Bennett’s college career started in 2005, with Texas A&M, where he recorded 3.5 quarterback sacks and 27 tackles. Starting as a fresher, Bennett wasted no time distinguishing himself as a top tackler and by 2006, he was already recognized among the school team’s top defenders as he made 27 more tackles, with two sacks and 6 tackles for loss while seeing action in every game. The following year, he earned the honorable All-Big 12 Conference team as a defensive end after registering 43 tackles including 6 tackles for one loss of yardage.
Michael Bennett began his professional career on April 27, 2008, and at that time he was just about 24 years. He signed a deal with the Seattle Seahawks as an undrafted free agent. He was undrafted, according to NFL, because his performance as a college player was inconsistent. After a bit of training, he was allowed to play as the team’s pass-rushing tackle, and as the fast and active learner that he is, he was able to make good results during the pre-season. He made the preseason’s final roaster with his 9 tackles, 2 sacks, a fumble recovery, 5 QB hurries, and a tipped pass.
Bennett was later waived by the Seahawks on October 10, 2009, and two days after, he was claimed off by the Tampa-based football franchise, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and was positioned to play a defensive tackle. After about four years of playing with Tampa Bay, he returned to the Seahawks on March 14, 2013, after signing a year contract with the team.
Bennett’s first NFL touchdown was on December 2, 2013, against the New Orleans Saints. In fact, the Seahawk’s successful win of the Super Bowl XLVII was not without the key contributions of Bennett.
Following his remarkable role in the team’s defense, the Seatle Seahawks signed another contract with Bennett on March 10, 2014. The four-year deal was reportedly worth $28.5 million with $16 million guaranteed. On December 30, 2016, after the eight-game into the 2015 season which led to his ranking as the ninth-best edge defender in the NFL by Pro Football Focus, he signed another three-year- contract extension worth $31.5 million with the Seahawks.
On March 7, 2018, he was exchanged for Philadelphia Eagles’ wide receiver Marcus Johnson. By March 14, 2018, at the start of the new NFL league year, Bennett officially began to play for the Eagles. Michael Bennett is worth $19 million with annual earnings of about $5 million.
Bennett’s Brother
Bennett has four siblings, one of which is his younger brother Martellus Bennett who retired as the New England Patriots tight end. He is also an author of children’s literature. Martellus started his professional football career in 2008 after ranking 7th out of the 8 tight ends in his group and finishing the 40-yard dash in 4.68 seconds. He played professionally for a decade with such teams as the Dallas Cowboys(2008-2011), the New York Giants(2012), Chicago Bears(2013-2015), New England Patriots(2016-2017, 2018), and the Green Bay Packers. He announced his retirement on March 23, 2018, after his release by the Patriots.
Martellus Bennett was diagnosed with tears in the labrum in his shoulder and his rotator cuff. During an interview, Michael described his younger brother Martellus as one of the best athletes in Texas.
Michael Bennett Wife, Pele
Michael is married to Pele Bennett (nee Partsch) his high school girlfriend. The two became a couple in 2012, after about eight years of dating. Pele is a native of Texas and she attended Alief Taylor High School where she met Bennett. They had their wedding in Hawaii where they currently reside.
Michael and his wife Pele run a foundation known as the Bennett Foundation, which supports gardening as a resourceful activity for youth in juvenile detention. it also supports the fight against obesity. Together they have three daughters —Peyton, Blake, and Ollie.
Height, Weight, Body Measurement
Wearing Philadelphia Eagles’shirt number 77, Michael is 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) in height and his weight is 124 kg (274 lb). His other body measurements like his chest, biceps, and waist have not been disclosed.
