Justin Bethel

Justin Bethel was signed by the New England Patriots a free agent on Oct. 23, 2019... Originally drafted by Arizona in the sixth round (177th overall) of the 2012 NFL Draft... Signed by Atlanta as an unrestricted free agent from Arizona (3/24/18)... Signed by Baltimore as an unrestricted free agent from Atlanta (3/19/19)... Released by Baltimore (10/21/19).

CAREER TRANSACTIONS

Justin Bethel was signed by the New England Patriots a free agent on Oct. 23, 2019... Originally drafted by Arizona in the sixth round (177th overall) of the 2012 NFL Draft... Signed by Atlanta as an unrestricted free agent from Arizona (3/24/18)... Signed by Baltimore as an unrestricted free agent from Atlanta (3/19/19)... Released by Baltimore (10/21/19).

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

• Named to three straight Pro Bowls as a special teamer 2013-15.
• Earned first team All-Pro honors from the Pro Football Writers Association in 2013 and 2015.
• Has four career touchdowns:
• Blocked field goal return 82 yards for TD vs. Chicago (12/23/12).
• 21-yard interception return for TD vs. San Francisco (9/27/15).
• 66-yard interception return for TD at L.A. Rams (1/1/17).
• 82-yard interception return for TD at Detroit (9/10/17).
• Has blocked five kicks in his nine-year career:
• 47-yard field goal attempt vs. Detroit (9/15/13)
• 40-yard field goal attempt vs. Houston (11/10/13)
• 35-yard field goal attempt at Dallas (11/2/14)
• PAT block at Minnesota (11/20/16)
• PAT block vs San Francisco (10/25/20)
• Registered double-digit special teams tackles in each of his nine NFL seasons.

SEASONAL REVIEWS

2021 (17/0, 1/0)

• Contributes as a key member of the punt and kickoff units.
• Saw limited time as a free safety at N.Y. Jets (9/19) and at Houston (10/10).
• Filled in at defensive back vs. Dallas (10/17) when DB Jonathan Jones left the game due to injury. Recorded two special teams tackles in the game including a forced fumble off a punt in the third quarter.
• Deflected a pass by QB Dak Prescott that was then intercepted by DB Kyler Dugger in the end zone in the second quarter vs. Dallas (10/17)
• Had a strong rush that helped force a missed field goal in the fourth quarter vs. Dallas (10/17).
• Saw limited snaps on defense vs. N.Y. Jets (10/24) and made one solo tackle.
• Made one special teams tackle vs. Cleveland (11/14).
• Made a big hit off a Jake Bailey kickoff in the fourth quarter at Atlanta (11/18).
• Saw limited snaps on defense vs. Jacksonville (1/2) and made one tackle as well as another tackle on special teams.
• Played exclusively on special teams in Wild Card Round loss at Buffalo (1/15)

2020 (16/0)

• Played in all 16 games, contributing mainly on special teams and led the team with 14 special teams tackles and one blocked kick. Posted double-digit special teams tackles for the ninth consecutive season.
• Played the gunner on punt team that allowed a total of 71 punt return yards on 12 returns, the fewest punt return yards allowed by the Patriots in team history, and the sixth-fewest punt return yards allowed in a season in NFL history. The 12 punt returns allowed were second in NFL history and team history to the 11 by the New England Patriots in 2008.
• Played on special teams in the season-opening win vs. Miami (9/13).
• Played on special teams vs. Seattle (9/20), downing a 57-yard Jake Bailey punt in the second quarter.
• Played on special teams, making a tackle on a kickoff late in the fourth quarter in a Week 3 win vs. Las Vegas (9/27) that pinned LV at their own 12-yard line. After a penalty, the Raiders started at their own 6 yard line, where Shilique Calhoun and Deatrich Wise forced a fumble on a sack that was recovered by Wise in the end zone for a touchdown.
• Played in a special teams role in a Week 4 loss at Kansas City (10/5). Downed a Jake Bailey punt at the KC 11 yard line in the third quarter.
• Played a role on special teams in a Week 6 loss vs. Denver (10/18), made a tackle on the Denver 17 yard line on the kickoff following the Patriots lone touchdown of the game.
• Played a special teams role in a Week 7 loss vs. San Francisco (10/25). Hot a hand on a Robbie Gould extra point in the second quarter to block the kick. The ball deflected off. Bethel's hand, hit the left upright and fell to the ground resulting in an unsuccessful try.
• Played special teams role on kick coverage in a Week 8 loss at Buffalo (11/1).
• Played a special teams role in a Week 9 win at the Jets (11/9). Made two special teams tackles, including one that stopped Jets return man Braxton Berrios at the 18 yard line following an Nick Folk fourth quarter field goal.
• Saw time in a special teams role on punt and kickoff coverage during a Week 10 in vs. Baltimore.
• Appeared in a special teams role in a Week 11 loss at Houston (11/22). Made one tackle on a Jake Bailey punt in the first quarter at the Texans 20 yard line.
• Saw time on special team in a Week 12 win vs. Arizona (11/29). Recorded a special teams tackle on a second quarter Jake Bailey punt. Downed a Bailey punt at the Arizona 3 yard line in the first quarter.
• Played a big role on special teams in a Week 13 win at the Chargers (12/6). Racked up three special teams tackles, all on kickoffs. Made a key block in Gunner Olszewski's 70 yard punt return for a touchdown in the second quarter.
• Made two special teams tackles, both on Jake Bailey punts as part of a Week 14 loss at the Rams (12/10). This now is the 9th straight season Justin Bethel has compiled double digit special teams tackles.
• Posted two special teams tackles and downed two Jake Bailey punts in a Week 15 loss at Miami (12/20). His kickoff tackle on Noah Igbinoghene pinned the Dolphins back at their own 11-ayrd line following a Nick Folk field goal in the third quarter.
• Made one special teams tackle and downed a Jake Bailey punt at the Buffalo 5-yardline in a Week 16 loss vs. the Bills (12/28).

2019 (9/0, 1/0 – NEW ENGLAND)

• Signed by the New England Patriots as a free agent on Oct. 23.
• Played in nine regular-season games as a special teams contributor and posted five tackles and two fumble recoveries on muffed punts.
• Appeared as a reserve in the Wild Card Playoff vs. Tennessee (1/4). Did not accrue any statistics.
• Finished with one special teams tackle and recovered a muffed punt in the second quarter to set the Patriots offense up at the 20-yard line in the loss at Baltimore (11/3). His recovery led to a Patriots touchdown on the ensuing drive.
• Made one special teams tackle and recovered a fumble from a muffed punt, setting the Patriots offense up in Bengals territory and led to a field goal in the win at Cincinnati (12/15).

2019 (7/0 – BALTIMORE)

• Saw action in seven games as a reserve for Baltimore as a core special teams player. Recorded three special teams tackles.

2018 (14/0 – ATLANTA)

• Played in 14 games with the Falcons as a core special teamer. Made 12 special teams tackles on the season.
• Was inactive vs. Cincinnati (9/30) and at Pittsburgh (10/7).
• Notched a season-high three special teams tackles vs. Carolina (9/16).

2017 (16/6 – ARIZONA)

• Played in all 16 games with six starts for Arizona, making 30 defensive tackles and nine special teams tackles on the season. Also intercepted one pass he returned for a touchdown and defensed four passes.
• Recorded his only interception of the season and returned it for a career-long 82-yard touchdown at Detroit (9/10). Added four tackles in the game.
• Started and made a season-high six tackles on defense, defensed one pass and made one special teams tackle at Indianapolis (9/17).
• Matched a season-high with six tackles in a start at Philadelphia (10/17).

2016 (16/3 – ARIZONA)

• Played in all 16 games with three starts and recorded 26 tackles on defense, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, one interception returned for a touchdown, six passes defensed and with 12 special teams tackles.
• Brought back his only interception on the season for a 66-yard touchdown at L.A. Rams (1/1). Also made a season-high six tackles on defense, recovered a fumble and one on special teams in the game.

2015 (16/5, 2/2 – ARIZONA)

• Played in all 16 regular-season games with five starts and recorded a career-best 33 tackles on defense, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, two interceptions, nine passes defensed and 13 special teams tackles on.
• Started both playoff contests and accrued 10 tackles and two passes defensed.
• Named to his third consecutive Pro Bowl as a special teamer.
• Voted first team All-Pro by the Pro Football Writers and as a special teamer.
• Scored on his first career interception, returning the pick for a touchdown on a 21-yard return vs. San Francisco (9/27). Also forced a fumble.
• Grabbed his second interception of the season and added seven tackles on defense and one special teams tackle vs. Green Bay (12/27).
• Started and made six tackles on defense in the NFC Divisional Round playoff victory vs. Green Bay (1/16).
• Started and made four tackles on defense in the NFC Championship loss at Carolina (1/24).

2014 (16/0, 1/0 – ARIZONA)

• Played in all 16 games and recorded seven tackles on defense, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and 14 special teams tackles.
• Appeared as a reserve in the Wild Card Playoff loss at Carolina (1/3) and made one tackle and recovered a fumble
• Named to his second consecutive Pro Bowl for his efforts on special teams.
• Voted NFC Special Teams Player of the Month for December after posting eight special teams tackles, one forced fumble and one blocked field goal.
• Voted NFC Special Teams Player of the Week in Week 9 after blocking K Dan Bailey's field goal attempt on the final play of the first half at Dallas (11/2).
• Recorded a career-high four special teams tackles at St. Louis Rams (12/11).

2013 (16/0 – ARIZONA)

• Played in all 16 games and recorded a career-high 17 special teams tackles. Also recovered one fumble and blocked two field goals.
• Named to his first career Pro Bowl as a special teamer.
• Voted first team All-Pro by the Pro Football Writers as a special teamer.
• Registered his first career blocked kick on a 47-yard field goal attempt vs. Detroit (9/15). Also made one special teams tackle.
• Recorded his second blocked field goal of the season on a 40-yard attempt vs. Houston (11/10).

2012 (16/0 – ARIZONA)

• Appeared in all 16 games as a reserve and recorded 11 special teams tackles as a rookie.
• Recorded his first NFL tackle on defense at Seattle (12/9).
• Scored his first career NFL touchdown when he returned a blocked field goal 82 yards vs. Chicago (12/23).

COLLEGE

• Started 43-of-44 games at Presbyterian and was a three-time All-Big South selection. Recorded 279 tackles, seven interceptions, 16 passes defensed, 2½ sacks, four forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. Also scored three touchdowns, returning an interception and two blocked punts for scores.
• Earned the three All-Conference accolades and a Defensive Player-of-the-Year award for his performance as a senior. Became the all-time leader in the Big South in blocked kicks this season as well as the all-time leader in career solo blocks.
• Big South Second-Team Defensive All-Conference as a junior in 2010. Started 10 games, missing one with an injury and recorded a team-best 47 unassisted tackles.
• Started all 11 games as a sophomore and earned second-team all-conference accolades. Recorded a team-best 79 tackles.
• Saw action in 12 games and totaled 54 tackles as a freshman.

PERSONAL

• Attended South Blythewood (South Carolina) High School.
• Majored in business administration at Presbyterian.