Cornelius Bennett

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Cornelius Bennett
Date of birth	August 25, 1965 (age 41)
Place of birth	Birmingham, Alabama
Position(s)	Linebacker
College	Alabama
NFL Draft	1987 / Round 1/ Pick 2
Career Highlights
Pro Bowls	1989, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994
Honors	NFL 1990s All-Decade Team
Stats
Statistics	Pro Football Reference DatabaseFootball
Team(s)
1987-1995 1996-1998 1999-2000	Buffalo Bills Atlanta Falcons Indianapolis Colts
College Hall of Fame

Cornelius O'Landa Bennett (born August 25, 1965) is a former American football linebacker who 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, in 1988 and in 1991.

Before his NFL career, Bennett played for the University of Alabama from 1983-1986. Bennett was a first selection on the College Football All-America Team 3 times (1984-1986). As a senior, he won the Lombardi Award, SEC Player of the Year honors, and finished 7th in balloting for the Heisman Trophy. In his 4 seasons there, Bennett recorded 287 tackles, 21.5 sacks, and 3 fumble recoveries. His most famous sack was in 1986 when he leveled Notre Dame quarterback Steve Beuerlein. In 2005, Bennett was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame. After his college career, he was selected by the Colts with the second pick of the 1987 NFL Draft.

Bennett and the Colts were unable to come to an agreement on a contract. Bennett was then dealt to the 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, right before the trade deadline. Trades of this magnitude are very rare in recent years in the NFL.

In the NFL, Bennett's talent at the linebacker position helped the teams he played for teams to 5 Super Bowl appearances(4 with Buffalo and 1 with Atlanta), but they lost them all. In his 14 NFL seasons, he recorded 71 sacks, 7 interceptions, 112 return yards, 27 fumble recoveries, 78 fumble return yards, and 2 touchdowns (1 interception and one fumble return).

At the time of his retirement, his 26 defensive fumble recoveries were the third most in NFL history.