| Date of birth: | November 25, 1960 |
| Place of birth: | Grand Rapids, MI |
| Career information | |
|---|---|
| Position(s): | Linebacker |
| College: | Central Michigan |
| Organizations | |
| As player: | |
| 1983-1984 1985 1986-1991 1992 |
Michigan Panthers (USFL) Oakland Invaders (USFL) Buffalo Bills (NFL) Cincinnati Bengals (NFL) |
| Playing stats at DatabaseFootball.com | |
Ray Russell Bentley (born November 25, 1960 in Grand Rapids, Michigan) is a former professional American football linebacker.
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Bentley's first three years in professional football were spent with the Michigan Panthers and Oakland Invaders of the United States Football League.
He later joined the Buffalo Bills, and played six seasons with the team, including their first two Super Bowl years in the 1990s.[1] Bentley's career ended with the Cincinnati Bengals in 1992.
Bentley worked as part of the The NFL on Fox broadcast team for four years from 1998 to 2001, doing both color commentary and play-by-play.[1] He left Fox for a position as head coach and general manager of the Arena Football League's Buffalo Destroyers, and held that position for two years before resigning.
From 2003 to 2006, Bentley was a color commentator alongside play-by-play man Bob Papa on NBC's Arena Football League coverage,[1] and since 2007 has served in that capacity for ESPN. In 2009, he began working for ABC as well. In 2007, Bentley returned to the Buffalo Bills as a play-by-play announcer for their preseason television games, a role he still serves. He is also an advisory member for the revival of the USFL.
From 2009 to present, Bentely is a radio personality on 107.3 in Grand Rapids MI. Ray is currently a defensive coordinator for the high school team Grandville Bulldogs.