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Date: 10/19/2022
SPRINGFIELD – Following his prosperous college career at Holy Cross, Springfield native Benton Whitley signed with the National Football League’s (NFL) Kansas City Chiefs in September. Whitley originally served as a member of the Los Angeles Rams practice squad before joining his new team.
Born in Springfield, Whitley graduated from Minnechaug Regional High School in 2017 and was captain of the school’s football team. He then enjoyed five seasons as a defensive player for Holy Cross, amassing 111 total tackles and 15.5 sacks while appearing in 42 games. Whitley graduated from the college in 2022 with a degree in biology and environmental science.
So far in his rookie season, Whitley already gained some football experience. After signing with the Rams as an undrafted free agent, Whitley played in the Rams’ three preseason games before moving to the team’s practice squad.
In an interview with Reminder Publishing, Whitley reflected on the different steps taken along the way in his journey to the NFL. He credited a portion of his success so far to the support he received from his hometown community.
“The support system in Springfield is very deep. … Since I was young and all the way through high school, I’ve been surrounded by people and have had awesome mentors. They have really been by my side and helped me along the way,” said Whitley.
Whitley recalled his first football experience taking place in Springfield as a member the 5A suburban league.
“We were a really good team. We won a few championships. That was my first taste of victory in football, and those are memories I will never forget,” said Whitley.
Whitley said he experienced several learning opportunities from both franchises. He also noted that the teams operate differently, despite achieving similar success over the years.
“It’s been really interesting actually to see how successful a lot of teams are in the NFL, but also how different each team runs things … I’ve learned a lot from both of these coaching staffs and they both operate pretty different, but they are both awesome places to be around,” said Whitley.
As a member of the Chiefs, Whitley worked firsthand with Defensive Coordinator Steve Spagnuolo – a defensive specialist and former head coach who has won three Super Bowl championships during his career. Whitley said he enjoyed his experiences playing under Spagnuolo so far.
“Coach [Spagnuolo] is a legend. Everybody knows who he is, and he has been in this sport forever. He’s really knowledgeable about defenses and reading opposing offenses … he really knows his stuff and I’ve been learning a lot within the time I’ve been here,” said Whitley.
Whitley also received support from his defensive teammates, including Pro Bowl linemen Chris Jones and Frank Clark. He said their mentoring was vital as he adjusts to a new defensive scheme.
“They’ve been helping me a lot. Playing in a different defense and defensive scheme, there’s little nuances that I can improve on. They’ve really been helping with that,” said Whitley.
On Oct. 12, Whitley was released from the Kansas City Chiefs.
Reflecting on his NFL journey so far, Whitley said he hopes to continue to improve while always showcasing appreciation for his Western Massachusetts roots. He hopes his career so far can serve as a role model for locals.
“I want to honor those who came before me and inspire those who come after. … Now in hindsight, I am working hard still to inspire those who come behind me,” said Whitley.