Blythewood great Justin Bethel talks NFL career, life after football and giving back
Justin Bethel has had one of the most decorated careers since graduating from Blythewood High School.
Bethel wasn’t heavily recruited coming out of Blythewood but went on to a standout career at Presbyterian College. He was the first player in Blythewood history to be drafted in the NFL.
Bethel is a member of the New England Patriots and is headed into his 11th year in the league. He is a three-time Pro Bowl selection and two time all-Pro selection.
Bethel has made a name for himself on special teams, recorded 237 tackles, picked off four passes and scored three touchdowns.
In 2021, Bethel was inducted into Blythewood’s Hall of Fame. He was given the Order of The Bengal in 2018, which goes toward honoring some of the school’s distinguished alumni. He donated $100,000 that year.
Bethel was back in the Midlands last week, hosting his annual Beat All Odds Foundation 7-on-7 football tournament at his alma mater. After the event, he spoke with The State Newspaper’s Lou Bezjak and hit on a variety of topics.
Lou Bezjak: It has been a few years since you were able to hold this event. How do you feel about it and what would you like to see it grow in the future?
Justin Bethel: “I started this four years ago and missed the last two years because of COVID. I was not really sure of the turnout we were going to get. This is way more than I thought it would be. It ran smoothly. All the teams enjoyed it. We had food trucks out here and everyone was having a good time. It is a blessing to be able to give back. Hopefully, it keeps on going and it gets bigger and bigger to the point where we got scouts coming out. I want this to be the 7-on-7 that everyone wants to be a part of.
“Blessed to have good sponsors that helped out. My agency Clutch Sports came though. Clark Law Firm out of Sumter was our title sponsor. We had a lot of local businesses help. It was awesome.”
LB: You are back here at Blythewood. What is your favorite playing memory at the school?
JB: “I would say when we beat Clinton to go to the state championship. I remember having a blocked kick right there on extra point and then having the final tackle. There were 10 of us trying to stop the running back short and (quarterback) Richard Mounce jumping in the end zone. There were a lot of good memories here but that is one of my favorites.”
LB: How special was the state championship? (Blythewood is the first team in SC history to win a title in its first year of varsity football.)
JB: “It was crazy. We lost our first game to Ridge View, and we didn’t let that keep us down. It was a Cinderella story. With coach Jeff Scott (now the head coach at South Florida), we won 14 straight, got to the state championship and won the state championship. It is one of those things you remember for the rest of your life.”
LB: You are going into your 11th year in the NFL. How long do you think you can keep playing?
JB: “I spent my first six years with Arizona, a year with Atlanta, a half of a year with Baltimore and now with the Patriots. I have been blessed to play this long. I just am trying to take care of myself, stay relevant. I’m able to do that. Hopefully, I can end on my own terms and keep playing when the Lord tells me that I don’t need to play any more.”
LB: When your career does end, what is your next move?
JB: “There are so many things that I enjoy doing. I love music. Me and my brother have a band. I like cooking. I do something like that on Instagram. I love traveling. I got my scuba license, and I want to get my skydiving license. So, I’m a little all over the place. There are a lot of things. I want to try out what I really want to do. We have other things. We started real estate stuff with my family. I have a lot of avenues I can get into. I just got to figure out which one is in.”
LB: What is the key to have this much longevity in the league?
JB: “Even when I thought I had a chance to play in the league, I could play just seven years that would seem like forever. Then, I got to seven, I thought let’s go to 10 years. Now that I am past 10, now it is however long the Lord wants me to play. It is just taking care of yourself, staying dedicated to workouts and taking care of your body. It is really being part of a team and learning your role has helped me.”
LB: What’s it like to play for such a franchise like the New England Patriots?
JB: “They are all about winning. We are going to do what it needs to be done to win. We are going to work hard, study hard, practice hard. We know all that hard work turns to success on the field. We make sure everyone we are going to make sure it translates to winning on the field.
LB: What is your favorite NFL memory?
JB: “I say it was my rookie year during preseason. I had blocked a punt, picked it up and ran it in for a touchdown. That was the moment I thought I had a chance to solidify my chances to make the team. I was able to make a name for myself on special teams and helped me with my longevity with the team.”
This story was originally published June 14, 2022 at 1:00 AM.
