Jets Country

Jets' Former First-Round Draft Pick Stacking Wins in XFL

In his first season as a head coach, Anthony Becht has the Battlehawks in second place

Ralph Ventre

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The St. Louis Battlehawks' head coach should be a familiar face to New York Jets' fans.

Former Gang Green tight end Anthony Becht can be found wearing a headset in the XFL 3.0 these days.

Becht, who was taken by the Jets at No. 27 overall in the 2000 NFL Draft, has landed his first career head coaching gig in the professional spring league and his Battlehawks have won four of their first six games.

Under Becht’s guidance, the Battlehawks sit tied for second place in the XFL North division with four regular season dates remaining. Their lone two losses have come at the hand of the DC Defenders and head coach Reggie Barlow.

Former Alabama star AJ McCarron starts at quarterback for the Becht-led Battlehawks. McCarron, who once started an NFL playoff game for the Cincinnati Bengals in 2016, ranks atop the XFL in completion percentage (67.5) and touchdown passes (14).

Coming out of West Virginia, Becht played his first five NFL seasons with the Jets. The 6-foot-6 tight end scored 17 touchdowns during his 78-game tenure (72 starts) with Gang Green.

Tight end Anthony Becht plays in a 2001 game against New England
Anthony Becht in a 2001 NFL game against New England / Lou Capozzola-USA TODAY Sports

Becht totaled 167 appearances (132 starts) over 11 seasons in the NFL. He finished with 188 receptions for 1,537 yards and 21 touchdowns.

Up until this spring, Becht’s professional coaching experience had been limited to a 2019 stint with the San Diego Fleet of the now-defunct Alliance of American Football.

Becht had been an annual coaching participant at the NFLPA Bowl. 

He most recently mentored the National Team tight ends group at the 2022 edition of the week-long college all-star game experience.

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Ralph Ventre
RALPH VENTRE

Ralph, a former college football conference administrator, brings 20 years of media experience to the New York Jets beat. Prior to concentrating on Gang Green, he covered the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision for NFL Draft Bible on FanNation. Ventre remains as an official voter for the Stats Perform FCS Top 25 and the annual legacy awards. The Fordham University graduate is a member of the Pro Football Writers of America. The veteran sports media professional resides in his native state of New Jersey.

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