Benji McDowell

{{Infobox NFL biography }} Benjamin McDowell is an American football coach and former player who was most recently the head coach of the Washington Valor of the Arena Football League (AFL).
 * name=Benji McDowell
 * image=
 * caption=
 * current_team=
 * position=
 * birth_date={{birth date and age|1985|10|12}}
 * birth_place=
 * height_ft=6
 * height_in=1
 * weight_lbs=290
 * high_school=
 * college=Lenoir–Rhyne
 * undraftedyear=2007
 * pastteams=
 * Alabama Vipers ({{AFL Year|2008|2010}})
 * Georgia Force ({{AFL Year|2011|2012}})
 * Alabama Hammers ({{PIFL Year|2012|2014}})
 * New Orleans VooDoo ({{AFL Year|2015}})
 * pastcoaching=
 * Chase High School, NC (2010–2012) (Defensive Line)
 * University of Georgia (2014–2015) (Intern (Defensive Line, Strength and Conditioning})
 * Tampa Bay Storm (Defensive coordinator)
 * Washington Valor (Defensive coordinator)
 * Washington Valor (–)
 * highlights=
 * First Team All-SAC (2005-2006)
 * PIFL champion (2013)
 * ArenaBowl champion (XXXI)
 * aflstatlabel1=Tackles
 * aflstatvalue1=54.5
 * aflstatlabel2=Sacks
 * aflstatvalue2=8.0
 * aflstatlabel3=Force Fumbles
 * aflstatvalue3=2
 * aflstatlabel4=Fumble Recoveries
 * aflstatvalue4=3
 * aflstatlabel5=
 * aflstatvalue5=
 * coachregrecord=9–11
 * coachplayoffrecord=2–3
 * coachrecord=11–14
 * afl=11788

College career
McDowell attended Lenoir–Rhyne, where he was a First Team All-South Atlantic Conference player in 2005-06.

Coaching career
When the Washington Valor fired Dean Cokinos on May 16, 2018, after a 0–7 start to the 2018 season, McDowell was named the interim head coach. Under McDowell, the Valor finished the season with a 2–3 record and the last place position for the playoffs of four AFL teams that qualified. The Valor then upset the top-seeded Albany Empire in a home-and-home series with the greater aggregate score. The Valor then defeated the Baltimore Brigade 69–55 in ArenaBowl XXXI. After the season ended, McDowell's interim tag was removed and was named the permanent head coach for the 2019 season.