Last Updated on October 21, 2026 by Mariah Miranda
Keeanu Benton’s family includes his mother, La’Tasha Benton, and his father figure, Troy Rodriguez. Born on July 17, 2001, Benton is an American professional football defensive tackle for the Pittsburgh Steelers in the National Football League (NFL).
Raised in Janesville, Wisconsin, Benton grew up in a family that encouraged his athletic development and supported his journey to professional football. His mother has been especially influential, helping him navigate his college football career and celebrating his selection in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Although Benton has publicly discussed his parents and described himself as the youngest member of his family, he has maintained greater privacy regarding his siblings, romantic relationships and whether he has children.
Here is everything publicly known about Keeanu Benton’s girlfriend, children, parents and siblings, including his upbringing, close family friendships and the support that helped him reach the NFL.
Keeanu Benton’s Girlfriend: Is He Dating Anyone?
As of now, Keeanu Benton has not publicly confirmed a girlfriend or romantic partner. The Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle has generally maintained privacy regarding his dating life.
Although Benton regularly appears in football interviews and maintains a social media presence, most of his public activities focus on his professional career, teammates, family and community involvement.
His official Pittsburgh Steelers and University of Wisconsin player biographies do not identify a girlfriend.
There are also no sufficiently reliable recent reports establishing that Benton is currently dating a particular person.
However, the absence of public relationship information does not necessarily mean he is single. He may simply prefer to keep his romantic life private.
Is Keeanu Benton Married?
As of now, Keeanu Benton has no publicly confirmed wife.
The NFL defensive tackle has not publicly announced a wedding, marriage or engagement through widely documented interviews or official team statements.
His Steelers player biography focuses primarily on his football achievements and identifies his parents without mentioning a spouse.
Consequently, Benton’s marital status should be described as publicly unconfirmed rather than assuming he is married or unmarried.
Keeanu Benton’s Children: Does He Have Any Kids?
As of now, Keeanu Benton has no publicly confirmed children.
The Pittsburgh Steelers player has not made a widely verified public announcement about becoming the father of a son or daughter.
Neither his official NFL biography nor his University of Wisconsin football profile identifies any children.
Although Benton has participated in charitable activities involving young people and families, those appearances do not establish that he has children of his own.
Whether Benton hopes to become a father in the future remains a personal matter that he has not extensively discussed in public interviews.
Keeanu Benton’s Parents: Meet La’Tasha Benton and Troy Rodriguez
Keeanu Benton’s parents are publicly identified as La’Tasha Benton and Troy Rodriguez.
Both names appear in the official Pittsburgh Steelers and University of Wisconsin football biographies.
The family has connections to Janesville, Wisconsin, where Benton attended Joseph A. Craig High School before becoming a college football standout.
According to an October 2025 EssentiallySports family profile, Troy Rodriguez is not Benton’s biological father but has been an important father figure throughout his life.
His mother, La’Tasha, has also been publicly recognized for her support during his development as an athlete.
Keeanu Benton’s Mother: La’Tasha Benton
La’Tasha Benton is Keeanu Benton’s mother and one of the most influential people in his life.
She helped raise him in Wisconsin, supporting his participation in football and wrestling during his school years.
According to EssentiallySports, the family previously spent time living on Chicago’s South Side before La’Tasha relocated her children to Janesville, Wisconsin.
The report describes the move as an effort to provide greater educational and athletic opportunities.
Although her professional occupation has not been reliably established through official football biographies, La’Tasha’s involvement in her son’s development has been documented by the Steelers.
She remained an important supporter throughout his time at the University of Wisconsin.
La’Tasha Benton Developed a Friendship With Robyn Herbig
One particularly meaningful aspect of La’Tasha Benton’s story involves her friendship with Robyn Herbig, the mother of NFL players Nick and Nate Herbig.
During Keeanu’s college football career at Wisconsin, he became close friends with Nick Herbig, who was also playing for the Badgers.
La’Tasha and Robyn frequently met while attending Wisconsin football games.
According to an interview published by the Pittsburgh Steelers on May 18, 2023, the mothers sometimes discussed how wonderful it would be if their sons eventually joined the same NFL organization.
That possibility became reality in 2023.
The Steelers selected Keeanu Benton in the second round of the NFL Draft and subsequently drafted Nick Herbig in the fourth round.
Nate Herbig had already joined Pittsburgh through free agency.
The unexpected reunion meant that La’Tasha and Robyn could continue supporting their sons in the same professional football environment.
Benton welcomed the arrangement, explaining that moving into the NFL was a significant adjustment for both him and his mother.
Having another familiar family nearby made the transition more comfortable.
Keeanu Benton Surprised His Mother With a New Car
One of the most memorable public examples of Benton’s relationship with his mother occurred in March 2025.
On March 20, Steelers Depot reported that the defensive tackle had surprised La’Tasha with a brand-new Chevrolet SUV.
The emotional moment was captured in a video shared through Benton’s Instagram account.
La’Tasha initially believed she was visiting a dealership to collect her vehicle after a maintenance appointment.
However, she discovered that her son had arranged an entirely different surprise.
When she arrived, a new Chevrolet SUV was waiting with a large decorative bow on the hood.
Her excitement was visible as she celebrated receiving the unexpected gift.
Benton shared the moment with a playful social media caption, making clear that he had wanted to surprise his mother.
The gesture demonstrated his appreciation for the support she provided before he became financially successful in professional football.
Keeanu Benton’s Father: Troy Rodriguez
Troy Rodriguez is identified as one of Keeanu Benton’s parents in the official football biographies published by the Pittsburgh Steelers and University of Wisconsin.
However, an October 2025 EssentiallySports profile describes Rodriguez as Benton’s father figure rather than his biological father.
According to that report, Troy became involved in Benton’s upbringing during childhood and provided guidance as he developed into a promising athlete.
Rodriguez helped support his educational and sporting ambitions, including decisions involving college football opportunities.
When major universities began recruiting Benton, his family helped him evaluate the available options.
He eventually committed to the University of Wisconsin, allowing him to continue playing football in his home state.
Although Rodriguez’s exact professional occupation and personal background have not been extensively documented, his identity as a parent is confirmed by official university and NFL records.
Keeanu Benton’s Siblings: Does He Have Brothers or Sisters?
Keeanu Benton has indicated that he is the youngest member of his family, but the exact number and names of his siblings have not been reliably established.
His comments appeared in a May 18, 2023, interview published by the Pittsburgh Steelers.
While discussing his mother’s adjustment to his NFL career, Benton described himself as the family’s youngest child.
The comment suggests that he has at least one older sibling.
However, his official Steelers and Wisconsin player biographies do not identify any brothers or sisters by name.
Does Keeanu Benton Have a Brother?
Benton has not publicly identified a biological brother through the major official football profiles reviewed for this article.
Although he has described himself as the youngest member of his family, publicly accessible reporting does not establish whether his older siblings include brothers.
For this reason, no specific individual should be identified as his biological brother without additional verification.
Does Keeanu Benton Have a Sister?
There is also no reliable public information identifying a sister of Keeanu Benton.
His official biographies focus on his athletic achievements and the names of his parents rather than providing a detailed list of siblings.
Consequently, whether he has an older sister remains publicly unconfirmed.
Nick and Nate Herbig: Keeanu Benton’s Brothers Through Friendship
Although his biological siblings remain largely outside public reporting, Keeanu Benton has a brother-like relationship with NFL players Nick and Nate Herbig.
The friendship developed through college football and continued after all three joined the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2023.
Nick Herbig played alongside Benton at the University of Wisconsin, where they formed a strong bond.
Nate, Nick’s older brother, also attended Wisconsin and maintained close connections to the program.
According to an August 9, 2023, article published by the Hawaii Tribune-Herald, both brothers considered Benton an additional member of their family.
Nate explained that he regularly included Benton in activities involving himself and Nick.
The players spent time together during offseason workouts and developed a friendship that extended beyond football.
Nick shared similar feelings, describing Benton as someone he considered a brother.
However, Nick and Nate Herbig are not Keeanu Benton’s biological siblings. Their connection is based on friendship and their shared football experiences.
The relationship became especially meaningful when all three found themselves playing for Pittsburgh.
Keeanu Benton’s Second Family: The Coulter Family
Another significant part of Keeanu Benton’s personal story involves the Coulter family, whom he has described as a second family.
According to a December 2023 interview published by the Pittsburgh Steelers, Benton moved in with his best friend’s family during his junior year of high school.
The experience introduced him to new perspectives about disability, family relationships and community responsibility.
His best friend’s brother, Sam Coulter, lives with cerebral palsy.
While living with the family, Benton developed a close relationship with Sam and learned more about the challenges faced by individuals with disabilities.
The experience later inspired his participation in the NFL’s My Cause My Cleats initiative.
Why Keeanu Benton Supports Cerebral Palsy Awareness
In December 2023, Keeanu Benton selected cerebral palsy awareness as the cause represented by his customized NFL cleats.
He dedicated the initiative to Sam Coulter and his family.
Benton explained that living with the Coulters helped him understand that people with disabilities should be treated with dignity and respect.
He also discussed the importance of challenging negative assumptions about individuals with physical disabilities.
The Steelers subsequently highlighted his participation in their coverage of the annual My Cause My Cleats campaign.
In 2024, Benton continued his support by representing United Cerebral Palsy through the same initiative.
His involvement demonstrates how personal relationships outside his immediate family have influenced his charitable activities.
Keeanu Benton’s Childhood and Family Background
Keeanu Benton was born on July 17, 2001, and grew up in Janesville, Wisconsin.
He attended Joseph A. Craig High School, where he participated in football and wrestling.
Although he eventually became known for football, wrestling was an important part of his athletic development.
According to a May 2023 Steelers interview, Benton began wrestling in sixth grade before becoming seriously involved in organized football.
He initially enjoyed wrestling because he could measure his individual progress through competition.
His interest in football increased as he recognized similarities between the two sports.
Both required physical strength, balance, leverage and effective hand positioning.
These skills eventually became valuable in his development as a defensive lineman.
Keeanu Benton’s Wrestling Achievements
Benton developed into one of Wisconsin’s leading heavyweight high school wrestlers.
According to the Pittsburgh Steelers, he compiled a career wrestling record of 127 victories and eight defeats.
He also reached the state wrestling championships multiple times.
During his junior year, he finished as the Wisconsin Division 1 heavyweight runner-up with a record of 48-2.
His competitive wrestling background helped him develop the flexibility and technique necessary to challenge larger offensive linemen.
Although Benton enjoyed wrestling, he eventually recognized that football offered greater opportunities for a professional athletic career.
Keeanu Benton’s High School Football Career
At Craig High School, Benton became one of Wisconsin’s most promising defensive line prospects.
During his senior football season, he recorded 75 tackles, seven tackles for loss, two sacks and one fumble recovery.
His performances earned first-team All-State recognition from the Associated Press.
He also received All-Region and All-Big Eight Conference honors.
The Janesville Gazette named him its All-Area Player of the Year.
Recruiting services rated Benton as a three-star prospect, and several college football programs expressed interest in him.
He eventually committed to the University of Wisconsin, remaining close to the community where he had developed his athletic skills.
How Keeanu Benton’s Family Supported His College Football Career
Keeanu Benton joined the Wisconsin Badgers football program in 2019.
He made an immediate impression, appearing in 13 games and earning six starts during his freshman season.
Despite being relatively inexperienced, Benton demonstrated the physical strength and athleticism necessary to compete against major Big Ten Conference opponents.
He continued developing during the following seasons.
In 2021, Benton recorded 25 tackles, five tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks.
His performances earned second-team All-Big Ten recognition from the conference’s coaches.
During his final college season in 2022, Benton started all 12 regular-season games.
He finished the year with 36 tackles, 10 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks.
His development established him as one of the most promising interior defensive linemen entering the 2023 NFL Draft.
Throughout college, his mother continued supporting his career and attending games.
Her friendship with Robyn Herbig also became an important part of the family’s experience at Wisconsin.
Keeanu Benton’s NFL Career With the Pittsburgh Steelers
On April 28, 2023, the Pittsburgh Steelers selected Keeanu Benton in the second round of the NFL Draft with the 49th overall pick.
The selection represented the fulfillment of his childhood dream of reaching professional football.
He signed his rookie contract with Pittsburgh on June 23, 2023.
During his first NFL season, Benton appeared in all 17 regular-season games and earned nine starts.
He finished his rookie campaign with 36 tackles, one sack and two forced fumbles.
His responsibilities increased during the 2024 season, when he started 14 games and recorded his first NFL interception.
Benton continued developing into a reliable defensive starter during the 2025 season.
According to the Pittsburgh Steelers, he started all 17 regular-season games and recorded career highs of 51 tackles and 5.5 sacks.
His improvement helped establish him as an important member of Pittsburgh’s defensive line alongside veteran Cameron Heyward.
Keeanu Benton Signed a New Steelers Contract in 2026
On August 15, 2026, the Pittsburgh Steelers announced that they had signed Benton to a new five-year contract.
The agreement followed three productive professional seasons and demonstrated the organization’s confidence in his development.
When discussing the new deal, Benton described it as the fulfillment of a dream for himself and his family.
He thanked the Steelers organization and expressed excitement about continuing his career in Pittsburgh.
The contract represented another major milestone for a player who had developed from a high school wrestling standout in Janesville into a successful NFL defensive lineman.
It also reinforced the importance of the family members and close friends who had supported him throughout his journey.
Why Family Is Important to Keeanu Benton
Keeanu Benton has demonstrated his appreciation for family through both public statements and personal actions.
His mother supported him through the challenges of high school football, college recruiting and the transition into professional sports.
In March 2025, Benton publicly celebrated that relationship by surprising her with a new vehicle.
His connection with the Herbig family also illustrates how football friendships can develop into lasting personal relationships.
Similarly, his experience living with the Coulter family helped inspire his support for people with cerebral palsy.
During an April 2023 interview with Sky Sports, Benton described spending time with friends and family as one of his favorite activities away from football.
He also mentioned enjoying fishing, hunting, bowling and other recreational activities.
These experiences provide insight into his personality beyond his accomplishments on the field.
Frequently Asked Questions About Keeanu Benton’s Family
Who is Keeanu Benton’s girlfriend?
As of now, Keeanu Benton has not publicly confirmed a girlfriend. His current romantic relationship status remains private.
Is Keeanu Benton married?
There is no publicly verified announcement confirming that Keeanu Benton is married. He has not identified a wife through official NFL interviews or major sports reporting.
Does Keeanu Benton have children?
As of now, Keeanu Benton has no publicly confirmed children. He has not announced becoming a father.
Who are Keeanu Benton’s parents?
Keeanu Benton’s parents are publicly identified as La’Tasha Benton and Troy Rodriguez in his official Pittsburgh Steelers and University of Wisconsin biographies.
Who is Keeanu Benton’s mother?
His mother is La’Tasha Benton, who supported his athletic career from childhood through college and the NFL. Benton surprised her with a new Chevrolet SUV in March 2025.
Who is Keeanu Benton’s father?
Troy Rodriguez is identified as Benton’s parent in official football biographies. An EssentiallySports profile describes Rodriguez as an important father figure rather than Benton’s biological father.
How many siblings does Keeanu Benton have?
Benton has described himself as the youngest member of his family. However, the exact number and names of his older siblings have not been reliably documented.
Does Keeanu Benton have a brother?
No biological brother has been reliably identified by name in official football biographies. Benton has a brother-like friendship with NFL players Nick and Nate Herbig.
Does Keeanu Benton have a sister?
No sister has been publicly identified through the official Steelers and Wisconsin biographies reviewed for this profile.
Is Keeanu Benton related to Nick Herbig?
No biological relationship between Keeanu Benton and Nick Herbig has been established. They became close friends while playing college football at Wisconsin and later reunited with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Why did Keeanu Benton support cerebral palsy awareness?
Benton became close to Sam Coulter, his best friend’s brother, who lives with cerebral palsy. His experience with the Coulter family inspired his participation in the NFL’s My Cause My Cleats initiative.
Where did Keeanu Benton grow up?
Keeanu Benton grew up in Janesville, Wisconsin, and attended Joseph A. Craig High School. His family also previously lived in Chicago, according to published family reporting.
How old is Keeanu Benton?
Keeanu Benton was born on July 17, 2001, making him 25 years old as of now.
What NFL team does Keeanu Benton play for?
Keeanu Benton plays defensive tackle for the Pittsburgh Steelers, who selected him in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft.
Mariah Miranda is a dedicated sports journalist specializing in comprehensive NFL coverage, playbook strategy, and team analytics. From offseason Draft planning and free-agency moves to weekly matchup breakdowns and playoff pushes, she delivers clear, data-driven analysis of every division in the league. Driven by a deep understanding of football tactics and locker-room dynamics, Mariah brings fans closer to the gridiron with sharp commentary and player updates.
