Stevens claimed victory in the Super Bowl with the Patriots in 2001.
Matt Stevens, the former safety for the New England Patriots, has died at the age of 51.
According to an
eulogy and memorial service notification
At Walker’s Funeral Home in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, Stevens passed away on March 20. The obituary read, “We share with heavy hearts the departure of Matthew Stevens, aged 51, cherished son and devoted father.”
“Leaving behind his mother, Jean Thillberg; his father, Vincent Stevens; his brother, Mark Stevens; and his children, Cassidie and Colin Stevens from Avon-by-the-Sea, New Jersey, along with various aunts, uncles, and cousins,” according to the obituary.
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After retiring from the NFL in 2003, Stevens had been residing in Durham and was an avid enthusiast of competitive shooting, according to his family.
The cause of death was not disclosed to the public.
Stevens was part of the Patriots squad that proceeded to defeat the Los Angeles Rams and clinch the victory.
Super Bowl
In 2001, he was also part of the Houston Texans and Philadelphia Eagles teams.
Friends and relatives expressed their thoughts through comments posted on the memorial webpage. James “J.K” Reaves, who was once Stevens’ teammate at Appalachian State University, mentioned how much he valued having him on the field. He also referred to Stevens as “unquestionably the quickest player” on their squad.
“He went on to do what so many of us dreamed of, playing at the professional level,” Reaves continued. “His journey, like many, had its highs and lows, but through it all, he remained driven…I hope they carry forward his spirit, his strength and his love for the game.”
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Another commenter, Philip Elmore, said he used to work as a cameraman for the team when Stevens was on the roster. “Good memories from the road trips with Matt riding on the defensive bus. Good times on the sidelines,” Elmore wrote.
Dude, this is really odd, he left far too quickly. He was a nice person and extremely dedicated, always putting effort into defense, even during drills.
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In 2007, Stevens tragically became paralyzed from the waist down following a motorcycle accident. According to the
Houston Texans
Stevens encountered a patch of gravel that sent his vehicle crashing into a speed limit sign, causing it to snap in two due to the force of the collision with his body. He subsequently went through seven months of rehabilitation.
“I have a girlfriend who loves me and I also have two children,” he said to the publication back then. “The subconscious drive that helped me get through the accident when I was comatose was because of my kids.”
In 2011, Stevens was
reportedly
one of a dozen patients selected for the clinical trials of ReWalk, a wearable device that helped him regain some of his mobility.
A memorial service for Stevens will be held on Friday, March 28 at St. Thomas Moore Catholic Church in Chapel Hill.
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