Former NFL defensive back Matt Stevens has died, his family announced. He was 51.
According to an obituary, Stevens died on March 20. A cause of death was not immediately provided.
“It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Matthew Stevens age 51, beloved son and father,” the obituary stated.
Stevens had resided in Durham, North Carolina, since retiring from football in 2003.
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Matt Stevens, #26 of the Houston Texans, in position during an NFL football game against the Washington Redskins on December 22, 2002, at FedExField in Landover, Maryland. (Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
Stevens rose to football stardom at Appalachian State, where he became a two-time All-American. He is a member of the App State Athletics Hall of Fame member Matt Stevens.
The football program expressed condolences to Stevens’ loved ones.
The Buffalo Bills selected Stevens in the third round of the 1996 NFL Draft. He recorded a career-high six regular-season interceptions in 1999 when he played for Washington.
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Stevens played for the New England Patriots in 2001. He was a member of the Patriots Super Bowl XXXVI winning team. The Patriots’ 20-17 victory over the Rams marked the first Super Bowl title in the franchise’s history and kicked off New England’s dynasty.
Sept. 23, 2001: Matt Stevens, #26 of the New England Patriots, sits on the bench and breathes oxygen during the game against the New York Jets at Foxboro Stadium in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Ezra Shaw/ALLSPORT)
Stevens ultimately had stints with five NFL teams.
Stevens was in a motorcycle accident in 2007 and was paralyzed from the waist down as a result. Several years later, he used special braces that allowed him to regain his ability to walk.
Free safety Matt Stevens, #26 of the Houston Texans, looks on during their NFL game against the Indianapolis Colts on September 22, 2002, at Reliant Stadium in Houston, TX. (Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
A memorial service for Stevens is scheduled for Friday in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
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Stevens is survived by “his mother, Jean Thillberg, his father Vincent Stevens, his brother Mark Stevens and his children Cassidie and Colin Stevens of Avon by the Sea, New Jersey, as well as aunts, uncles and cousins,” according to the obituary.
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