Matt Stevens, a former NFL safety known for his Super Bowl XXXVI victory with the New England Patriots, passed away on March 20 at 51.
The New England Patriots officially announced Stevens’ death on Thursday, March 27. The cause of death has not been disclosed.
“It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Matthew Stevens age 51, beloved son and father,” stated an obituary from Walker’s Funeral Home in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
Stevens, who had lived in Durham, North Carolina since retiring from professional football in 2003, had an eight-year NFL career across five teams. He was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the third round of the 1996 NFL Draft.
His most significant accomplishment occurred in the 2001 season with the New England Patriots. That year, Stevens played in all but one game, amassing 43 tackles in 15 regular-season games. He contributed six more tackles during the playoff series that ended with the Patriots’ first Super Bowl win, a 20-17 victory over the St. Louis Rams.
During his NFL career, Stevens also played with the Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins, and Houston Texans. He appeared in 108 career games, accumulating 301 tackles, 13 interceptions, and one sack. His most productive season was in 1999 with Washington, recording a career-high seven interceptions.
Before his professional career, Stevens was a standout athlete at Chapel Hill High School, North Carolina, graduating in 1991. He was a two-time All-American safety at Appalachian State University, where he helped win the Southern Conference championship in 1995. Stevens has been inducted into the Appalachian State Athletics Hall of Fame and the Chapel Hill High School Hall of Fame.
In 2007, Stevens experienced a motorcycle accident that injured his spinal cord, resulting in paralysis from the waist down. Despite this challenge, he showed resilience by participating in clinical trials for the ReWalk device in 2011, a wearable exoskeleton aiding mobility.
Following the news of his passing, former teammates and friends have shared their memories of Stevens. James “J.K” Reaves, a former teammate at Appalachian State, described him as “hands down the fastest guy on the team” and noted, “he went on to do what so many of us dreamed of, playing at the professional level.”
Stevens is survived by his parents, Jean Thillberg and Vincent Stevens, his brother Mark Stevens, and his children Cassidie and Colin Stevens of Avon by the Sea, New Jersey.
As news of Stevens’ death circulated, fans and former teammates expressed condolences and shared memories of the player, acknowledging his role in the Patriots’ early successes and his determination in overcoming personal challenges after his career.