Former NFL and Appalachian State security Matt Stevens has died on the age of 51.
Stevens was chosen by the Payments within the third spherical of the 1996 draft as a security, taking part in eight years within the league and gained a Tremendous Bowl with the Patriots in 2001.
In 2007, Stevens was paralyzed from the waist down in a bike accident the place he broke his spinal wire.
4 years later, in 2011, Stevens was capable of transfer round once more because of particular leg braces that have been made for him.
No reason for demise was instantly given.
Stevens was a star at Appalachian State, the place he was a two-time All-American and helped lead the group to the Southern Convention Championship in 1995.
The defensive again performed on eight groups throughout his profession, beginning with the Payments and likewise spending time with the Eagles, Redskins, Patriots, and Texans.
In 1999, Stevens had a profession yr, taking part in in 15 video games and intercepting six passes, only one off the NFL lead.
Born in Chapel Hill, N.C., Stevens appeared in 108 video games in his NFL profession, amassing 282 tackles, and notably appeared in all three of the Patriots’ playoff video games of their magical 2001 playoff run that culminated with a surprising Tremendous Bowl upset of the Rams.
In his spare time, Stevens loved being a aggressive shooter.
Stevens attended Chapel Hill Excessive Faculty, the place he’s within the college’s corridor of fame.
He’s survived by his mom Jean Thillberg, father, Vincent Stevens, brother, Mark, and his two youngsters Cassidie and Colin of Avon by the Sea, N.J., in line with an obituary posted by Walker’s Funeral House in Chapel Hill.
