New England Patriots wide receiver David Patten catches an 8 yard touchdown pass from Tom Brady in the second quarter of Super Bowl XXXVI against the St. Louis Rams on 02/03/2002. Patten’s touchdown gave the Patriots a 14 to 3 lead. They went on to win 20 to 17. (Photo by Allen Kee/Getty Images)
As former Patriots players and coaches write their own David Patten obituary on social media, it’s clear he left an impact that went beyond football.
New England Patriots legend David Patten, who won three Super Bowls with the dynasty, died suddenly at the age of 47.
Patten’s career is fused in NFL history thanks in large part to his pivotal role in helping start the Patriots dynasty. He isn’t the headline act when remembering the dynasty but he deserves an immense amount of credit for being part of the foundation on which it rests.
Look back at the start of the Patriots dynasty and Patten’s fingerprints are all over it. He was on the receiving end of Tom Brady’s first postseason touchdown pass, and he was the reason the Patriots were even in a position to make the Tuck Rule so infamous.
On that AFC Divisional Round Game, Patten went for 103 yards in the snow, which amounted to almost 65 percent of the Patriots 159 total passing yards in that game. On October 21, 2001 he became the first player since 1979 to catch, run and throw for a TD all in the same game.
Simply put, Patten was the prototypical ‘Patriot Way’ player whom all others after him were modeled.
David Patten obituary: Ex-Patriots pay their respect on social media
Ex-Patriots from years past, as well as writers who have covered Patten, took to social media to remember him.
No cause of death was made public when the announcement of Patten’s death was revealed. with the Patriots set to play next Sunday, chances are the tributes won’t end with what we’ve seen today and will extend to fans, players, and the franchise as a whole during Week 1’s festivities.