Former NFL Safety and Super Bowl Champion Matt Stevens Dies at 51

Stevens, known for his role in the Patriots' first Super Bowl victory and his resilience after a life-altering accident, passed away on March 20 with a memorial service set for March 28.

Matt Stevens, a former NFL safety and Super Bowl XXXVI champion with the New England Patriots, passed away on March 20, 2025, at the age of 51, with no cause of death disclosed.
Stevens had an eight-year NFL career, playing for five teams, including the Buffalo Bills, Washington Redskins, and Houston Texans, before retiring in 2003.
A 2007 motorcycle accident left Stevens paralyzed from the waist down, but he regained some mobility in 2011 using advanced leg braces, inspiring many with his determination.
Stevens was a two-time All-American at Appalachian State and a member of the university's Athletics Hall of Fame, where he helped lead the team to a conference championship in 1995.
A memorial service is scheduled for March 28 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, where Stevens was born and raised, as tributes continue to highlight his impact both on and off the field.