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Matt Stevens, the former New England Patriots safety who helped win the franchise’s first Super Bowl, died on March 20, 2025, at age 51. His death was publicly reported on March 27 after a family obituary and a statement from the Patriots. Neither the obituary nor the major reports about his death disclosed a cause.
Stevens was remembered as a veteran defensive back, a Super Bowl XXXVI champion, and a notable Appalachian State football alumnus. He played for the Patriots during the 2000 and 2001 seasons and was part of the team that defeated the St. Louis Rams in Super Bowl XXXVI on February 3, 2002.
What is known about Matt Stevens’ death
Matthew Stevens was born on June 15, 1973, according to his funeral-home obituary. He lived in Durham, North Carolina, at the time of his death.
- Name: Matthew “Matt” Stevens
- Born: June 15, 1973
- Died: March 20, 2025
- Age: 51
- Residence at death: Durham, North Carolina
- Cause of death: Not disclosed by the family or the reports reviewed
There is no reliable basis for attributing his death to the spinal-cord injury he suffered in a 2007 motorcycle accident. That accident was an important part of his later biography, but the available death reports do not identify it—or any related condition—as the cause of death.
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Matt Stevens’ football career
Stevens attended Chapel Hill High School in North Carolina before playing at Appalachian State University. The Patriots described him as a two-time All-American safety who helped Appalachian State win a Southern Conference championship in 1995.
The Buffalo Bills selected Stevens in the third round of the 1996 NFL Draft. During an eight-year professional career, he also played for the Philadelphia Eagles, Washington, the New England Patriots, and the Houston Texans.
NFL.com lists Stevens with 108 regular-season games, 301 tackles, 13 interceptions, and one sack. A Patriots-focused account has described him as appearing in 114 combined regular-season and playoff games, a figure that reflects the difference between regular-season and total appearances.
His years with the New England Patriots
Stevens joined New England during the 2000 season and played for the Patriots in 2000 and 2001. His Patriots tenure coincided with the beginning of the franchise’s first championship era.
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New England finished the 2001 season by winning three playoff games, including a 20–17 victory over the St. Louis Rams in Super Bowl XXXVI. Stevens was part of that championship team, which established the Patriots as Super Bowl winners for the first time.
The Patriots’ official account says Stevens played in 15 regular-season games in 2001 and recorded 43 tackles. The NFL statistical page lists 15 games and 36 total tackles for that regular-season campaign. Because those authoritative sources present different tackle totals, it is more accurate to identify him as a contributor to the 2001 team than to present one figure as undisputed.
He added six tackles across New England’s three postseason victories, according to the Patriots’ account. His role was that of an experienced defensive back on the championship roster—not a headline-level franchise figure—but his place on the team’s first Super Bowl championship remains a permanent part of Patriots history.
The 2007 motorcycle accident and life after football
In 2007, Stevens suffered a spinal-cord injury in a motorcycle accident and was paralyzed from the waist down. The Patriots later reported that he participated in clinical trials involving the ReWalk wearable exoskeleton and regained assisted mobility with the help of specialized leg braces.
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That account should be understood carefully. ReWalk is a powered exoskeleton device subject to medical-device review and clearance or classification processes by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Research records on ClinicalTrials.gov describe supervised exoskeleton-assisted walking studies involving devices such as ReWalk and Ekso, with researchers examining mobility, safety, quality of life, bowel function, and cardiometabolic measures.
Those research records do not, by themselves, establish that Stevens was a named participant in a particular study. They also do not support general medical claims about what the device can achieve for every person with a spinal-cord injury. In Stevens’ case, the documented point is that the Patriots reported his participation in exoskeleton-related clinical trials and assisted mobility work.
Family and memorial service
Stevens’ obituary named his mother, Jean Thillberg; his father, Vincent Stevens; his brother, Mark Stevens; and his children, Cassidie and Colin Stevens, among his survivors.
A memorial service was scheduled for March 28, 2025, at St. Thomas More Catholic Church in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
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How Appalachian State and the Patriots remembered him
Appalachian State acknowledged Stevens as a two-time All-American, a Super Bowl champion, and a member of the App State Athletics Hall of Fame. His college career and professional accomplishments connected two distinct parts of his football legacy: success in Boone, North Carolina, and a place on the Patriots team that delivered the organization’s first Super Bowl title.
For New England, Stevens is best remembered as a former safety and member of the Super Bowl XXXVI championship team. That description recognizes his achievement without overstating his role in a roster filled with more prominent stars.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Frequently Asked Questions
When did Matt Stevens die?
Matt Stevens died on March 20, 2025. His death was reported publicly on March 27, 2025.
How old was Matt Stevens when he died?
He was 51. His obituary lists his birth date as June 15, 1973.
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What was Matt Stevens’ cause of death?
A cause of death was not disclosed in the family obituary or the major reports reviewed. The available reporting does not connect his death to the spinal-cord injury he suffered in a 2007 motorcycle accident.
Was Matt Stevens on the Patriots’ first Super Bowl team?
Yes. Stevens played for New England in 2000 and 2001 and was part of the Patriots team that defeated the St. Louis Rams in Super Bowl XXXVI on February 3, 2002.
What happened to Matt Stevens after his NFL career?
In 2007, he suffered a spinal-cord injury in a motorcycle accident and was paralyzed from the waist down. The Patriots later reported that he participated in clinical trials involving ReWalk exoskeleton technology and used specialized leg braces for assisted mobility.
The Bottom Line
Matt Stevens died at 51 on March 20, 2025. He was a former Patriots safety, a member of New England’s first Super Bowl championship team, a two-time All-American at Appalachian State, and a member of the App State Athletics Hall of Fame. His cause of death was not disclosed.
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