heartbroken đ great man of God⌠lost for words – David Patten⌠đ pic.twitter.com/DOMWJqjoBv
â Richard Seymour (@BigSey93) September 3, 2021
Pattenâs fellow wide receiver and former Patriots teammate Deion Branch called him a âGreat Player, but Most of All A Great Man, Mentor and Brotherâ on Twitter.
The Patriots signed Patten as a free agent in 2001, his fifth NFL season after stints with the Giants and Browns. Before his NFL debut, he briefly played in the Arena Football League.
Patten went on to have a long, successful career â including stretches with the Saints, Washington Football Team and Browns. He totaled 324 catches, 4,715 yards and 24 touchdowns in 147 career games.
âIt breaks my heart to hear of Davidâs tragic passing at such a young age,â Patriots head coach Bill Belichick said in a statement. âI am grateful to have coached David. He is an essential person and player in Patriots history, without whom we would not have been Super Bowl champions.