David Patten
{{Short description|American football player and coach (1974–2021)}}
{{Other people}}
{{Use American English|date=September 2021}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2021}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = David Patten
| image = Davidpattenbrowns2009 (cropped).jpg
| caption = Patten with the Browns in 2009
| number = 83, 85, 82, 86, 80, 81
| position = Wide receiver
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1974|8|19}}
| death_date = {{death date and age|2021|9|2|1974|8|19}}
| birth_place = Hopkins, South Carolina, U.S.
| death_place = Columbia, South Carolina, U.S.
| height_ft = 5
| height_in = 10
| weight_lb = 192
| high_school = Lower Richland (Hopkins)
| college = Western Carolina
| undraftedyear = 1996
| pastteams =
- Albany Firebirds ({{AFL Year|1996}})
- New York Giants ({{NFL Year|1997|1999}})
- Cleveland Browns ({{NFL Year|2000}})
- New England Patriots ({{NFL Year|2001|2004}})
- Washington Redskins ({{NFL Year|2005|2006}})
- New Orleans Saints ({{NFL Year|2007|2008}})
- Cleveland Browns ({{NFL Year|2009}})*
- New England Patriots ({{NFL Year|2010}})*
| pastcoaching =
- Western Carolina (2013–2021)
(asst coach)
| highlights =
- 3× Super Bowl champion (XXXVI, XXXVIII, XXXIX)
| statlabel1 = Receptions
| statvalue1 = 324
| statlabel2 = Receiving yards
| statvalue2 = 4,715
| statlabel3 = Receiving touchdowns
| statvalue3 = 24
| afl = 1225
| pfr = P/PattDa00
}}
David Patten (August 19, 1974 – September 2, 2021) was an American professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL). He is best known for catching a touchdown pass late in the second quarter of Super Bowl XXXVI from quarterback Tom Brady as a member of the New England Patriots.
Patten was signed by the Albany Firebirds of the Arena Football League (AFL) as a street free agent in 1996. Starting in 1997, he played in the NFL and competed for 12 seasons through 2008. He played college football for the Western Carolina Catamounts.
Patten was also a member of the New York Giants, Washington Redskins, New Orleans Saints, Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots. He won three Super Bowls with the Patriots.
Early years
Patten played football at Lower Richland High School in Hopkins, South Carolina, where he caught passes from future Major League Baseball player Pokey Reese.{{cite news |last1=Bezjak |first1=Lou |title='Great human being, man of God': Lower Richland, NFL remember David Patten |url=https://www.thestate.com/sports/nfl/article253976223.html |access-date=September 5, 2021 |publisher=The State |date=September 3, 2021}}
College career
After graduating from high school, Patten attended Western Carolina University. As a junior in 1994, he averaged 3.6 catches, good for sixth in the Southern Conference. In 1995, his senior season, Patten recorded 59 catches for 881 yards and was named to the All-Southern Conference team.{{cite web |title=Former Catamount David Patten Joins WCU Football Coaching Staff |url=https://catamountsports.com/sports/2013/2/10/211728968.aspx |website=www.catamountsports.com |access-date=September 5, 2021}}
Professional career
=Albany Firebirds=
Patten went undrafted in the 1996 NFL draft but began his professional football career by playing for the Arena Football League's Albany Firebirds in the summer of 1996.{{cite news |last1=Singelais |first1=Mark |title=David Patten, former Albany Firebird and Super Bowl champion, dies in motorcycle crash |url=https://www.timesunion.com/sports/article/David-Patten-former-Albany-Firebird-and-Super-16434000.php |access-date=September 5, 2021 |publisher=Times Union |date=September 3, 2021}} He signed late in the AFL's season and played in their final regular season game on August 2, 1996, in a 54–49 win over the Milwaukee Mustangs. Patten caught two passes for 37 yards in the game.{{cite web |title=David Patten Albany Firebirds Stats |url=https://www.arenafan.com/players/David_Patten-1225/ |website=www.arenafan.com |publisher=Arena Fan |access-date=September 5, 2021}}
=New York Giants=
After spending the rest of the 1996 season out of football, Patten was signed by the New York Giants on March 24, 1997. He was waived by the Giants on August 24, 1997, and re-signed to their practice squad the next day. Two days later, the Giants signed Patten to their 53-man roster. He played in 16 games for the Giants in 1997, catching 13 passes for 226 yards and returning eight kickoffs for 123 yards. In 1998, Patten played in 12 games for the Giants, returning 43 kickoffs for 928 yards and one touchdown, while also catching 11 passes for 119 yards and a touchdown. In 1999, his final season with the Giants, Patten played in 16 games, leading the team with 33 kickoff returns for 673 yards as well as recording nine receptions for 115 yards.{{cite news |last1=Eisen |first1=Michael |title=Giants mourn David Patten, who began career with Big Blue |url=https://www.giants.com/news/giants-mourn-david-patten-who-began-career-with-big-blue |access-date=September 5, 2021 |publisher=Giants.com |date=September 3, 2021}}
=First stint with Browns=
Following the 1999 season, Patten signed as an unrestricted free agent with the Cleveland Browns. He spent one season with the team, starting 10 of 14 games and recording 38 receptions for 546 yards.{{cite news |last1=Moore |first1=Thomas |title=Former Browns WR David Patten dies at age 47 |url=https://www.dawgsbynature.com/2021/9/3/22656011/cleveland-browns-former-wide-receiverdavid-patten-dies-age-47 |access-date=September 5, 2021 |publisher=SB Nation |date=September 3, 2021}}
=New England Patriots=
In 2001, Patten signed as a free agent with the New England Patriots. He started 14 games at wide receiver for the Patriots in 2001, setting a then-career-high with 51 catches for 749 yards. Against the Indianapolis Colts on October 21, 2001, Patten became the eighth player in NFL history (and just the second since the merger) to run, catch, and throw for a touchdown in a 38–17 win;{{cite web|url=http://pfref.com/tiny/YdYLB|title=Player Game Finder Query Results: In a single game, from 1950 to 2018, in the NFL, in the Regular Season, requiring Rushing TD >= 1 and Receiving TD >= 1 and Passing TD >= 1, sorted by ascending Date|work=Pro-Football-Reference.com|date=September 25, 2018|access-date=September 25, 2018}} he was named AFC Offensive Player of the Week for his performance. He scored on a 29-yard end around on the Patriots' first offensive play. In the second quarter, he caught a 91-yard touchdown pass from Tom Brady. and then caught a lateral from Brady before throwing a 60-yard pass to Troy Brown. It was the first such game since Walter Payton did it in 1979.{{Cite web|title=ESPN.com: NFL - Patten first since Payton to run, catch, pass for TDs|url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/news/2001/1021/1267114.html|access-date=2021-10-21|website=www.espn.com}}
Patten caught a touchdown pass from Drew Bledsoe in the AFC Championship Game at Pittsburgh and then caught a score from Tom Brady in the Patriots' Super Bowl XXXVI win over the St. Louis Rams in February 2002, earning his first Super Bowl ring.
In 2002, Patten again started 14 of 16 games, setting a career-high with 61 receptions, 824 yards, and five touchdowns while leading Patriots receivers with 13.5 yards per catch. Patten started five of the team's first six games in 2003 before being placed on injured reserve on November 7.{{cite news |last1=Smith |first1=Michael |title=Knee surgery puts Patten's season on ice |url=http://archive.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/articles/2003/11/08/knee_surgery_puts_pattens_season_on_ice/ |access-date=September 5, 2021 |publisher=Boston Globe |date=November 8, 2003}} Patten returned to start 11 of 16 games in 2004, recording 44 catches for 800 yards and seven touchdowns and earning his third Super Bowl ring in a win over the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl XXXIX.{{cite web |title=David Patten Stats |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/P/PattDa00.htm |website=www.pro-football-reference.com |access-date=September 5, 2021}}{{cite news |title=Patriots win 3rd Super Bowl in 4 years |url=http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2005-02/07/content_415847.htm |access-date=September 5, 2021 |publisher=China Daily |date=February 7, 2007}}
=Washington Redskins=
Following the 2004 season, Patten signed a five-year, $13 million contract with the Washington Redskins.{{cite web|url=http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/articles/2005/03/04/patriots_corner_starks_redskins_ink_patten/|title=Patriots corner Starks; Redskins ink Patten|work=The Boston Globe|first=Jerome|last=Solomon|date=March 4, 2005|access-date=February 24, 2010}} Patten started seven of the first nine games of the season with the Redskins before being placed on injured reserve on November 18. He finished the season with 22 receptions for 217 yards. In 2006, Patten played in the first four games of the season, recording one reception for 25 yards, his only catch of the season. He was inactive for the remainder of the season except Week 17. He was released by the Redskins on March 22, 2007.{{cite news |title=Redskins Release Patten |url=https://www.washingtonfootball.com/news/redskins-release-patten-3454854 |access-date=September 5, 2021 |publisher=Washington Football |date=March 24, 2007}}
=New Orleans Saints=
A few weeks after his release from Washington, Patten signed a one-year deal with the New Orleans Saints. He went on to have the second-best season of his career statistically, catching 54 passes for 792 yards and three touchdowns.{{cite news |title=Saints drop WR David Patten |url=https://www.houmatoday.com/news/20090213/saints-drop-wr-david-patten |access-date=September 5, 2021 |publisher=Houma Today |date=February 13, 2009}} Patten started three of the first four games for the Saints in 2008, but played in only one game after that due to injuries. He finished the season with 11 catches for 162 yards and one touchdown and was released by the Saints following the season.{{cite news |last1=Delery |first1=Wallace |title=Short-Term Saints: David Patten |url=https://www.canalstreetchronicles.com/2017/6/26/15789744/new-orleans-saints-david-patten-short-term-free-agent |access-date=September 5, 2021 |publisher=Canal St. Chronicles |date=June 26, 2017}}
=Second stint with Browns=
Patten signed with the Cleveland Browns for the second time on March 23, 2009, as a free-agent.{{cite news |title=Browns sign WR David Patten |url=https://www.fosters.com/article/20090324/NEWS22/903249929 |access-date=September 5, 2021 |publisher=AP via Fosters |date=March 24, 2009}} He was released on September 5, 2009.{{cite news |last1=Wolf |first1=Daniel |title=Cleveland Browns News Roundup: QBs, Practice Squad, Cuts, and Josh Cribbs |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/251163-cleveland-browns-news-roundup-qbs-practice-squad-cuts-and-cribbs |access-date=September 5, 2021 |publisher=Bleacher Report}}
=Return to New England and retirement=
On February 24, 2010, Patten was signed by the Patriots.{{cite news |last1=Scott |first1=Jon |title=Patriots Sign WR David Patten |url=https://247sports.com/nfl/new-england-patriots/Article/Patriots-Sign-WR-David-Patten-104691649/ |access-date=September 5, 2021 |publisher=247 Sports |date=February 25, 2010}}
On July 31, 2010, Patten announced his retirement. When asked why he was retiring he responded, "I just felt like it was time. It just hit me yesterday. Camp was going really well. I was still able to go out and be competitive and operate at a high level, but I believe once you get to the point in your career where it's multiple years—it would be my 13th year—and you're thinking about it mentally and you're not 100 percent into it mentally wise, it's tough to play this game. I always felt like when I got to that that point, it would be in my best interests to walk away."{{cite news |last1=Bissell |first1=George |title=Patriots wide receiver David Patten announces retirement |url=http://www.patriotsgab.com/2010/07/31/patriots-wide-receiver-david-patten-announces-retirement/ |access-date=September 5, 2021 |publisher=Patriots Gab |date=July 31, 2010}}
=Return to Western Carolina University=
David Patten had returned to Western Carolina University to complete his degree in social work and, at the time of his death in 2021, he was entering his ninth season as an assistant coach for the Catamounts.{{cite web|url=http://www.catamountsports.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/021113aab.html|title=Former Catamount David Patten Joins WCU Football Coaching Staff Patten spent 12 seasons in NFL camps during his professional career|work=WCU Football News|date=February 11, 2013|access-date=May 1, 2013|archive-date=November 5, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105032559/http://www.catamountsports.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/021113aab.html|url-status=dead}}{{Cite web |last=Wells |first=Adam |date=September 3, 2021 |title=Former Patriots WR David Patten Dies at Age 47 |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10011693-former-patriots-wr-david-patten-dies-at-age-47 |access-date=September 3, 2021 |website=Bleacher Report}}
NFL career statistics
| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
! colspan="2"| Legend |
| style="background:#afe6ba; width:3em;"|
| Won the Super Bowl |
| Bold
| Career high |
= Regular season =
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" | |||||||
| rowspan="2"| Year
!rowspan="2"| Team !colspan="2"| Games !colspan="5"| Receiving | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | |
| 1997 | NYG
| 16 || 3 || 13 || 226 || 17.4 || 40 || 2 | ||||||
| 1998 | NYG
| 12 || 0 || 11 || 119 || 10.8 || 39 || 1 | ||||||
| 1999 | NYG
| 16 || 0 || 9 || 115 || 12.8 || 19 || 0 | ||||||
| 2000 | CLE
| 14 || 11 || 38 || 546 || 14.4 || 65 || 1 | ||||||
| 2001 | style="background:#afe6ba; width:3em;"| NWE
| 16 || 14 || 51 || 749 || 14.7 || 91 || 4 | ||||||
| 2002 | NWE
| 16 || 14 || 61 || 824 || 13.5 || 39 || 5 | ||||||
| 2003 | NWE
| 6 || 5 || 9 || 140 || 15.6 || 42 || 0 | ||||||
| 2004 | style="background:#afe6ba; width:3em;"| NWE
| 16 || 11 || 44 || 800 || 18.2 || 48 || 7 | ||||||
| 2005 | WAS
| 9 || 7 || 22 || 217 || 9.9 || 32 || 0 | ||||||
| 2006 | WAS
| 5 || 0 || 1 || 25 || 25.0 || 25 || 0 | ||||||
| 2007 | NOR
| 16 || 5 || 54 || 792 || 14.7 || 58 || 3 | ||||||
| 2008 | NOR
| 5 || 3 || 11 || 162 || 14.7 || 39 || 1 | ||||||
| colspan="2"| | 147 | 73 | 324 | 4,715 | 14.6 | 91 | 24 |
= Playoffs =
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" | |||||||
| rowspan="2"| Year
!rowspan="2"| Team !colspan="2"| Games !colspan="5"| Receiving | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | |
| 1997 | NYG
| 1 || 1 || 5 || 86 || 17.2 || 37 || 0 | ||||||
| 2001 | style="background:#afe6ba; width:3em;"| NWE
| 3 || 3 || 13 || 154 || 11.8 || 25 || 2 | ||||||
| 2004 | style="background:#afe6ba; width:3em;"| NWE
| 3 || 0 || 2 || 20 || 10.0 || 12 || 0 | ||||||
| colspan="2"| | 7 | 4 | 20 | 260 | 13.0 | 37 | 2 |
Death
On September 2, 2021, Patten died in a three-vehicle accident in Columbia, South Carolina, aged 47. While riding his motorcycle, he traveled left off the center line and collided with a sedan, which later collided with another vehicle.{{cite web|url=https://www.wltx.com/article/sports/david-patten-accident-clemson-road/101-2c217179-ef17-468c-bd5d-3f4afe713d3a|title=Patriots, Lower Richland football great David Patten Jr. dies in accident|work=WLTX|date=September 3, 2021|access-date=}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{commons category|David Patten (American football)|David Patten}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20100524143132/http://www.patriots.com/team/index.cfm?ac=playerbio&bio=10273 New England Patriots bio]
{{Super Bowl XXXVI}}
{{Super Bowl XXXVIII}}
{{Super Bowl XXXIX}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Patten, David}}
Category:Albany Firebirds players
Category:American football wide receivers
Category:Cleveland Browns players
Category:Motorcycle road incident deaths
Category:New England Patriots players
Category:New Orleans Saints players
Category:New York Giants players
Category:People from Hopkins, South Carolina
Category:Players of American football from South Carolina
Category:Road incident deaths in South Carolina