David Patten, three-time Super Bowl champion and Lower Richland High standout, has died
David Patten, a standout at Lower Richland High School in South Carolina who went on to a long NFL career, died Thursday. He was 47 years old.
“Heartbroken great man of God… lost for words - David Patten,” said Richard Seymour via a social media post. Seymour was another Lower Richland standout who played with Patten on the New England Patriots..
Richland One Superintendent Dr. Craig Witherspoon released a statement on Patten’s death.
“Mr. Patten gave back to the Lower Richland High School community by providing track and field equipment and mentoring students, and he was a motivational speaker for male middle school students throughout Richland One,” Witherspoon said. “We extend our condolences and prayers to his family.”
Patten was riding a motorcycle Thursday night and died after a collision, the Richland County coroner confirmed Friday morning.
The S.C. Highway Patrol reported that the wreck involving Patten happened just after 9:30 p.m. Thursday in the northeast part of Richland County, on Clemson Road and near Old Clemson Road. Patten was on his motorcycle going west on Clemson Road and drove into the opposing lane, the patrol said. He hit a sedan, which then sideswiped a van, according to the patrol.
Richland County Coroner Naida Rutherford confirmed that Patten died in the wreck. The coroner’s officer and the highway patrol are investigating the death and collision.
Patten was an undrafted free agent coming out of Western Carolina University who played 12 years in the NFL, most notably with the New England Patriots where he won three Super Bowls in his two stints with the team, from 2001-04, and 2010. He also played with the New York Giants, Cleveland Browns, Washington Redskins and New Orleans Saints.
Patten caught 324 passes for 4,175 yards and 24 touchdowns in his career. One of his most famous catches came in Super Bowl XXXVI against the St. Louis Rams when he made a leaping grab in the right corner of the end zone from Tom Brady to give the Patriots a 14-3 lead. It was Brady’s first TD pass in a Super Bowl. New England went on to win the game on its way to first of six Super Bowl championships.
“In my mind when I saw the ball, when I came out of the up portion of the out-and-up route, I was like ‘just put your foot in the ground and jump and see if you can get it,’” Patten told PrimeTimeSportsTalk.com. “It’s like my body just kept going up and when it hit my hands, I remember saying, ‘Man, just hold on when you hit the ground.’”
Patten had a strong postseason that year with 13 receptions for 154 yards and two touchdowns.
In 2001, against Indianapolis, Patten became the sixth player since 1960 – and the first since Walter Payton in 1979 – to rush for a touchdown, catch a touchdown pass and pass for a touchdown in the same game.
After football, Patten returned to Western Carolina and finished his degree and spent time on WCU’s football staff.
Patten later returned to Columbia and was pastor of Annointed Word of Life Ministries and also was a motivational speaker.
Patten is survived by his wife Galiena and four children - David, Daquan, Quinton and Mia. David is a receiver at his dad’s alma mater, Western Carolina and Quinton is a receiver at UNC Charlotte.
This story was originally published September 3, 2021 at 10:29 AM.
