Super Bowl champion Matt Stevens dead at 51, family says

Former NFL antiaircraft backmost Matt Stevens has died, his household announced. He was 51.

According to an obituary, Stevens died connected March 20. A origin of decease was not instantly provided. 

"It is with large sadness that we denote the passing of Matthew Stevens property 51, beloved lad and father," the obituary stated.

Stevens had resided successful Durham, North Carolina, since retiring from shot successful 2003.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Matt Stevens, #26 of the Houston Texans, successful presumption during an NFL shot crippled against the Washington Redskins connected December 22, 2002, astatine FedExField successful Landover, Maryland. (Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)

Stevens roseate to shot stardom astatine Appalachian State, wherever helium became a two-time All-American. He is simply a subordinate of the App State Athletics Hall of Fame subordinate Matt Stevens.

The shot programme expressed condolences to Stevens' loved ones.

The Buffalo Bills selected Stevens successful the 3rd circular of the 1996 NFL Draft. He recorded a career-high six regular-season interceptions successful 1999 erstwhile helium played for Washington.

LEGENDARY KANSAS BROADCASTER BOB DAVIS DIES JUST DAYS AFTER HIS WIFE

Stevens played for the New England Patriots successful 2001. He was a subordinate of the Patriots Super Bowl XXXVI winning team. The Patriots' 20-17 triumph implicit the Rams marked the archetypal Super Bowl rubric successful the franchise's past and kicked disconnected New England's dynasty.

Sept. 23, 2001: Matt Stevens, #26 of the New England Patriots, sits connected the seat and breathes oxygen during the crippled against the New York Jets astatine Foxboro Stadium successful Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Ezra Shaw/ALLSPORT)

Stevens yet had stints with 5 NFL teams.

Stevens was successful a motorcycle mishap successful 2007 and was paralyzed from the waist down arsenic a result. Several years later, helium utilized peculiar braces that allowed him to regain his quality to walk.

Free information Matt Stevens, #26 of the Houston Texans, looks connected during their NFL crippled against the Indianapolis Colts connected September 22, 2002, astatine Reliant Stadium successful Houston, TX.   (Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

A memorial work for Stevens is scheduled for Friday successful Chapel Hill, North Carolina. 

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Stevens is survived by "his mother, Jean Thillberg, his begetter Vincent Stevens, his member Mark Stevens and his children Cassidie and Colin Stevens of Avon by the Sea, New Jersey, arsenic good arsenic aunts, uncles and cousins," according to the obituary.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports sum connected X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.