What Happened to Darryl Stingley? How Did Darryl Stingley Die?
by Mathelene
Updated Nov 24, 2023
What Happened to Darryl Stingley?
Darryl Stingley, a Patriots wide receiver, was paralyzed in a 1978 preseason game against the Raiders after a collision with Oakland's Jack Tatum. The hit left Stingley with a compressed spinal cord and broken vertebrae, making him a quadriplegic. Despite this tragic incident, a profound bond developed between Stingley and Raiders coach John Madden.
Madden, the first to visit Stingley in the hospital, provided unwavering support, even noticing and addressing a ventilator issue during one visit. Madden declared Stingley an honorary Raider and maintained their friendship beyond football, retiring in 1987, possibly influenced by Stingley's injury.
Stingley passed away in 2007 due to bronchial pneumonia, quadriplegia, spinal cord injury, and coronary atherosclerosis. His legacy lives on through his grandson, Derek Stingley Jr., a cornerback for the Texans.
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How Did Darryl Stingley Die?
Darryl Stingley, the former Patriots wide receiver paralyzed in a 1978 game, passed away on April 5, 2007, at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago. He was discovered unresponsive in his home. The cause of his death was attributed to heart disease and pneumonia, with complications arising from his quadriplegia, a condition he endured since the tragic collision during the game.
The Cook County Medical Examiner, Dr. Kendall Von Crowns, deemed Stingley's death as accidental. Despite the challenges he faced after the life-altering injury, Stingley's ultimate demise was a result of health complications associated with his paralysis. His legacy, marked by the enduring friendship with John Madden and the Stingley family's ongoing involvement in football, continues to be remembered in the NFL community.
Who was Darryl Stingley?
Darryl Floyd Stingley was an American professional football player who served as a wide receiver. Tragically, his promising career was abruptly cut short at the age of 26 due to a spinal cord injury sustained during a game. Stingley dedicated his entire five-year career to the New England Patriots in the National Football League (NFL).
Unfortunately, on April 5, 2007, he passed away at the age of 55. The cause of his death was heart disease and pneumonia, both complicated by quadriplegia, a condition he had lived with since the debilitating on-field incident. Stingley's untimely departure marked the end of a life marked by football prowess and resilience in the face of adversity.
Full Name
Darryl Floyd Stingley
Date of Birth
September 18, 1951
Date of Death
April 5, 2007
High School
John Marshall High School (Graduated in 1969)
Birthplace
Chicago's West Side
College
Purdue University
Position
Wide Receiver
Death Cause
Heart disease and pneumonia, complicated by quadriplegia
Darryl Stingley Early Life
Darryl Stingley, born to Hilda M. Stingley and Charlie Murphy, grew up on Chicago's West Side. Excelling both academically and athletically, he stood out as a running back and honor student at John Marshall High School, graduating in 1969. Stingley earned a football scholarship to Purdue University, where Coach Bob DeMoss transformed him into a wide receiver.
In the 1973 NFL Draft, Stingley was chosen nineteenth overall and became the third pick for the New England Patriots in the first round. This draft also included standout players like offensive lineman John Hannah and fullback Sam Cunningham. Stingley's journey from Chicago to Purdue and eventually to the Patriots reflected his talent, hard work, and dedication to the sport that defined his early life.
Darryl Stingley Career
Darryl Stingley had a successful career as a wide receiver for the New England Patriots, playing 60 regular-season games and accumulating 1,883 yards, 14 touchdowns, and various rushing and return yards. Notably, he achieved over 500 combined yards in multiple seasons.
In 1974, he scored a 23-yard touchdown, contributing to the Patriots' victory over the Baltimore Colts. On his 26th birthday in 1977, Stingley made history by running for a 34-yard touchdown and catching a 21-yard touchdown pass in the same game against the Kansas City Chiefs.
However, tragedy struck in a 1978 preseason game when Stingley collided with Raiders' Jack Tatum, resulting in a spinal cord injury that left him quadriplegic. The controversial hit, not against NFL rules at the time, prompted rule changes to enhance player safety.
John Madden, Tatum's coach, and other teammates extended sympathies to Stingley, marking the beginning of a close friendship. The NFL settlement ensured the Patriots covered Stingley's medical expenses and provided for his and his children's education for life.
What Happened to Darryl Stingley? - FAQs
Darryl Stingley passed away on April 5, 2007, at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago. His death was attributed to heart disease and pneumonia, complicated by quadriplegia.
Darryl Stingley was an American professional football player, a wide receiver for the New England Patriots, whose career was cut short by a spinal cord injury at the age of 26.
Stingley, a standout running back and honor student at John Marshall High School, received a football scholarship to Purdue University, where he transitioned to a wide receiver under Coach Bob DeMoss.
Stingley played 60 regular season games for the Patriots, amassing 110 receptions, 1,883 yards, and 14 touchdowns.
In a 1978 preseason game against the Oakland Raiders, a collision with Jack Tatum resulted in Stingley suffering a spinal cord injury, leaving him quadriplegic.