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'''Darryl Stingley''' (1952-2007) was a former [[National Football League]] wide receiver for the [[New England Patriots]] from 1973 to 1978. He was drafted in the first round of the 1983 NFL Draft by the Patriots after a successful college football career at Purdue University. Stingley was thought by many to be on the path to becoming a NFL star wide receiver after the 1977 season when he caught 39 receptions for 655 yards and five touchdowns.<ref name="bos">[http://www.boston.com/sports/football/articles/2007/04/05/former_nfl_player_dies_at_northwestern_hospital/ Dave Goldberg, AP Football Writer, April 5, 2007, "Former Pats WR Darryl Stingley dies"]</ref> Tragically, however, Stingley was paralyzed after suffering a violent hit in a August 12, 1978 preseason game against the [[Oakland Raiders]].<ref>[http://archive.profootballweekly.com/content/archives/features_1998/pollack_080399.asp Pro Football Weekly, Ron Pollack, "The amazing courage of Derek Stingley"]</ref> The hit that paralyzed Stingley was caused by a full speed collision with Raiders safety [[Jack Tatum]] when Stingley leaped for an overthrown pass from Patriots quarterback [[Steve Grogan]].<ref name="bos" /> After the incident, Stingley was hired as a consultant for the Patriots and also wrote a book in 1983 titled ''Happy to Be Alive''. On April 5, 2007, Stingley died at the age of 55 from the lingering effects of his injury's.<ref>[http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2826562 ESPN.com, April 5, 2007, "Darryl Stingley, paralyzed by Tatum hit, dies at 55"]</ref>

'''Darryl Stingley''' (1952-2007) was a former [[National Football League]] wide receiver for the [[New England Patriots]] from 1973 to 1978. He was drafted in the first round of the 1983 NFL Draft by the Patriots after a successful college football career at Purdue University. Stingley was thought by many to be on the path to becoming a NFL star wide receiver after the 1977 season when he caught 39 receptions for 655 yards and five touchdowns.<ref name="bos">[http://www.boston.com/sports/football/articles/2007/04/05/former_nfl_player_dies_at_northwestern_hospital/ Dave Goldberg, AP Football Writer, April 5, 2007, "Former Pats WR Darryl Stingley dies"]</ref> Tragically, however, Stingley was paralyzed after suffering a violent hit in a August 12, 1978 preseason game against the [[Oakland Raiders]].<ref>[http://archive.profootballweekly.com/content/archives/features_1998/pollack_080399.asp Pro Football Weekly, Ron Pollack, "The amazing courage of Derek Stingley"]</ref> The hit that paralyzed Stingley was caused by a full speed collision with Raiders safety [[Jack Tatum]] when Stingley leaped for an overthrown pass from Patriots quarterback [[Steve Grogan]].<ref name="bos" /> After the incident, Stingley was hired as a consultant for the Patriots and also wrote a book in 1983 titled ''Happy to Be Alive''. On April 5, 2007, Stingley died at the age of 55 from the lingering effects of his injurys.<ref>[http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2826562 ESPN.com, April 5, 2007, "Darryl Stingley, paralyzed by Tatum hit, dies at 55"]</ref>

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