Darryl Stingley facts for kids
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Stingley in 1985
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| No. 84 | |||||||||
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| Position: | Wide receiver | ||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
| Born: | September 18, 1951 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
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| Died: | April 5, 2007 (aged 55) Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
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| Career information | |||||||||
| High school: | Chicago (IL) John Marshall | ||||||||
| College: | Purdue | ||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 1973 / Round: 1 / Pick: 19 | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||
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Darryl Floyd Stingley (born September 18, 1951 – died April 5, 2007) was an American professional football player. He was a wide receiver whose career ended early at age 26 due to a serious spinal cord injury on the field. He played his entire five-year career with the New England Patriots in the National Football League (NFL). Later in life, he passed away from heart disease and pneumonia, which were complicated by his quadriplegia.
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Growing Up in Chicago
Darryl Stingley grew up on the West Side of Chicago, Illinois. He was a talented running back and a good student at John Marshall Metropolitan High School. He graduated in 1969. Stingley earned a football scholarship to Purdue University. There, he changed from a running back to a wide receiver.
In the 1973 NFL Draft, Stingley was chosen as the 19th player overall. He was one of three players the Patriots picked in the first round that year. The others were John Hannah and Sam Cunningham.
Playing Professional Football
Stingley played 60 regular season games for the Patriots. He caught 110 passes for 1,883 yards and scored 14 touchdowns. He also ran the ball 28 times for 244 yards and two touchdowns. He returned 19 punts for 136 yards and eight kickoffs for 187 yards.
In 1974, he ran for a 23-yard touchdown in a big win against the Baltimore Colts. On his 26th birthday in 1977, he had an amazing game. He ran for a 34-yard touchdown and caught a 21-yard touchdown pass against the Kansas City Chiefs. He is one of only three Patriots players to catch a touchdown pass on their birthday. He is also the only wide receiver to run for and catch a touchdown on his birthday.
A Career-Ending Injury
In a preseason game on August 12, 1978, Darryl Stingley was playing against the Oakland Raiders. He was hit by Raiders defensive back Jack Tatum. Stingley was reaching for a pass when he and Tatum collided. Stingley's helmet hit Tatum's shoulder pad. This caused a serious injury to his spinal cord. It broke bones in his neck.
After the injury, Stingley could only move his right arm a little. He spent the rest of his life as a quadriplegic. This meant he had paralysis in all four of his limbs. The injury happened just after Stingley had finished talking about a new contract. This contract would have made him one of the highest-paid receivers in the NFL. But it was never signed.
At the time, the hit was not against NFL rules because it was not helmet-to-helmet contact. No penalty was called during the game. However, this incident became a symbol of how violent football could be. Stingley himself called it a "freak accident."
Because of Stingley's serious injuries, the NFL later changed its rules. They banned hits to the head or neck of a defenseless player. They also stopped players from launching themselves when tackling. Stingley supported these new rules. He said they made the game more exciting and allowed receivers to play better.
Many people, including Raiders coach John Madden and player Gene Upshaw, showed their support for Stingley. Madden even became a close friend. The Patriots agreed to pay for all of Stingley's medical care for the rest of his life. They also paid for his and his children's education.
Life After Football
On May 9, 1992, Darryl Stingley earned his bachelor's degree in physical education from Purdue University. He completed his studies through a special program.
Stingley and Jack Tatum, the player who hit him, never became friends. Tatum tried to reach out to Stingley several times. But Stingley was worried Tatum was doing it for his own benefit. However, Stingley said in a 1992 interview that he had forgiven Tatum a long time ago.
Stingley later worked for the Patriots as an executive director of player personnel. In 1983, he wrote a book about his life called Happy to Be Alive. In 1993, he started a non-profit group to help young people in west Chicago.
Darryl Stingley had a daughter, Nicole, and three sons: Darryl Jr., John, and Derek. His grandson, Derek Stingley Jr., is also a talented football player. He was a top player in 2019 and was chosen third overall in the 2022 NFL Draft by the Houston Texans.
His Passing
Darryl Stingley passed away on April 5, 2007, in Chicago. He was found unresponsive at his home. His death was caused by heart disease and pneumonia, which were made worse by his quadriplegia. The medical examiner said his death was an accident.
