NFL

Former NFL Player Dies at Age 39

Posted Jun 08, 2009 6:30PM By Matt Snyder (RSS feed)

Filed Under: Browns, Patriots, Saints

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Pio Sagapolutele, a former player for the Cleveland Browns, New England Patriots and New Orleans Saints, passed away after a massive stroke and heart attack Sunday. The Samoan-born defensive lineman was only 39 years old.

UPDATE: Reports have now surfaced that Sagapoutele actually died of a brain aneurysm, not a heart attack and stroke as was originally reported.

Sagapolutele was born in American Samoa, grew up in Hawaii, and attended San Diego State University before being selected by the Browns in the fourth round of the 1991 NFL Draft. He played 92 games in seven seasons, amassing seven career sacks and 89 solo tackles. He started at right defensive tackle in Super Bowl XXXI for Bill Parcells' Patriots. A bevy of injuries forced Sagapolutele to retire in 1999.

Off the field, Sagapolutele did some great work for underprivileged youth in both California and Hawaii -- running football camps for some children whose parents may not have been able to afford various summer football camps.
"I was able to attend a camp when I was young and it helped send me in the right direction," he says.

"I always remember the lessons I learned from my parents; treat people how you want to be treated," he says. "People deserve the right to feel special and I always try to find a way to make them feel like that."
Sagapolutele is survived by his wife and three children -- ages 13, 9 and 7.

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