Patriots Fan Favorite Mosi Tatupu Dies

Mosi Tatupu, a fan favorite who played 13 seasons for the New England Patriots, has died. He was 54.

Ashley O'Brien, a spokeswoman for Sturdy Memorial Hospital in Attleboro, said Tatupu was pronounced dead at the hospital Tuesday. She did not give a cause.

Tatupu was chosen by the Patriots in the eighth round of the 1978 draft out of the University of Southern California. He stayed with the team until 1990.

His former quarterback, Steve Grogan, said to WBUR that Tatupu was a versatile, driven player.

"Whatever the team asked him to do, whether it was playing special teams, a blocking back, goal line, carry the ball, he did it," Grogan said.

The running back rushed for 2,415 yards and 18 touchdowns, though he was better known for his special teams play.

Tatupu had his own cheering section known as "Mosi's Mooses."

He coached his son, Lofa, now a linebacker with the Seattle Seahawks, at King Philip Regional High School in Wrentham.

"He's going to be missed," Grogan said. "I mean he was active in the community after his retirement around here. He was always doing things for people, attending different events, and so it's just a tough loss."

Tatupu was a high school star in Hawaii.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.