Mosi Tatupu Dies at 54

Long time New England Patriots Running Back Mosi Tatupu passed away on Wednesday morning. Tatupu, who played 13 seasons with the Patriots and one last season with the Los Angeles Rams, died from complications of high blood pressure and “additional health issues” according to the Boston Herald .

Tatupu, 54, played his college ball at the University of Southern California and is the father of current Seattle Seahawks linebacker Lofa Tatupu.

Tatupu played with the father of current Seahawk Matt Hasselbeck, Don Hasselbeck, during his days in New England. Matt Hasselbeck is a teammate of Tatupu’s son and said positive things about the departed Tatupu.

““I’m devastated,” Hasselbeck said. “We’ve really connected back in the last few years with Lofa and Matt being in Seattle. It was automatic. It’s just a small world. Man, I remember we used to tease him because he played great in the snow, and he was from Hawaii. He had that running style, a great low base, he played so hard. Man, this is hard to comprehend with someone that age. It’s got to be devastating for his kids. Emotional. Just, wow.”

Tatupu was a long time special teams weapon who earned one Pro Bowl appearance over the length of his career. The Mosi Tatupu Award was handed out to the best collegiate special teams player from 1997 to 2006.

Tatupu was the head coach at King Philip High in Wrentham, where he coached his son, Lofa, who is now a linebacker for the Seattle Seahawks. He also coached running backs at Curry College in Milton.

Mosi Tatupu had 612 carries and 2,415 yards in his 14-year NFL career. After 13 seasons with the Patriots from 1978 to 1990, Tatupu played five games for the Los Angeles Rams in 1991 before ending his playing career.