David Patten was an American football wide receiver who played for several teams during his career. He began his football career at Western Carolina University, where he played as a quarterback. After college, he went undrafted in the 1996 NFL Draft and signed with the Albany Firebirds of the Arena Football League.
Patten's NFL career began in 1997 when he signed with the New York Giants as an undrafted free agent. He spent the 1997 season on the Giants' practice squad before being signed by the Cleveland Browns in 1998. Patten played for the Browns for two seasons before being traded to the New England Patriots in 2001.
Patten's time with the Patriots was the most successful of his career. He played a key role in the team's Super Bowl XXXVI victory over the St. Louis Rams, catching four passes for 38 yards. Patten also played in Super Bowl XXXVIII, where he caught two passes for 22 yards.
After four seasons with the Patriots, Patten signed with the Washington Redskins in 2005. He played for the Redskins for two seasons before being released in 2007. Patten then signed with the New Orleans Saints, where he played his final season in 2008.
Throughout his career, Patten was known for his speed and versatility. He played both wide receiver and kick returner, and even played some quarterback in college. Patten finished his NFL career with 324 receptions for 4,715 yards and 24 touchdowns.
Off the field, Patten was known for his charitable work. He founded the David Patten Foundation, which provides scholarships and other assistance to underprivileged youth. Patten was also a devout Christian and often spoke about his faith in interviews.
In 2015, Patten was inducted into the Western Carolina University Athletics Hall of Fame. He currently works as a high school football coach in his hometown of Hopkins, South Carolina.
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