Fan Favorite Tatupu Dead at 54

Former USC tailback Mosi Tatupu, a fan favorite known for his inspirational special teams play in the NFL, died Tuesday at a hospital in Massachusetts.

Tatupu was 54. The hospital could not disclose a cause of death, according to the Associated Press.

He played most of the 14 NFL seasons with the New England Patriots. He was a Ram when he retired from the NFL in 1991.

"As a teammate, he was one of the best," former Patriots quarterback Steve Grogan told the LA Times. "He was one of those guys that made life fun whether it was in the locker room or on the practice fields. He had a smile that radiated."

Tatupu was part of the Trojans' 1974 national championship team. He rushed for 1,277 yards at USC before being selected in the eighth found of the 1978 draft.

Boston Herald writer Joe Fitzgerald called Tatupu "a very decent guy who just happened to be a wonderful football player, too."

Tatupu's son, Lofa, plays is a member of the Seattle Seahawks. A member of the Trojans' 2005-2006 teams, he earned All-American honors after transferring to USC from Maine.

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