Longtime Patriots large receiver and kicker Gino “The Duke” Cappelletti died Thursday at age 89.

An authentic member of the Boston Patriots in 1960, Cappelletti was the American Soccer League’s MVP in 1964 and was inducted into the New England Patriots Corridor of Fame in 1992.

“My coronary heart aches after studying of Gino Cappelletti’s passing this morning,” Patriots proprietor Robert Kraft mentioned in a information launch asserting Cappelletti’s passing. “For the primary 51 years of this franchise’s historical past, Gino contributed as an all-star participant, assistant coach and broadcaster. You could not be a Patriots fan throughout that period and never be a fan of Gino’s. The Patriots have had many iconic, fan-favorite gamers over time. Gino was the primary.

“… As nice of a participant as he was, he was a good higher particular person and storyteller. On behalf of my household and the whole Patriots group, we lengthen our heartfelt condolences to Gino’s spouse, Sandy, their three daughters, Gina, Cara and Christina, and their 10 grandchildren, in addition to the numerous others who shall be mourning his loss.”

Cappelletti was one in every of three gamers to play in each recreation in the course of the AFL’s 10-year historical past, together with Jim Otto and George Blanda. He retired because the AFL’s all-time chief in factors (1,100) and subject objectives (170).

A five-time AFL All-Star, he led the league in scoring 5 occasions and holds the highest two scoring seasons in AFL historical past with 155 factors in 1964 and 147 factors in 1961. He holds the Patriots’ single-game document for factors in a recreation with 28 on Dec. 18, 1965 towards the Houston Oilers (4 subject objectives, 4 additional factors and two landing catches).

Cappelletti nonetheless ranks third all-time in Patriots historical past in scoring with 1,130 profession factors. He additionally ranks tenth with 292 receptions and twelfth with 4,589 receiving yards.

Following his enjoying profession, Cappelletti spent seven seasons (1972-78) within the broadcast sales space earlier than returning to the sidelines because the particular groups coach from 1979-81. He returned to broadcasting from 1988-2011.

He was raised in Keewatin, Minn., and performed school soccer on the College of Minnesota.

–Discipline Stage Media