In a press release shared on Saturday, the New England Patriots announced that former quarterback Vito “Babe” Parilli had passed away at the age of 87 from multiple myeloma in Parker, Colorado.
Parilli, a member of the franchises’ 1960s All Decade Team and team Hall of Famer, played in 94 games for the Boston Patriots from 1961-1967 and passed for over 20,000 yards during NFL career. Parilli was selected to three AFL All Star Games and earned AFL Comeback Player of the Year during the 1966 season.
His most notable accomplishment came in 1964, when he threw for a then team record 31 touchdowns, a record which stood nearly 40 years until it was broken by Tom Brady in 2007. Parilli would serve as the backup to New York Jets quarterback and Pro Football Hall of Famer Joe Namath his final two seasons, earning a Super Bowl ring in 1968 and officially retiring from the game at 40 in 1970.
Per the press release, “Parilli currently sits fourth on the Patriots all-time career passing list with 16,747 yards and fourth with 132 touchdown passes on 2,413 attempts in 94 games over seven seasons.”
Both Patriots team owner and CEO Robert Kraft and Head Coach Bill Belichick each released statements on the passing of Parilli.
“For those old enough to have watched the Boston Patriots, Babe Parilli was a fan favorite. The AFL was an exciting, wide open offense that was in stark contrast to the ground and pound ways of the NFL during that era. Parilli and Gino Cappelletti became two of the most popular players in the AFL and future Patriots Hall of Famers. On behalf of the Patriots organization, we were deeply saddened by the news of Babe’s passing. Our thoughts and prayers are will the Parilli family and the many family, friends and former teammates who are mourning his loss.”
– Robert Kraft
“I had the pleasure of working with Babe Parilli when we coached on the same staff in Denver. He was such a joy to be around and, of course, one of the great quarterbacks of his era.”
– Bill Belichick
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