Stephen Starring

Stephen Dale Starring^[2] (July 30, 1961 – October 19, 2025) was an American professional football player who was a wide receiver and return specialist for six seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the McNeese State Cowboys.

Stephen Starring

Starring playing for the Patriots in 1984
No. 81
Positions	Wide receiver Kick returner
Personal information
Born	(1961-07-30)July 30, 1961 Baton Rouge, Louisiana, U.S.
Died	October 19, 2025(2025-10-19) (aged 64)
Height	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Weight	172 lb (78 kg)
Career information
High school	Vinton (Vinton, Louisiana)
College	McNeese State
NFL draft	1983: 3rd round, 74th overall pick
Career history
New England Patriots (1983–1987) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1988) Detroit Lions (1988) Los Angeles Raiders (1989)*[1]
* Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career NFL statistics
Receptions 120 Receiving yards 2,029 Touchdowns 11 Stats at Pro Football Reference

Biography

Starring was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.^[2] After attending Vinton High School, he played quarterback at McNeese State University. He was most valuable player for the Cowboys at the 1980 Independence Bowl and 1980 Offensive Player of the Year of the Southland Conference (SLC), gaining 1,980 yards of total offense, including 974 rushing yards, a school record for rushing yards by a quarterback.^[3] Starring finished his time at McNeese state with 3,083 passing yards (7th all time) and 1,906 rushing yards (12th). He also won three SLC track and field titles, two in the high hurdles and one in the long jump, and was named All-American for track and field.^[4]

In 1983^[5], Starring was selected by the Patriots in the third round of the NFL draft. He went on to play wide receiver for six seasons for the New England Patriots, Detroit Lions, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In 1985 he was the NFL's seventh leading kickoff returner with 1,012 kick return yards and went on to play in Super Bowl XX as a member of the Patriots, where he caught two passes for 39 yards and returned seven kickoffs for 153 yards.^[2][6] He was inducted into the McNeese State University Hall of Fame in 2000.^[4] Starring finished his career with 120 receptions for 2,029 yards and 11 touchdowns, along with 2,389 yards returning kickoffs.

Starring died on October 19, 2025, at the age of 64.^[7]