Calvin Stephens

Calvin Herbert Stephens (October 25, 1967 – June 8, 2010) was an American professional football offensive guard who played in the National Football League (NFL) for the New England Patriots. He played college football at the University of South Carolina.

Early life and college Stephens was born in Kings Mountain, North Carolina. He attended Kings Mountain High School, where he played both offensive and defensive line, earning all-state honors and lettering in track and wrestling.

He played college football at the University of South Carolina, where he was a four-year letterman and three-year starter at offensive guard. In his senior year (1990), he earned honorable mention All-America honors from Football News and was named South Carolina's Outstanding Player of the Year.

During training camp of his rookie year in 1991, Stephens tore his triceps muscle and spent the entire season on the injured reserve list. He was briefly claimed off waivers by the San Diego Chargers later that month but was released before the start of the regular season.

He died on June 8, 2010, in Mount Holly, North Carolina, at age 42.

Legacy Though his professional career was brief, Stephens is remembered in his hometown of Kings Mountain and among South Carolina Gamecocks fans as a blocker who inspired teammates through his perseverance and quiet leadership.