Patriots Hall of Famer Gino Cappelletti Dies at Age 89

Patriots great Gino Cappelletti, an original member of the very first team in 1960, has died at the age of 89.

The Patriots made the announcement on Thursday that the Patriots Hall of Fame wide receiver and placekicker passed away at his home surrounded by his family. A cause of death was not disclosed.

Owner Robert Kraft expressed his condolences to Cappelletti's family, including his wife Sandy, their three daughters, and 10 grandchildren.

"For the first 51 years of this franchise's history, Gino contributed as an all-star player, assistant coach and broadcaster. You couldn't be a Patriots fan during that era and not be a fan of Gino's. The Patriots have had many iconic, fan-favorite players over the years. Gino was the first," Kraft wrote.

Cappellletti spent seven seasons (1972-78) in the broadcast booth before returning to the sidelines as the special teams coach from 1979 through the 1981 season on Ron Erhardt's staff. He returned to the broadcast booth in 1988, where he remained through the 2011 season.

Funeral arrangements have not yet been announced.

Contact reporter Dan Alexander at Dan.Alexander@townsquaremedia.com or via Twitter @DanAlexanderNH