Lovett Purnell

American football player (born 1972)

American football player

Lovett Purnell

No. 48, 85, 80

Position:

Tight end

Personal information

Born:

(1972-04-07) April 7, 1972 (age 52)
Seaford, Delaware, U.S.

Height:

6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)

Weight:

245 lb (111 kg)

Career information

High school:

Seaford Senior
Valley Forge Military Academy

College:

West Virginia

NFL draft:

1996 / Round: 7 / Pick: 216

Career history

New England Patriots (1996–1998)
Baltimore Ravens (1999)
Chicago Enforcers (2001)

Career highlights and awards

Delaware Sports Museum/Hall of Fame (2007)

Career NFL statistics

Games played:	36
Games started:	7
Receptions:	19
Receiving yards:	159
Touchdowns:	5

Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Lovett Shaizer Purnell (born April 7, 1972), is a former American football tight end in the National Football League (NFL). Purnell attended Seaford High but graduated from Valley Forge Military Academy and College in Wayne, Pennsylvania before attending West Virginia University. After graduating from WVU, he was selected in the 7th round (216th overall) by the New England Patriots in the 1996 NFL Draft.^[1] A member of the Patriots from 1996–1998 and Baltimore Ravens in 1999, Purnell tallied 19 career receptions for 159 yards and 5 touchdowns in 36 career games (7 starts).^[2]

"I'm going to try to be Lovett Purnell and go out there and play the best way I can."

As a WVU Mountaineer, Purnell tallied 78 catches, 1161 yards and ten scores. He was named MVP of the 1995 season, which led to his seventh-round selection in the NFL Draft by New England. During four NFL seasons with the Patriots and Baltimore Ravens, Purnell played in 36 games, catching 19 passes for 159 yards and five touchdowns.

After the 1999 season with the Baltimore Ravens, Purnell quietly stepped away from on-field competition. Post-NFL, Lovett found tremendous success in the telecommunication industry in Tampa, FL where he currently resides. Whether on the field, or in the corporate world, Lovett has always had the reputation of being an all-around nice guy and team player.

The Delaware Sports Museum and Hall of Fame inducted Purnell in 2007.^[3]

References

^ "1996 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
^ Lovett Purnell NFL.com
^ Delaware Sports Museum and Hall of Fame - 2007 Inductees, Delaware Sports Museum and Hall of Fame