Former longtime NFL player David Patten has died at 47 years old ... after he was involved in a motorcycle accident on Thursday, TMZ Sports has confirmed.
Additional details surrounding the death are currently unclear.
Patten had a wonderful football career ... winning 3 rings with the Pats in the early 2000s. David caught a touchdown pass from Tom Brady in Super Bowl XXXVI -- helping TB12 win his 1st ring.
It was an improbable path for the 5'10" receiver he went undrafted out of Western Carolina in 1996 .