Back to today’s briefing

Story perspectives

Former AFL Player Rick Sapienza Dies at 90

8/13/2026

26 4 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

Former AFL player Americo “Rick” Sapienza died on Aug. 2 at age 90.
He played for the 1960 Boston Patriots and New York Titans, fumbled a late-fourth-quarter snap that gave the Patriots their first win, and returned a 78-yard interception for Villanova on Nov. 17, 1956.
After the Patriots released him, he served as a Titans punter and later coached football for decades at Peabody Veterans Memorial High School in Massachusetts.

1 of 1

Story summary

Former AFL player Americo “Rick” Sapienza died on Aug. 2 at age 90.
He played for the 1960 Boston Patriots and New York Titans, fumbled a late-fourth-quarter snap that gave the Patriots their first win, and returned a 78-yard interception for Villanova on Nov. 17, 1956.
After the Patriots released him, he served as a Titans punter and later coached football for decades at Peabody Veterans Memorial High School in Massachusetts.