[2][3] Stingley accepted a football scholarship to Purdue University,[4] where he was converted into a wide receiver under head coach Bob DeMoss.

Selected nineteenth overall in the 1973 NFL draft,[3] he was the third player taken by the Patriots in the first round, along with offensive lineman John Hannah (4) of Alabama and fullback Sam Cunningham (11) of Southern California.

[2] Stingley's helmet made contact with Tatum's shoulder pad, compressing his spinal cord and breaking his fourth and fifth cervical vertebrae.

"[10] Because Stingley was a young player at the height of his career, his injuries attracted significant public attention.

Partly in response to Stingley's injuries, the NFL changed its rules and conventions to curtail aggressive plays.

[11] Stingley told the Chicago Tribune that he approved of more restrictive officiating, saying "It has opened the game up to allow receivers to get downfield.

[3] A settlement was reached with the NFL, with the Patriots agreeing to pay for all of Stingley's medical expenses for the rest of his life as well as his and his children's education.

[15] On May 9, 1992, having completed his remaining 24 credit hours through a correspondence course program, Darryl Stingley received his bachelor of physical education from Purdue University.

[23] On April 5, 2007, Stingley died at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago after being discovered unresponsive in his home.

[1] The Cook County medical examiner, Kendall Von Crowns, MD, listed Stingley's manner of death as an accident.