Pio Sagapolutele, who started at right defensive tackle for the Patriots against the Green Bay Packers in Super Bowl XXXI, died Sunday night in Chandler, Ariz., after suffering an aneurysm on Friday.

Sagapolutele started 13 games -- 10 in the regular season and three in the postseason -- for the 1996-97 AFC champions, whose defensive architect was Bill Belichick. He had 20 tackles, eight assists and three sacks in regular-season play that year.

He joined the Patriots after playing under head coach Belichick with the Cleveland Browns; Sagapolutele played five seasons in Cleveland. After leaving the Patriots, Sagapolutele played one more season in the NFL, with the New Orleans Saints.

Sagapolutele is a native of American Samoa who lived in Hawaii before moving to Arizona a few months ago with his wife and four children.