Former Patriots Wide Receiver Has Reportedly Died

Aaron Marsh, who spent two seasons catching passes for the Boston Patriots in the final years of the American Football League, died Aug. 7 in Shelbyville, Tennessee. He was 81.

For Patriots fans who remember the days before the NFL merger, Marsh was part of a roster that played its home games at Fenway Park and later Alumni Stadium. He arrived in 1968 after the team selected him in the third round of the AFL draft.

Marsh played 16 games as a wide receiver under coaches Mike Holovak and Clive Rush. In his two years with Boston he recorded 27 receptions for 439 yards and four touchdowns. He also carried the ball four times for eight yards and returned 10 kickoffs for 210 yards.

His rookie season stood out. Marsh hauled in 19 passes for 331 yards and all four of his career scores. One catch went for 70 yards. Those numbers came while the Patriots still called Fenway home.

The following year the team shifted to Chestnut Hill. Marsh added eight more receptions for 108 yards. The franchise would become the New England Patriots two seasons later.

Before he reached the AFL, Marsh built a standout career at Eastern Kentucky. Born July 27, 1945, in Dayton, Ohio, he attended Springfield High School and enrolled at the school then known as Eastern Kentucky State College in 1964.

He played tailback for two seasons under coach Roy Kidd before moving to wide receiver. The switch defined his college years. Marsh earned All-Ohio Valley Conference honors in 1966 and 1967 and All-America recognition as a senior.

He helped Eastern Kentucky win the 1967 Grantland Rice Bowl. Over his career he caught 147 passes for 2,246 yards and 24 touchdowns. Some of his school records lasted decades, including 19 receptions and 316 receiving yards in a single game.

Marsh was inducted into the Eastern Kentucky Athletics Hall of Fame in 2006. He was one of the school’s first Black student-athletes.

Larry Kirksey, a four-year letterman at EKU who later coached 17 years in the NFL, paid tribute to Marsh.

“I came to EKU because of him, hoping to follow in his footsteps. I wasn’t even close to being the athlete he was, but I was fortunate enough to wear his number and tried my best to represent it with the respect and pride it deserved,” Kirksey wrote. “I had the opportunity to meet Aaron a couple of years ago and share my story with him. He was gracious, humble, and genuinely interested. We spent some time talking about the game, how it has changed, and the memories that never leave us.”

Eastern Kentucky Football posted its own remembrance.

“We ask all of Colonel Nation to join us in mourning the loss of Eternal Colonel Aaron Marsh, who has passed away, leaving a legacy on and off the field here in Richmond,” the school posted. “Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends.”

For those who followed the Patriots in the late 1960s, Marsh represented a brief but productive chapter. He contributed on offense and special teams during a transitional period for the franchise.

A memorial service is scheduled for Aug. 29 in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Patriots alumni and fans who recall the AFL years remember a receiver who made the most of his opportunities in Boston.