Established
1960
City
Boston
League History
1970 - Present / National Football League
1960 - 1970 / American Football League
Team History
1971 - Present / New England Patriots
1960 - 1970 / Boston Patriots
Nickname
Patriots - The New England Patriots are one of the most iconic franchises in the NFL, and their nickname is just as recognizable. But where did it come from? Let’s take a look at how this beloved team got its name.
In 1971, then-owner Billy Sullivan had to decide on a name for his newly formed franchise that would play in Boston. He wanted something with local ties and eventually settled on “Patriots” after seeing an article about patriot Paul Revere riding through Massachusetts during the American Revolution. The article mentioned he was “riding through town shouting 'the British are coming." Sullivan liked this idea of rallying people together under one cause and thought it fit perfectly with his new team's mission statement: "to unite all people who love football."
Since then, fans have embraced their new moniker wholeheartedly and proudly fly flags featuring the Patriot logo around Gillette Stadium every Sunday during home games! As you can see, there is much more to this classic nickname than meets the eye - so next time you hear someone cheering for New England Patriots football, make sure they know why they're doing so!
Championship
Super Bowl 6
2019, 2016, 2014, 2004, 2003, 2001
AFL Championship 0
Stadium
2003 - Present / Gillette Stadium
2002 / CMGI Field
1990 - 2001 / Foxboro Stadium
1983 - 1989 / Sullivan Stadium
1971 - 1982 / Schaefer Stadium
1970 / Harvard Stadium
1969 / Alumni Stadium
1963 - 1968 / Fenway Park
1960 - 1962 / Nickerson Field
Owner
1994 - Present / Robert Kraft
1992 - 1994 / James Orthwein
1987 - 1992 / Victor Kiam
1960 - 1987 / Billy Sullivan
- 1971
- 1971
- 1994
- 2001
- 2002
- 2003 - 2004
- 2014
- 2016
- 2018
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New Name New England
When the NFL and AFL merged in 1970, the Patriots were placed in the AFC East division, where they still play today. The following year, the team changed their name to the New England Patriots to reflect the location change, as well as its following throughout the region as its only NFL team though both New York City teams have ... -
New Foxboro Stadium
After bouncing around between four different Boston-area stadiums in their first 11 seasons, in 1971 the Patriots moved into a new stadium in suburban Foxborough (also known as Foxboro), on land granted by the Bay State Raceway. Prior to 2002, the Patriots played in Foxboro Stadium dating back to 1971, the team’s second year in the NFL after the AFL-NFL ... -
Bob Kraft Buys the Team
A Patriots fan since their American Football League days, Kraft has been a season ticket holder since 1971, when the team moved to the then-Schaefer Stadium. In 1985, Kraft bought a 10-year option on Foxboro Raceway, a horse track adjacent to the stadium. The option would allow Kraft to prevent the financially struggling Patriots’ owners from holding non-Patriot events at ... -
Super Bowl XXXVI Winner 2001
Super Bowl XXXVI was an American football game between the National Football Conference (NFC) champion St. Louis Rams and the American Football Conference (AFC) champion New England Patriots to decide the National Football League (NFL) champion for the 2001 season. The Patriots defeated the Rams 20–17. It was New England’s first Super Bowl victory. -
New Stadium – Gillette Stadium
The stadium would open in the spring of 2002 with a “soft opening”, including games of the New England Revolution and concerts. In the months leading up to the grand opening of the stadium in September 2002, CMGi Corporation fell upon difficult financial times and sold the naming rights to the Gillette Company prior to the grand opening. The stadium ... -
Two in A Row – Super Bowl 2003 & 2004
2003 Super Bowl XXXVIII was an American football game between the National Football Conference (NFC) champion Carolina Panthers and the American Football Conference (AFC) champion New England Patriots to decide the National Football League (NFL) champion for the 2003 season. The Patriots defeated the Panthers by the score of 32-29, winning their second Super Bowl in three years. The game ... -
Super Bowl XLIX Winner 2014
Super Bowl XLIX was an American football game played to determine the champion of the National Football League (NFL) for the 2014 season. The American Football Conference (AFC) champion New England Patriots defeated the National Football Conference (NFC) champion Seattle Seahawks, 28–24, to earn their fourth Super Bowl title. The game was played on February 1, 2015, at the University ... -
Overtime Win in Super Bowl LI
Super Bowl LI was an American football game played at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas, on February 5, 2017, to determine the champion of the National Football League (NFL) for the 2016 season. The American Football Conference (AFC) champion New England Patriots defeated the National Football Conference (NFC) champion Atlanta Falcons, 34–28. Super Bowl LI featured the largest comeback in ... -
Number 6 Super Bowls for the New England Patriots
Super Bowl LIII was an American football game played to determine the champion of the National Football League (NFL) for the 2018 season. The American Football Conference (AFC) champion New England Patriots defeated the National Football Conference (NFC) champion Los Angeles Rams, 13–3. The game was played on February 3, 2019, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, and was the ...
To qualify as the greatest player for this team, the player must have played one season for this team. If not, we will remove the player.
* verifies that player has played for this team as an added player by a fan.
History of the Patriots
The Boston Patriots, who later became the New England Patriots, have been among the most successful and iconic teams in NFL history for over a century. The team, originally known as the Boston Patriots, was founded in 1960. They struggled through their first few decades as an organization, with just three winning seasons from 1962-1979. However, the team began to turn things around under head coach Bill Belichick starting in 2000 when they won their first Super Bowl title against the St. Louis Rams.
Since then, Tom Brady has become one of the greatest quarterbacks ever to play football, leading his team to five more championship wins with four MVP awards along with them too! Many fans widely consider him responsible for taking this franchise from mediocrity into a dynasty that will be remembered forever throughout sports history books!
The New England Patriots' success isn't limited only on the field either: off-field activities such as charity work and community outreach have helped make them an even bigger name than before - especially among younger generations who are growing up idolizing players like Julian Edelman or Rob Gronkowski instead of former greats like Joe Montana or John Elway! This type of positive influence can go far beyond what happens on Sundays during football season – it can help shape our society's values today, making the New England Patriots organization so much more than just another professional sports club but an integral part of American culture.
culture.
Sports Fan Products
Retired Number
20 / Gino Cappelletti
40 / Mike Haynes
57 / Steve Nelson
73 / John Hannah
78 / Bruce Armstrong
79 / Jim Lee Hunt
89 / Bob Dee
*Blue is this team’s history