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New England Patriots Team History

The New England Patriots ‘Pats’ of Foxborough, Massachusetts were founded in 1960, one of the most successful teams of the National Football League’s history. They have had the second most Super Bowl appearances of all the NFL franchises. Formerly, the New England Patriots were based in Boston, Massachusetts as the Boston Patriots until 1971. They have run through six different stadiums: Nickerson Field from 1960 until 1962, Fenway Park from 1963 to 1986, briefly at the Alumni Stadium in 1969, Harvard stadium in 1970, Foxboro Stadium from 1971 until 2001 (Schaefer Stadium, Sullivan Stadium), and presently Gillett Stadium, since 2002. The New England Patriots have had three League championships, three Super Bowl Championships (2001 – XXXVI, 2003 –XXXVIII, 2004 –XXXIX) and 19 playoff appearances. The Patriots have 17 Hall of Famers and they are John Hannah, Nick Buoniconti, Gino Cappelletti, Bob Dee, Jim Lee Hunt, Steve Nelson, Vito “Babe” Parilli, Mike Haynes, Steve Grogan, Andre Tippett, Bruce Armstrong, Stanley Morgan, Ben Coates, Jim Nance, Sam Cunningham, Jon Morris, and Drew Bledsoe. The New England Patriots wear the colors red, white, new century silver, and nautical blue. Their mascot is Pat Patriot; the revolutionary minuteman previously wore a tricorner hat and Continental Army uniform. These days, he wears a New England Patriots uniform, his jersey marked by the #1.

Top New England Patriots NFL Hall of Famers

John Hannah – No. 73
John Allen “Hawg” Hannah was born April 4, 1951 in Canton, Georgia. John Hannah was the offensive guard of the New England Patriots from until 1973 until 1985. He was a true football hero, inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1991. Hannah was dubbed “The Best Offensive Lineman of All Time” in August of 1981 by Sports Illustrated. He played an offensive lineman for the University of Alabama, excelling in a variety of contact sports, including football. He was the fourth draft pick in the 1973 NFL draft by the New England Patriots. Although short by NFL standards, he made up for it in agility and pure speed. John Hannah was given the title of All-Pro 10 times and All-AFC 11 times. He played in 9 Pro Bowls. He is one of two people who spent his entire NFL career with the New England Patriots, and the very first Patriot to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Nick Buoniconti – No. 85
Born December 15, 1940 Nick Buonicoti is a formed middle linebacker of the New England Patriots. He began his professional football career in 1962, playing for the New England Patriots and finished his career in 1976 playing for the Miami Dolphins. Nick Buoniconti was captain of his college team, Notre Dame. He was drafted during the American Football League college draft of 1962 and later that year he was named rookie of the year. He was voted an American Football League All-star five separate times. During his professional football career, Buoniconti took night classes at Suffolk University and received his law degree in 1968. Buoniconti was inducted into the professional football Hall of Fame in 1992.

Jim Lee Hunt – No. 79
Jim Lee “Earthquake” Hunt was born October 5, 1938 in Atlanta, Texas and passed away November 22, 1975. Hunt played defensive tackle for the Prairie View A&M University and then for the American Football League’s Boston Patriots from 1960 until 1969, and then 1970 for the National Football League’s Boston Patriots. Hunt was a four-time All-star and one of twenty men who played the entirety of the ten year lifespan of the AFL. Hunt had 34.5 recorded sacks, 19 different quarterbacks sacked. HE was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1993, the “best pass rushing tackle in the AFL”.