New England Patriots

History

The Patriots were founded on November 16, 1959, when Boston businessman Billy Sullivan Jr. was awarded the eighth and final franchise in the American Football League (AFL). Originally called the Boston Patriots, the team changed its name to New England Patriots in 1971 when it relocated to Foxborough, Massachusetts.

For decades, the Patriots were largely irrelevant. Then came Bill Belichick and Tom Brady in 2000, and everything changed.

Super Bowl Championships

• Super Bowl XXXVI (2002) - Defeated Rams 20-17. The dynasty begins. Adam Vinatieri's game-winning kick.
• Super Bowl XXXVIII (2004) - Defeated Panthers 32-29. Another Vinatieri walk-off.
• Super Bowl XXXIX (2005) - Defeated Eagles 24-21. Three titles in four years.
• Super Bowl XLIX (2015) - Defeated Seahawks 28-24. Malcolm Butler's goal-line interception.
• Super Bowl LI (2017) - Defeated Falcons 34-28 OT. The greatest comeback in Super Bowl history. Down 28-3.
• Super Bowl LIII (2019) - Defeated Rams 13-3. Defense dominates. Brady's 6th ring.

Fun Facts

• 19 consecutive winning seasons from 2001-2019, the longest streak in NFL history
• 16-0 regular season in 2007 - The only team to go undefeated in a 16-game season (lost Super Bowl to Giants)
• Tom Brady played 20 seasons with the Patriots, winning 6 Super Bowls and 3 MVPs
• Bill Belichick coached the team for 24 seasons (2000-2023), the longest tenure with one team in NFL history
• "Do Your Job" became the team's mantra under Belichick - no individual bigger than the team
• Gillette Stadium in Foxborough has been home since 2002
• The Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers are tied for the most Super Bowl wins (6) in NFL history

The Dynasty Era

The Brady-Belichick partnership (2001-2019) is regarded as the greatest dynasty in professional sports history. Nine Super Bowl appearances, six championships, and a level of sustained excellence that may never be matched.

Brady left for Tampa Bay in 2020 and won another Super Bowl. Belichick departed in January 2024 after 24 seasons. The dynasty is over, but the legacy is permanent.