Previously known as Years of prizes and recognition Eddie Wilson, AFL champion in 1965 (1962) Wilson, Marc AFC Champion in 1989 and 1990 (1980, 1983) Tom Yewcic, Super Bo 2x, 1961-1966 The Boston Patriots were the AFC Champion All-Decade Team in the 1960s (1996) Zolak, Scott (1992-1998). They played in four Super Bowls in 1972, 1975, 1977, and 1978 winning three times.
The Boston Patriots were a professional American football team based in Boston, Massachusetts. Formed in 1948 as an expansion team of the National Football League (NFL), they were originally named the Boston Bulldogs after being founded by the Bulldog Hotel Company. The team was also referred to as the New England Patriots for two years after their original name became the Washington Redskins. In 1964, they changed their name again to the Patriots after the NFL approved it over objections from many owners who felt that the name was too similar to that of the Baltimore Colts. The Patriots have won three total championships during their history: the first in 1953 and again in 1957, both against the Chicago Bears; and most recently in 2004, when they defeated the New York Giants 26-20 in Super Bowl XXXVIII. Their overall record is 70-57-1.
After two seasons as a temporary replacement for the Redskins, the Patriots officially replaced them as the new franchise in New England. During their time in New England, the Patriots have won more games than any other team in the league with 125.
Pro-Bowlers and All-Pros
| Player | Pos | Pro Bowl Years |
|---|---|---|
| Tom Brady | QB | 2001, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| Rob Gronkowski | TE | 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2017 |
| Nick Buoniconti | LB | 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967 |
| Matthew Slater | WR | 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020 |
But Brady's seventh ring, his first since leaving the Patriots, has surely additional personal worth. The following is a list of players who have won the most Super Bowls in NFL history, including Brady and a slew of 49ers and Steelers during their respective famous title streaks.
Only six former Clemson players have ever won both a national title and a Super Bowl. Andy Headen (Giants, Super Bowl XXI), Terry Kinard (Giants, Super Bowl XXI), Dan Benish (Washington, Super Bowl XXII), and K.D. Dunn (Chicago, Super Bowl XXX).
The 1987 Washington Redskins were the club with the most Clemson players who won a Super Bowl ring. Obed Ariri, center Jeff Bostic, defensive end Dan Benish, and tight end K.D. Dunn all contributed to the Redskins' 42-10 victory over John Elway and the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XXXII that day in San Diego.
Following Washington's four, three Clemson players were on the victorious teams of the 1981 San Francisco 49ers, the 1986 New York Giants, and the 2019 Kansas City Chiefs. Dwight Clark, Archie Reese, and Jim Stuckey were all members of the 1981 San Francisco 49ers, who won Super Bowl XVI.
Notability in American Football Name Class Year John Adams, 1944, Notre Dame offensive lineman and for Ken Adamson For th Jeff Alm '90, Notre Dame defensive tackle, and t Eddie Anderson '21, Notre Dame All-American and College F
All-American, College Football Hall of Fame fullback at Notre Dame as a part of the legendary "Four Horsemen," AFL player, Notre Dame coach, and NFL commissioner.
He was a four-time Pro Bowler who was elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2002. He began his football career at East Brady, Pennsylvania, a tiny town 55 miles northeast of Pittsburgh. In his senior year, he was named all-state and passed for 3,915 yards and 44 touchdowns. Also credited with rushing for 1,054 yards and 17 scores.
Brad Johnson was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the first round of the 1987 NFL Draft. He played nine seasons in the NFL for the Bucs and Atlanta Falcons, passing for over 20,000 yards during his career. His best season came in 1992 when he led the Atlanta Falcons to the playoffs as a rookie quarterback. That same season, he set a new NFL record by throwing for 5,084 yards - a mark that has never been broken.
After leaving the Falcons, Brad Johnson spent one season with the New York Jets before retiring. Throughout his career, he made the Pro Bowl every year he played in 2000, 1999, 1998, 1997, 1996, 1995, 1994, and 1993. He also won the Super Bowl with the Falcons in 1991 after being named MVP of that game.
Johnson finished his NFL career with 30,364 yards, 176 touchdowns, and a 92.7 rating. He is currently ranked number six on the NFL's all-time list of most passing yards.
| 2011 New England Patriots season | |
|---|---|
| Playoff finish | Won Divisional Playoffs (vs. Broncos) 45–10 Won AFC Championship (vs. Ravens) 23–20 Lost Super Bowl XLVI (vs. Giants) 17–21 |
| Pro Bowlers | Tom Brady, QB Wes Welker, WR Matthew Slater, ST Rob Gronkowski, TE Logan Mankins, G Brian Waters, G Andre Carter, DE Vince Wilfork, DT |
Past Patriots quarterbacks include Hall of Fame honorees Babe Parilli, Steve Grogan, and Drew Bledsoe. Butch Songin was the first starting quarterback for the Patriots when the team was founded in 1960. For the remaining two games of the season, he was replaced by Tom Greene. Songin has not been voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Parilli started nine seasons for the Patriots from 1946 to 1954, winning two NFL championships in 1947 and 1948. He was also named an All-Pro three times. The Patriots drafted him in the second round (20th overall) of the 1946 NFL Draft. He died in 1993 at the age of 77.
The first player taken in the draft who did not attend college, Parilli was a high school star in Pittsford, New York before joining the Patriots. He began his career as a tight end but was switched to quarterback because there were no other quarterbacks on the roster. He was praised for his work ethic and leadership skills during his time with the team.
He passed for 1,487 yards over 46 games (45 starts), with 24 touchdowns against 14 interceptions. His 12,312 passing yards are third all-time among Patriots players, while his 117 touchdowns rank fourth. He also ran for 772 yards and 10 scores during his time with the franchise.
On November 22, 1959, Billy Sullivan Jr., a Boston businessman with a strong sports promotion experience, obtained an American Football League franchise. In line with the team's New England background, a panel of Boston sportswriters chose the moniker "Patriots" in a name-the-team contest.
Sullivan had planned to call his new club the "Boston Americans", but when it became apparent that this was the name of the existing Washington Redskins NFL team, he changed the name to avoid legal issues. The Patriots started play in 1960 and have been very successful ever since. As of 2014, they hold the most total wins in the NFL with 288.
In 2001, owner James Orthwein decided to change the team name because of its negative connotations. This decision caused controversy among fans who felt like the name "patriot" was being taken away from them. In addition, some people believed that naming the team after "New England" was a sign that it was trying to copy the Pittsburgh Steelers; however, this claim is false. After much debate, the team name was changed back to the Patriots on August 27, 2001.
The Patriots original home stadium was known as Foxboro Stadium, but due to local opposition, they moved their games to Fenway Park in Boston in 1974. They remain there today along with many other MLB teams (such as the Red Sox).
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