| New England Patriots | |||||||||||||
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 Current season | |||||||||||||
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| General information | |||||||||||||
| Established | November 16, 1959; 66 years ago (November 16, 1959)[1] | ||||||||||||
| Stadium | Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts | ||||||||||||
| Headquartered | Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts | ||||||||||||
| Colors | Nautical blue, red, new century silver, white[2][3][4] | ||||||||||||
| Fight song | "I'm Shipping Up to Boston" | ||||||||||||
| Mascot | Pat Patriot | ||||||||||||
| Website | patriots | ||||||||||||
| Personnel | |||||||||||||
| Owners | Kraft Group Robert Kraft, Chairman | ||||||||||||
| CEO | Robert Kraft | ||||||||||||
| President | Jonathan Kraft | ||||||||||||
| General manager | Eliot Wolf | ||||||||||||
| Head coach | Mike Vrabel | ||||||||||||
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| League / conference affiliations | |||||||||||||
American Football League (1960–1969)
National Football League (1970–present)
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| Championships | |||||||||||||
| League championships: 6 | |||||||||||||
| Conference championships: 11 | |||||||||||||
| Division championships: 22 | |||||||||||||
| Playoff appearances (28) | |||||||||||||
| Owners | |||||||||||||
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TheNew England Patriots are a professionalAmerican football team based in theGreater Boston area. The Patriots compete in theNational Football League (NFL) as a member of theAmerican Football Conference (AFC)East division. The Patriots play home games atGillette Stadium inFoxborough, Massachusetts, which is 22 miles (35 km)[13][14] southwest ofBoston, Massachusetts. The franchise is owned byRobert Kraft, who purchased the team in 1994.[15][16] As of 2024, the Patriots are thesixth-most valuable sports team in the world[17] and have sold out every home game since 1994.[18]
Founded in 1959 as theBoston Patriots, the team was a charter member of theAmerican Football League (AFL) before joining the NFL in 1970 through theAFL–NFL merger. The Patriots played their home games at various stadiums throughout Boston, includingFenway Park from 1963 to 1969[19] until the franchise moved to Foxborough in 1971. As part of the move, the team changed its name to the New England Patriots. Home games were played atFoxboro Stadium until 2002 when the stadium was demolished alongside the opening of Gillette Stadium. The team began using Gillette Stadium for home games the same year.
Generally mediocre until coming under the ownership ofRobert Kraft, the Patriots experienced unexpected success in the2001 season under head coachBill Belichick and quarterbackTom Brady, which started a period of dominance which lasted until the 2019 season.[20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27] TheBrady–Belichick era, regarded as one of the greatest sportsdynasties, would see the Patriots claim nearly every majorSuper Bowl record.[28][29][30][31][26][32] The Patriots hold the records for mostSuper Bowl wins (6, tied with thePittsburgh Steelers), appearances (11), and losses (5, tied with theDenver Broncos). Other NFL records held by the franchise include the most wins in a 10-year period (126 from 2003 to 2012), the longestwinning streak of regular season and playoff games (21 from October 2003 to October 2004), the most consecutive winning seasons (19 from 2001 to 2019), the most consecutive conference championship appearances (8 from 2011 to 2018), the most consecutive division titles (11 from 2009 to 2019), the only undefeated 16-game regular season (2007), and the highest postseason winning percentage (.638).
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On November 16, 1959,Boston business executiveBilly Sullivan was awarded the eighth and final franchise of the developingAmerican Football League (AFL).[33] The following winter, locals were allowed to submit ideas for the Boston football team's official name.[34] The most popular choice – and the one that Sullivan selected – was the "Boston Patriots",[35][36] with "Patriots" referring to the colonists of theThirteen Colonies who rebelled againstBritish control during theAmerican Revolution and in July 1776declared the United States of America an independent nation, which heavily involved the then–colony of Massachusetts. Immediately thereafter, artist Phil Bissell ofThe Boston Globe developed the "Pat Patriot" logo.[37]
The Patriots never had a regular home stadium in the AFL; home games were played at various times atBoston University Field,Harvard Stadium,Fenway Park (shared with baseball'sBoston Red Sox), andBoston College'sAlumni Stadium. The1963 season saw the franchise's first playoff win over Buffalo to clinch the division. They subsequently lost theAFL championship game to theSan Diego Chargers51–10. They did not appear again in an AFL or NFLpost-season game for another 13 years.[38]
When the NFL and AFLmerged in 1970, the Patriots were placed in theAmerican Football Conference (AFC)East division, where they still play.[38] The following year, the Patriots moved to anew stadium inFoxborough, Massachusetts, their home for the next 30 years. They announced a new name, theBay State Patriots, after the state ofMassachusetts,[39] but the NFL rejected it; on March 22, 1971, the team said they would change its geographic name toNew England.[38]
During the 1970s, the Patriots had some success under head coachChuck Fairbanks, earning a berth in the playoffs in 1976 – as awild card team – and in 1978 – as AFC East champions. They lost in the first round both times.[40][41]
The next coach,Ron Meyer, led the team to the playoffs in the strike-shortened 1982 season.[42] That season, during a December 12, 1982,home game against the Miami Dolphins under icy conditions, the game remained scoreless until the fourth quarter when Meyer motioned to snowplow operator Mark Henderson to specifically clear a spot on the field for New England kickerJohn Smith so he could kick what proved to be the game-winning 33-yard field goal to give the Patriots a 3–0 win.[43] At the time, an emergency ground rule was put into play where the officials could call time-out and allow the ground crew to use a snowplow to clear the yard markers, but not plow often enough to keep the field clear. Dolphins head coachDon Shula, believing it to be against the league rules, pointed out that the league'sunfair act clause allowed the league to overturn it, and met with NFL commissionerPete Rozelle several days later to formally protest the game result. Although Rozelle agreed with Shula that the use of the plow gave the Patriots an unfair advantage, he said that he had never reversed the result of a game and was not going to start doing so for any reason, including cheating.[44] Henderson, a convict on work release, jokingly remarked, "What are they gonna do, throw me in jail?"[45][46]
The following year, the NFL banned the use of snowplows on the field during a game.[47] The Patriots organization has commemorated the game with an exhibit at the Hall at Patriot Place within Gillette Stadium, where the plow itself hangs from the ceiling.[48] Meyer never had a losing record but was fired in 1984 due to poor relationships with players and management.[49] He was replaced by Hall-of-Fame playerRaymond Berry, who in1985 led the team to its first AFC Championship and a berth inSuper Bowl XX, which they lost to theChicago Bears 46–10.[50] Berry left the team after a disappointing 1989 season,[51] and his replacementRod Rust only lasted one season, 1990, during which the Patriots went 1–15.[52]
During the late 1980s and early 1990s, the Patriots changed ownership several times, being purchased from the Sullivan family first byVictor Kiam in 1988, who sold the team toJames Orthwein in 1992. Though Orthwein's period as owner was short and controversial, he did oversee major changes to the team, first with the hiring of formerNew York Giants coachBill Parcells in 1993. Orthwein and his marketing team then defied Patriots fans' overwhelming preference and commissioned the NFL to develop a new visual identity and logo, and changed their primary colors from the traditional red, white and blue to blue and silver for the team uniforms.[53] Orthwein intended to move the team to his nativeSt. Louis (where it would have been renamed as theSt. Louis Stallions), but instead sold the team in 1994 for $175 million to Boston paper magnateRobert Kraft, who had bought the Patriots' then-home,Foxboro Stadium, out of bankruptcy in 1988.[18]
Continuing on as head coach under Kraft's ownership, Parcells would bring the Patriots to two playoff appearances, includingSuper Bowl XXXI (after the1996 season), which they lost to theGreen Bay Packers by a score of 35–21.[54]Pete Carroll, Parcells's successor, would also take the team to the playoffs twice in 1997 and 1998 before being dismissed as head coach after the 1999 season.[55][56][57]
In 2000, the Patriots hired head coachBill Belichick, who had served as defensive coordinator under Parcells including during Super Bowl XXXI.[58] Their new home field,Gillette Stadium, opened in2002 to replace the aging Foxboro Stadium. Long-time startingquarterbackDrew Bledsoe, who was the franchise's star throughout the 1990s, went down with a sheared blood vessel in his chest in a week two match-up in2001 against the rivalNew York Jets. Backup quarterbackTom Brady, drafted by the Patriots in the sixth round of the2000 NFL draft, became the starting quarterback. Brady's successful play led to Bledsoe never getting his job back as a starter, and would serve as the franchise's starting quarterback for the next 18 years.[59] Under Belichick and Brady, the Patriots became one of the most consistently dominant teams in the NFL, with many describing the team as a "dynasty". Within the first few seasons of the 21st century, the team won three Super Bowls in four seasons (2001,2003, and2004), over theSt. Louis Rams,Carolina Panthers, andPhiladelphia Eagles, respectively.[60] In the 2005 season, the Patriots went 10–6 and won the division.[61] The Patriots defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars in the Wild Card Round before falling to the Denver Broncos in the Divisional Round.[62][63] In the 2006 season, the Patriots went 12–4 and won the division.[64] After defeating the Jets and the Chargers, the Patriots lost in the AFC Championship to the Colts.[65][66][67]
The Patriots finished the2007 regular season with a perfect 16–0 record, becoming only the fourth team in league history to go undefeated in the regular season, and the only one since the league expanded itsregular season schedule to 16 games.[68] After advancing toSuper Bowl XLII, the team's fourth Super Bowl in seven years, the Patriots were upset by theGiants to end their bid for a 19–0 season.[69] With the loss, the Patriots ended the year at 18–1, becoming only one of three teams to go 18–1 along with the1984 San Francisco 49ers and the1985 Chicago Bears. However, both the Bears and 49ers lost their only game during the regular season, and both would win their respective Super Bowl.[70] During the season, the Patriots were disciplined by the league for videotapingNew York Jets' defensive coaches' signals from anunauthorized location during a September 9, 2007, game.[71][72] Videotaping opposing coaches is not illegal in the NFLde jure, but there are designated areas allowed by the league to do such taping. After an investigation, the NFL fined Patriots head coachBill Belichick $500,000 for his role in the incident, fined the Patriots $250,000, and docked the team their original first-round selection in the2008 NFL draft, which would have been the 31st pick of the draft.[73]
In the first game of the 2008 season, Brady suffered a torn ACL against the Chiefs.[74] Matt Cassell stepped in for the rest of the season and the team finished 11–5 but missed the postseason.[75] In the 2009 season, Brady returned from his injury and led the team to a 10–6 record and a division title.[76] The team's season ended in the Wild Card Round with a 33–14 loss to the Baltimore Ravens.[77] The Patriots went 14–2 and won the division in the 2010 season but were one-and-done in the Divisional Round of the playoffs against the New York Jets in a 28–21 loss.[78][79]
The Patriots returned to the Super Bowlin 2011 but lost again to theGiants, 21–17.[80] In the 2012 season, the Patriots won the AFC East with a 12–4 record.[81] The team defeated the Houston Texans in the Divisional Round before falling to the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC Championship.[82][83] In the 2013 season, the Patriots went 12–4 and won the division.[84] The Patriots defeated the Indianapolis Colts 43–22 in the Divisional Round before falling to the Denver Broncos 26–16 in the AFC Championship.[85][86]
In 2014, the Patriots won the division with a 12–4 record.[87] The Patriots defeated the Baltimore Ravens in the Divisional Round and the Indianapolis Colts in the AFC Championship.[88][89] During the2015 AFC Championship Game against theIndianapolis Colts, allegations arose that the Patriots were using under-inflated footballs. It was even suggested that the Patriots' staff themselves deliberately deflated the footballs to give their team an unfair advantage during the playoffs. The event was known asDeflategate.[90][91] A lengthy investigation and heated debate commenced shortly afterwards, with a full report being published in May 2015.[92][93] The Wells Report found that balls provided by the Patriots, who were the home team, indeed had less pressure on average than the balls provided by the Colts. Also notable was the findings of some suggestions of communication betweenTom Brady and two Patriots locker room attendants, indicating Brady was likely "generally aware" of the situation and that the Patriots staff intentionally deflated the footballs.[93] A later study by theAmerican Enterprise Institute called the evidence and methodology of the Wells report "deeply flawed" and "unreliable".[94]
In the aftermath of the incident, the NFL suspended Brady without pay for the first four games of the2015 season, fined the Patriots $1 million, and forced them to forfeit their 2016 first round draft pick and 2017 fourth round draft pick.[95] Brady appealed his suspension, which was eventually vacated by theUnited States District Court for the Southern District of New York, only for theUnited States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit to reinstate it a year later for the2016 NFL season.[96] Brady eventually agreed to serve the suspension in 2016, but led the Patriots to winSuper Bowl LI in spite of it.[97][98]
Despite the controversy, the Patriots reached a record-tying eighth Super Bowl, where they defeated the defending championSeattle Seahawks by a score of 28–24 to winSuper Bowl XLIX for their fourth title.[99] After Seattle had driven the ball to New England's 1-yard line with under a minute to go, New England rookie cornerbackMalcolm Butler made a criticalinterception on Seattle's final offensive play that helped to seal the victory.[100] In the 2015 season, the Patriots won the division with a 12–4 record.[101] The team defeated the Kansas City Chiefs in the Divisional Round before falling to the Denver Broncos in the AFC Championship.[102][103]
New England became the first team to reach nine Super Bowls in the2016–17 playoffs and faced theAtlanta Falcons inSuper Bowl LI.[104] Trailing 28–3 midway through the third quarter, the Patriots scored 25 unanswered points to tie the game in the final seconds of regulation. In the firstovertime in Super Bowl history, the Patriots won the coin toss and scored a touchdown to claim their fifth Super Bowl victory.[105] The Patriots extended their record to ten Super Bowl appearances in the2017–18 playoffs but lost to thePhiladelphia Eagles inSuper Bowl LII.[106] The Patriots returned to the championship game for a third consecutive season inSuper Bowl LIII, where they defeated theLos Angeles Rams 13–3 to win their sixth Super Bowl, tying them with thePittsburgh Steelers for mostSuper Bowl victories in NFL history.[107][108]
After a disappointing 2019 season, in which the team lost in the first round of the playoffs to the Tennessee Titans,[109][110] and in which the long-time Brady–Belichick partnership was strained due to Brady wanting to have more input in organizational decisions,[111] Brady departed the Patriots after 20 seasons for free agency, signing with theTampa Bay Buccaneers.[112] To replace him, the Patriots signed veteran quarterbackCam Newton.[113] In 2020, the team missed the playoffs with their first losing record, 7–9, in two decades.[114] The team draftedMac Jones in the first round of the2021 NFL draft, and released Newton after naming Jones the starting quarterback before the team's first game of the 2021 season.[115] Jones led the team to their first playoff berth without Brady since 1998, but they would lose 47–17 to the division rival Buffalo Bills in the Wild Card round.[116] The Patriots finished with an 8–9 record and missed the postseason in the 2022 season.[117]
After a gloomy 4–13 record in the 2023 season, the Patriots mutually parted ways with Bill Belichick after 24 years on January 11, 2024, notably due to a series of poor decisions in his final years as general manager regarding offensive personnel, which culminated in a sharp decline of offensive production after the 2021 season.[118] One day later, the Patriots promoted the pair ofJerod Mayo, then-current linebackers coach and former player, andEliot Wolf, director of scouting and son of Pro Football Hall of Fame general managerRon Wolf, as first-time head coach and first-timede facto general manager to each succeed Belichick's duties.[119] Mac Jones, after three seasons as the incumbent starter, was traded in the 2024 offseason due to his insufficient play.[120] The post-Belichick era was kickstarted during the2024 NFL draft, with the franchise selectingDrake Maye third overall, the highest draft pick held by the Patriots in 31 years up to that point.[121] On the day of the final game of the 2024 season, the Patriots fired Jerod Mayo after repeating the prior year's 4–13 record in his debut campaign as a head coach, due to multiple factors, including limited experience, which was eventually described by Robert Kraft as being put in an "untenable situation".[122][123]Mike Vrabel was named head coach after Mayo's dismissal.[124]
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The Patriots original helmet logo was a simpletricorne hat, used only for the 1960 season. From 1961 to 1992, the Patriots used a logo of aRevolutionary War minuteman hiking a football. The Patriotswordmark logo during this time consisted of a western-style font. The minuteman logo became known as the "Pat Patriot" logo, which later became the name of the team's mascot.[125][126]
In 1979, the Patriots worked withNFL Properties to design a new, streamlined logo, to replace the complex Pat Patriot logo. The new logo featured the blue and white profile of a minuteman in a tricorne hat set against a flag showing three red stripes separated by two white stripes. Team owner Billy Sullivan decided to put the new logo up to a vote against Pat Patriot with the fans at the September 23 home game against theSan Diego Chargers, using asound level meter to judge the crowd's reaction. The new logo was decidedly rejected by the crowd in favor of Pat, and the concept was shelved.[127]
In 1993, a new logo was unveiled involving the gray face of a minuteman wearing a red, white and royal blue hat that begins as a tricorne and transitions into a flowing banner-like design. It became popularly known as the "Flying Elvis" due to many observing its resemblance to the profile of a youngElvis Presley. A new script logo was introduced as well in tandem with the "Flying Elvis", utilizing a cursive font.[126]
In 2000, the blue color used on the tricorne of the "Flying Elvis" as well as the outline of the cursive wordmark was switched from royal blue to nautical blue to coincide with the uniform change in the new millennium.[126]
On July 3, 2013, the Patriots unveiled a new wordmark to accompany the "Flying Elvis", which replaced the script of their previous cursive typeface with modernized block letters (colored in blue or white depending on the background), and modified the "Flying Elvis" to be underneath instead of flowing up-top. While appearing everywhere else, it was not applied on the uniforms until the2015 season due to NFL uniform policies.[128]
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The Patriots' primary uniforms remained largely unchanged from the franchises' inaugural season until 1993. The Patriots originally wore red jerseys with white block numbering at home, and white jerseys with red block numbering on the road. Both uniforms used white pants and white helmets, first with the hat logo over the player's number, then with the "Pat Patriot" logo starting in 1961.[129] A blue stripe was added to the two red helmet stripes in 1964.[129] The numbers on both the home and away jerseys gained a blue outline in 1973.[129] In 1979, the Patriots began the first of many sporadic runs of wearing red pants with the white jerseys.[129] The red pants were dropped in 1981, but returned in 1984. After being dropped again in 1988, they were used again from 1990 to 1992.[129]
The Patriots underwent a complete identity overhaul before the 1993 season, starting with the introduction of the aforementioned "Flying Elvis" logo. The new uniforms consisted of a royal blue home jersey and a white away jersey.[126] The helmet was silver with the Flying Elvis logo and no additional striping.[126] Both uniforms used silver pants, originally with stripes designed to look like those flowing from the Flying Elvis, but these were changed to simple red and blue stripes after one season. When they debuted, both the home and away jerseys used red block numbers with a blue and white outline, but after one season the home uniforms switched to the now-familiar white with a red outline.[130]
In 1995, the Patriots switched the block numbers to a more modern rounded number font with a dropshadow.[130] The Patriots were one of the first adopters of custom numbers, a trend that would grow drastically over the next 20 years.[130]
In 2000, the Patriots then became one of the few teams at the time to drop the rounded numbers and switch back to block numbers. The shade of blue was switched for the first time in the franchises' history, from royal to nautical blue. The jerseys once again had the number on the shoulders while the logo moved back to the sleeves. "New Century" silver stripes were also added to the home jersey, with nautical blue stripes appearing on the away jersey. The Patriots, unsatisfied with the 1990s white-on-silver road look, also took the opportunity to introduce blue pants to be worn with the white jersey, offering a better contrast. To better match the blue pants, the number on the white jersey was switched from red to blue.[131]
Though the Patriots had generally worn silver pants with the blue jerseys, and navy pants with the white jerseys, they did wear an all-blue set during the 2002 season. On two consecutive home games that season, the Patriots wore blue tops with their road blue pants and white socks; they lost both games (Week 6 vs. the Packers, and Week 8 vs. the Broncos). The team would not wear an all-blue set again until the introduction of theColor Rush uniforms in 2016.[131]
Throughout the2011 season, the Patriots wore dark patches with white lettering on their uniforms with the initials 'MHK' in honor ofMyra Kraft, the late long-time spouse of owner Robert Kraft.[132]
In 2020, the Patriots made some changes to their uniform. The all-blue "Color Rush" design became the primary home uniform, complete with a tweaked nameplate font and numbers, and blue/red/white socks. A corresponding white uniform was also unveiled, also paired with the blue pants. Both uniforms featured truncated shoulder striping as a nod to the "Pat Patriot" uniforms. Coincidentally, the arrival of new jerseys occurred with the departure of long-time quarterback,Tom Brady, from the Patriots. Brady was in New England exactly between the last uniform change in 2000, and left before the 2020 uniform change in 2019.[133][134][135]
The Patriots brought back the silver pants to pair with the current uniforms in a 2022 Week 7 home game onMonday Night Football against theChicago Bears. Unlike the previous silver pants the team wore from 2000 to 2019, this design featured thicker red stripes, matching the same width as the middle blue stripe.[136] During a 2024 Week 7 road game atWembley Stadium against theJacksonville Jaguars, the Patriots paired their silver pants with the road white uniform for the first time since 1999. After their largest victory of the 2024 season in a Week 10 road game dressed again in the silver pants with the road white uniform, the Patriots quietly promoted the silver pants to full-time use with both the home and road uniform for the rest of the season.[137]
For the Patriots' 2025 Week 6 road game at theNew Orleans Saints, they reintroduced white pants to the primary uniform rotation, wearing them with the road white uniform. The Patriots last wore an all-white kit in 2017. Like with the silver pants, the white pants feature red-blue-red side stripes.[138]
In 1994, the Patriots wore the "Pat Patriot" helmets and plain white striped pants from two seasons earlier as alternates as part of the NFL's 75th-anniversary celebration. In 2002, NFL teams were allowed to add a permanent third jersey to be worn in a maximum of two games. The Patriots reintroduced a red jersey as their alternate, complemented with the old-style "Pat Patriot" helmet.[126] In 2003, the Patriots changed their alternate to a silver jersey with blue pants. For this uniform, the "Flying Elvis" helmet was used.[126] The uniform was identical to the white jersey with any areas of white replaced by silver. These uniforms were dropped after 2007. No alternate uniform was used in 2008. In 2009, the red alternate was reintroduced, again accompanied by the "Pat Patriot" helmet. An alternate white road jersey was also worn with the older helmet for one game, using red numbers, in tribute to the 50th anniversary of the AFL. The red alternate gained a blue outline around the numbers in 2010 and this was worn through 2012. The Patriots temporarily retired their alternate red uniforms in 2013, thanks to a new NFL rule outlawing throwback alternate helmets, and restricting teams to one helmet shell only.[139] However, after the NFL reinstated the use of alternate helmets in 2022, the Patriots brought back the throwback red uniforms.[140]
In 2016, the Patriots took part in the NFL's Color Rush program, wearing monochrome navy uniforms on September 22 against theHouston Texans.[141] The uniform tops were patterned after the 1980s Pat Patriot-era uniforms, while the pants featured thick white stripes with red accents. They have worn them a total of four times since 2016. In 2017, an all-white Color Rush uniform was introduced and used for the Patriots' Thursday night road game against theTampa Bay Buccaneers.[142]
In 2025, the Patriots unveiled a "Rivalries" uniform that would be worn at home against each of their AFC East opponents over a three-year period. Dubbed the "Nor'easter", the design featured a Storm Blue base with white and navy shoulder stripes, italicized white numbers with navy drop shadows, and a new "NE" patch on the sleeves. Six red stars along the neckline represent each of New England's six states. The uniform is worn with white pants and helmets, which featured a silver-trimmed "Flying Elvis" decal without red accents.[143]
Since 2002, the Patriots' home stadium has beenGillette Stadium, located 22 miles outsideBoston inFoxborough, Massachusetts.[144] A $350 million facility privately financed byRobert Kraft, it houses the team's practice facilities, administrative offices, and its owning entityThe Kraft Group, as well as the Kraft-ownedMajor League Soccer team, theNew England Revolution.[145] The field's natural grass was replaced with aFieldTurf surface during the 2006 season.[146] The Patriots installed a new video board, the largest in the United States, in 2023.[147] Gillette Stadium has hosted more postseason games than any other venue exceptCandlestick Park's 27. From 2001 to 2019, the Patriots often played home playoff games. The Patriots had a 19–4 playoff record in this stadium after the2019 NFL season, .[148][149] Beginning in 2007, the area around the stadium was developed into a $375 million "lifestyle and entertainment center" calledPatriot Place; among its largest structures is a multi-floor restaurant and bar calledCBS Scene.[150]
From 1971—the team's second year in the NFL after the AFL–NFL merger—to 2002, the Patriots played in the privately fundedFoxboro Stadium. The final game in this stadium was the2001 AFC Divisional Playoff game which was a 16–13 overtime win over the visitingOakland Raiders, known for the raging snowstorm and the "tuck rule" call.[145] During the team's days in theAmerican Football League and its first year in the NFL, the Boston Patriots were hosted by a number of fields in or around Boston.[145]
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| Stadium | Location | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Boston University Field | Boston, Massachusetts | 1960–1962 |
| Fenway Park | 1963–1968 | |
| Alumni Stadium | Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts | 1969 |
| Harvard Stadium | Allston, Massachusetts | 1970 |
| Foxboro Stadium | Foxborough, Massachusetts | 1971–2001 |
| Gillette Stadium | 2002–present |
From 1976 to 2002, the team held training camp atBryant College inSmithfield, Rhode Island. From 1960 to 1961, then from 1969 to 1975, the Patriots held training camp atUniversity of Massachusetts Amherst. Between 1962 and 1968, the Patriots held training camp atPhillips Academy inAndover, Massachusetts.[151]
In 2017, the Patriots purchased twoBoeing 767-300ERs for use as team planes, with one serving as the backup, which were ready in time for the2017 NFL season. This made them the first team in league history to own their own planes.[152] At the time it was getting more difficult for professional sports teams to book private charter flights, with eight teams being dropped that season, as major commercial airlines were instead focusing on more profitable scheduled flights.[153] The two jet airliners, N366AA and N39367, were previously operated byAmerican Airlines from 1991 to 2016. The planes are known affectionately as "AirKrafts" after team ownerRobert Kraft.[154] Kraft lent one of the planes to transport students to theMarch for Our Lives demonstration inWashington, D.C. in 2018.[155]
In 2020, the New England Patriots signed an agreement withEastern Airlines to handle the operations of their planes. In July 2023, the Patriots filed a lawsuit against Eastern Airlines over an alleged breach of contract.[156] Since February 2024, the planes are operated byOmni Air International.[157]
In terms of number of games played, the Patriots have competed most against other teams in theAFC East division and developed rivalries with theBuffalo Bills,[158]Miami Dolphins,[159] andNew York Jets.[160] These teams were all a part of the AFC East division since the AFL–NFL merger, as well as the former AFL Eastern division. Outside their division, the Pariots have arivalry with the Indianapolis Colts, who were members of the AFC East from 1970 to 2001, theBaltimore Ravens,[161] and thePittsburgh Steelers. Outside of the AFC, the Patriots also had arivalry with the New York Giants.[162]
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Under head coach Bill Belichick, the Patriots employed specific on-field and off-field strategies. On the field, the Patriots typically used an "Erhardt–Perkins" offense and a "Fairbanks–Bullough"3–4 defense, referred to commonly as a two-gap 3–4 defensive system. Under Erhardt's, Perkin's and Bullough's stints as coordinators and head coaches across the league after developing the scheme in collaboration with head coach Chuck Fairbanks, the systems developed in New England in the 1970s would begin to see historic use. Influence spread, especially under their coaching tree inBill Parcells' schemes as head coach of theNew York Giants in the mid-to-late 1980s, after serving as a linebacker coach for the Patriots in 1980. Parcells would come back to New England as head coach in 1993 and re-install the system used in the 1970s and 1980s, re-uniting with Ray Perkins as WR coach. Parcells own coaching tree would use the scheme created in New England as well, especially Belichick, once he was named as head coach after years of being an assistant to Parcells with the New York Giants, the Patriots, and theNew York Jets.[163]
During Belichick's tenure, the philosophy in making personnel decisions and in game planning focused on the "team" concept,[164] stressing preparation, strong work ethic, versatility,[165] and lack of individual ego.[166]
The team culture under Belichick, dubbed the "Patriot Way", included:
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The New England Patriots have won sixSuper Bowls, theleague championship of theNFL. The franchise is tied for the most all-time with thePittsburgh Steelers. The team repeated as champions between the2003 and2004 NFL seasons, they are only among eight NFL franchises to accomplish the feat. Between2001 and2004, the Patriots became the second team in NFL history to win three Super Bowls in four years (2001,2003, and 2004).[174]
| Year | Coach | Super Bowl | Location | Opponent | Score | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Bill Belichick | XXXVI | Louisiana Superdome (New Orleans) | St. Louis Rams | 20–17 | 11–5 |
| 2003 | XXXVIII | Reliant Stadium (Houston) | Carolina Panthers | 32–29 | 14–2 | |
| 2004 | XXXIX | Alltel Stadium (Jacksonville) | Philadelphia Eagles | 24–21 | 14–2 | |
| 2014 | XLIX | University of Phoenix Stadium (Glendale) | Seattle Seahawks | 28–24 | 12–4 | |
| 2016 | LI | NRG Stadium (Houston) | Atlanta Falcons | 34–28 (OT) | 14–2 | |
| 2018 | LIII | Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta) | Los Angeles Rams | 13–3 | 11–5 | |
| Total Super Bowls won: | 6 | |||||
The Patriots have won elevenAFC Championships, the record for the most conference championships all-time in the NFL.[1]
| Year | Coach | Location | Opponent | Score | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Raymond Berry | Miami Orange Bowl (Miami) | Miami Dolphins | 31–14 | 11–5 |
| 1996 | Bill Parcells | Foxboro Stadium (Foxborough) | Jacksonville Jaguars | 20–6 | 11–5 |
| 2001 | Bill Belichick | Heinz Field (Pittsburgh) | Pittsburgh Steelers | 24–17 | 11–5 |
| 2003 | Gillette Stadium (Foxborough) | Indianapolis Colts | 23–20 | 14–2 | |
| 2004 | Heinz Field (Pittsburgh) | Pittsburgh Steelers | 41–27 | 14–2 | |
| 2007 | Gillette Stadium (Foxborough) | San Diego Chargers | 21–12 | 16–0 | |
| 2011 | Baltimore Ravens | 23–20 | 13–3 | ||
| 2014 | Indianapolis Colts | 45–7 | 12–4 | ||
| 2016 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 36–17 | 14–2 | ||
| 2017 | Jacksonville Jaguars | 24–20 | 13–3 | ||
| 2018 | Arrowhead Stadium (Kansas City) | Kansas City Chiefs | 37–31 (OT) | 11–5 | |
| Total AFC Championships won: | 11 | ||||
The Patriots have won 22 Division Championships, which is second place for the most all-time behind thePittsburgh Steelers andDallas Cowboys, who are tied in first with 24. One of these divisional titles was won in theAFL in theAFL East (1963), the rest were won in theAFC East of theNFL.[1]
This is a partial list of the Patriots' last five completed seasons.
Note: The finish, wins, losses, and ties columns list regular season results and exclude any postseason play.
| Super Bowl champions | Conference champions | Division champions | Wild Card berth |
As of January 7, 2024[update]
| Season | Team | League | Conference | Division | Regular season | Postseason results | Awards | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Finish | Wins | Losses | Ties | |||||||
| 2020 | 2020 | NFL | AFC | East | 3rd | 7 | 9 | 0 | — | — |
| 2021 | 2021 | NFL | AFC | East | 2nd | 10 | 7 | 0 | LostWild Card Playoffs (Bills) 47–17 | — |
| 2022 | 2022 | NFL | AFC | East | 3rd | 8 | 9 | 0 | — | — |
| 2023 | 2023 | NFL | AFC | East | 4th | 4 | 13 | 0 | — | — |
| 2024 | 2024 | NFL | AFC | East | 4th | 4 | 13 | 0 | — | — |
| Reference:[175] | ||||||||||
| All-time Patriots leaders | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Leader | Name | Record number | Tenure |
| Passing[176] | Tom Brady | 74,571 passing yards | 2000–2019 |
| Rushing[177] | Sam Cunningham | 5,453 rushing yards | 1973–1982 |
| Receiving[178] | Stanley Morgan | 10,352 receiving yards | 1977–1989 |
| Scoring[179] | Stephen Gostkowski | 1,775 points | 2006–2019 |
| Sacks[180] | Andre Tippett | 100.0 sacks | 1982–1993 |
| Interceptions[180] | Raymond Clayborn | 36 interceptions | 1977–1989 |
| Ty Law | 1995–2004 | ||
| Coaching wins[181] | Bill Belichick | 266 wins | 2000–2023 |
Patriots have received league honorific awards from theAssociated Press, except for theNFL'sSuper Bowl MVP and thePro Football Writers of America's Executive of the Year. Seasons in which theAFL counterparts of the awards were won (1960–1969) are labeled.[182]
Bold indicates those elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
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| Quarterbacks(QB) Running backs(RB) Wide receivers(WR) Tight ends(TE) | Offensive linemen(OL) | Linebackers(LB)
Defensive backs(DB)
Special teams(ST) | Practice squad
Reserve |
ThePro Football Hall of Fame has inducted six players who made their primary contribution to professional football while with the Patriots. The Patriots' total number of Pro Football Hall of Famers is 12 (11 players and 1 coach).[183]
Notes:
| New England Patriots in the Pro Football Hall of Fame | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Players | ||||
| No. | Name | Inducted | Position(s) | Tenure |
| 85 | Buoniconti, NickNick Buoniconti | 2001 | LB | 1962–1968 |
| 73 | Hannah, JohnJohn Hannah | 1991 | G | 1973–1985 |
| 40 | Haynes, MikeMike Haynes | 1997 | CB | 1976–1982 |
| 24 | Law, TyTy Law | 2019 | CB | 1995–2004 |
| 28 | Martin, CurtisCurtis Martin | 2012 | RB | 1995–1997 |
| 66 | McMichael, SteveSteve McMichael | 2024 | DT | 1980 |
| 81 | Moss, RandyRandy Moss | 2018 | WR | 2007–2010 |
| 24 | Revis, DarrelleDarrelle Revis | 2023 | CB | 2014 |
| 55 | Seau, JuniorJunior Seau | 2015 | LB | 2006–2009 |
| 93 | Seymour, RichardRichard Seymour | 2022 | DE | 2001–2008 |
| 56 | Tippett, AndreAndre Tippett | 2008 | LB | 1982–1993 |
| Coaches and Contributors | ||||
| Name | Inducted | Position(s) | Tenure | |
| Parcells, BillBill Parcells | 2013 | Head coach | 1993–1996 | |
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| Elected to thePro Football Hall of Fame |
| New England Patriots retired numbers | ||||
| No. | Player | Position | Tenure | Retired |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | Tom Brady | QB | 2000–2019 | June 12, 2024 |
| 20 | Gino Cappelletti | FL/K | 1960–1970 | 1971 |
| 40 | Mike Haynes | CB | 1976–1982 | 1996 |
| 57 | Steve Nelson | LB | 1974–1987 | July 11, 1988 |
| 73 | John Hannah | G | 1973–1985 | 1990 |
| 78 | Bruce Armstrong | T | 1987–2000 | September 30, 2001 |
| 79 | Jim Lee Hunt | DT | 1960–1970 | 1971 |
| 89 | Bob Dee | DE | 1960–1967 | 1968 |
Reference[184]
The Patriots Hall of Fame features 31 former players and four contributors as a part of the franchise's own hall of fame, founded to independently commemorate significant members of the organization within the club's history. It is referred to by the team as "the franchise's highest individual honor". It was established in 1991, withJohn Hannah being the inaugural member.[185]
The physical Patriots Hall of Fame building opened in 2008 outside of the stadium atPatriot Place, presented byRTX. Featuring a vast collection of game-worn gear, game-used equipment, memorabilia, trophies, in addition to multiple exhibits using audio and video technology, it is periodically renovated and updated yearly. It is described as a "modern, interactive museum".[186]
A committee of media and staff selected 11 players for enshrinement between 1991 and 2001, before a six-year span of no selections. In 2007, in advance of the grand opening of the physical Patriots Hall of Fame in 2008, the club introduced a new nomination committee to select three candidates, with the winner of an internet fan vote being enshrined in the hall of fame.[187] In order to be eligible, players and head coaches must be retired for at least four years. Beginning in 2011, and meeting every four-to-five years, a senior selection committee has the option of voting a player who has been retired for at least 25 seasons into the hall of fame, alongside the traditional inductee.[188]
Starting in 2009, long-time "contributors", which can range from roles such as assistant coaches and broadcasters, have been periodically inducted into the Patriots Hall of Fame directly by ownerRobert Kraft. Former team owner and founderBilly Sullivan was posthumously inducted in March 2009, before the Patriots' 50th season, as the first contributor inducted.[189][190]
| Elected to thePro Football Hall of Fame |
| Patriots Hall of Fame | ||||
| No. | Name | Position | Years with club | Inducted |
| 65 | Houston Antwine~† | DL | 1961–1971 | 2015 |
| 78 | Bruce Armstrong | T | 1987–2000 | 2001 |
| 11 | Drew Bledsoe | QB | 1993–2001 | 2011 |
| 12 | Tom Brady | QB | 2000–2019 | 2024[a] |
| 80 | Troy Brown | WR KR/PR Coach | 1993–2007 2020–2024 | 2012 |
| 54 | Tedy Bruschi | LB | 1996–2008 | 2013 |
| 85 | Nick Buoniconti | LB | 1962–1968 | 1992 |
| 20 | Gino Cappelletti | FL/K Broadcaster | 1960–1970 1972–1978, 1988–2012 | 1992 |
| 26 | Raymond Clayborn | CB | 1977–1989 | 2017 |
| 87 | Ben Coates | TE | 1991–1999 | 2008 |
| 39 | Sam Cunningham | RB | 1973–1982 | 2010 |
| 89 | Bob Dee† | DL | 1960–1967 | 1993 |
| 11 | Julian Edelman | WR | 2009–2020 | 2025 |
| 33 | Kevin Faulk | RB | 1999–2011 | 2016 |
| 70 | Leon Gray~† | T | 1973–1978 | 2019 |
| 14 | Steve Grogan | QB | 1975–1990 | 1995 |
| 73 | John Hannah | G | 1973–1985 | 1991 |
| 37 | Rodney Harrison | S | 2003–2008 | 2019 |
| 40 | Mike Haynes | CB | 1976–1982 | 1994 |
| 79 | Jim Lee Hunt† | DT | 1960–1971 | 1993 |
| 24 | Ty Law | CB | 1995–2004 | 2014 |
| 72 | Matt Light | T | 2001–2011 | 2018 |
| 55 | Willie McGinest | LB/DE | 1994–2005 | 2015 |
| 86 | Stanley Morgan | WR | 1977–1989 | 2007 |
| 56 | Jon Morris~ | C | 1964–1974 | 2011 |
| 35 | Jim Nance† | FB | 1965–1971 | 2009 |
| 57 | Steve Nelson | LB | 1974–1987 | 1993 |
| 15 | Vito "Babe" Parilli | QB | 1961–1967 | 1993 |
| — | Bill Parcells* | Linebackers Coach Head Coach | 1980 1993–1996 | 2025 |
| — | Gil Santos* | Broadcaster | 1972–1979 1991–2012 | 2013 |
| — | Dante Scarnecchia* | Assistant Coach | 1982–1988 1991–2013 2016–2019 | 2023 |
| 93 | Richard Seymour | DL | 2001–2008 | 2020[b] |
| — | Tracy Sormanti*† | Cheerleading Director | 1983–2020 | 2021[c] |
| — | Billy Sullivan*† | Founder/Owner | 1960–1988 | 2009 |
| 56 | Andre Tippett | LB Executive Director of Community Affairs | 1982–1993 2007–present | 1999 |
| 50 | Mike Vrabel | LB Head coach | 2001–2008 2025–present | 2023 |
| 75 | Vince Wilfork | DL | 2004–2014 | 2022 |
| Reference:[191] | ||||
Notes:
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Patriots were named to theAFL All-Time Team (1960–1969), as well anyNFL all-decade team after theAFL–NFL merger in 1970 (andNFL 75th and100th Anniversary All-Time Teams, selected in 1994 and 2019, respectively).[192] Only those who spent time with New England during the respective decades are listed for all-decade team selections.
Bold indicates those elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
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Two Patriots have been namedPro Bowl MVP:Vito "Babe" Parilli in 1966 (AFL) andTy Law,1998's co-MVP.
Three Patriots coaches have participated in the Pro Bowl as conference coaches:Mike Holovak in 1963 and 1966 (AFL),Chuck Fairbanks in1978, andBill Belichick in2006 and2010.
Patriots players named to the Pro Bowl (or theAFL All-Star game before 1970):[193]
These Patriots have been namedAP first-teamAll-Pro (orAll-AFL before 1970):[193]
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The Patriots have had four owners since becoming a franchise, the first being Massachusetts nativeBilly Sullivan from 1959 to 1988. During Sullivan's28 seasons of owning the club, the Patriots tallied 14 winning records, made six playoff appearances, played in the 1963 AFL Championship Game and represented the AFC inSuper Bowl XX. However, he was also notoriously cheap, and would cause friction with some his high-profile players who were seeking to be respected and paid more, causing someone such as future Pro Football Hall of FamerMike Haynes to seek an owner who was team first.[194]
After his bankruptcy, Sullivan sold the team toRemington Products ownerVictor Kiam in 1988.[194] The sale did not includeFoxboro Stadium, which Sullivan lost in a bankruptcy sale to paper magnateRobert Kraft, and Kiam lost money on the deal. In 1990,Lisa Olson, aBoston Herald reporter, sued Kiam and the Patriots whenZeke Mowatt allegedly exposed himself and made lewd comments to her in the team change room. The incident stirred debate over female reporters in the locker room. Kiam became the center of the controversy when he came to the defense of the players' actions.[195]
In his later career, Kiam's business interests moved on from the Patriots, so he sold them in 1992 toSt. Louis businessmanJames Orthwein. During his ownership, Orthwein hiredBill Parcells as head coach and oversaw the drafting of first-overall draft pick quarterbackDrew Bledsoe, who helped to return the moribund franchise to respectability. He planned to relocate the Patriots franchise to St. Louis, renaming the team theSt. Louis Stallions. However, those plans were derailed when Boston paper magnateRobert Kraft, owner ofFoxboro Stadium, refused to accept a buyout of the lease. Kraft used his ownership of the stadium to stage ahostile takeover, offering to pay $175 million for the Patriots franchise knowing that Orthwein no longer wanted the team if he could not move it to St. Louis. Although futureSt. Louis/Los Angeles Rams ownerStan Kroenke offered to buy the team for $200 million and move it to St. Louis, Orthwein would have been saddled with all moving expenses. He also would have been responsible for any legal expenses as well, and Kraft had already made it clear that he would go to court to enforce the lease. With no other choice, Orthwein accepted Kraft's bid on January 21, 1994.[196]
Kraft had been a life-long fan (he was a season ticket holder since 1971) before he purchased the team and intended to support them much more than all of the previous owners did, making multiple moves that have turned New England into an admirable franchise since. The Patriots under Kraft have been the NFL's most successful franchise since 1994. Since then, the Patriots have appeared in ten Super Bowls, have won six, and had numerous league records established by the franchise.[197][198]
In September 2025,Robert Kraft agreed to sell minority stakes in the franchise: 5 percent to billionaire investorDean Metropoulos and 3 percent to private equity firmSixth Street. The deal, which still requires approval by NFL owners, values the team at around $9 billion. The Kraft family will retain more than 90 percent ownership.[199][200][201][202]
| Name | Tenure | Record | Titles | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W | L | T | |||
| Billy Sullivan | 1960–1987 | 193 | 202 | 9 | |
| Victor Kiam | 1988–1991 | 21 | 43 | 0 | |
| James Orthwein | 1992–1993 | 7 | 25 | 0 | |
| Robert Kraft | 1994–present | 324 | 176 | 0 | 6 |
The Patriots have had 16 head coaches throughout their history as a franchise. On January 12, 2025, the Patriots hiredMike Vrabel as their 16th head coach in franchise history, he is the second coach in the club's history to have played for the team (2001–2008).[203][204]
Bill Belichick had the longest tenure as head coach (23 seasons) with the Patriots, and coached the team from2000 to2023. He has been widely considered one of the greatest coaches of all time, and was named a member of theNFL 100th All-Time Anniversary Team, due to his numerous accomplishments with the Patriots.[205] He specifically led the Patriots to 17AFC East division titles, 13 appearances in theAFC Championship Game, and nine Super Bowl appearances, with a record six wins.[206]
Belichick was the NFL's longest-tenured head coach at the time of his departure, as well as the first all-time inplayoff coaching wins with 31 and third inregular season coaching wins in the NFL with 297.[207] He is one of only three head coaches who have won six NFL titles.[208] He was named theNFL Coach of the Year for the2003,2007, and2010 seasons.[209]
Belichick was acquired in a "trade" with the rivalNew York Jets.[210] Belichick did not want to be underBill Parcells' authority there in 2000, with uncertainty of his role once their owner,Leon Hess, died. The initial promise was that Belichick would've been granted extreme authority over all of the Jets executive decisions, but when Hess died Parcells overruled the stipulation with loopholes, so he would remain in control as general manager, leading to Belichick's infamous resignation in 2000. Parcells, a two winning Super Bowl champion coach with theNew York Giants (also was an assistant with the Patriots in the early 1980s), had joined New England's staff for the 1993 season to help resurrect the franchise from its dark early 1990s days but had conflicted interests with owner Robert Kraft.[211] In his last year with the Patriots in 1996, Parcells brought in his assistant head coach from his Giants days, Belichick, after being dismissed from coaching five seasons with theCleveland Browns. Here, Kraft would plant the seeds of a bond between him and Belichick, as Belichick would often mediate issues between Kraft and Parcells. Although Belichick left in 1997 to once again be Parcells assistant in their Jets regime, cold feet about his long-term role there brought him back after negotiating with Kraft, even though he was still under contract with the Jets.[212] The Patriots had technically "tampered" in communicating with Belichick. For compensation, the Patriots gave the Jets their first round pick in the2000 NFL draft, where even without their first round pick, the Patriots would coincidentally draftTom Brady in the sixth round, widely regarded as the greatest quarterback of all time and the NFL's greatest draft steal.[213]
While Belichick led the team to nine of their elevenSuper Bowl appearances, winning six of them, before him the Patriots saw some championship game appearances. Holovak,Raymond Berry and Parcells all led the Patriots to league championship games, with only one coach failing to reach the Super Bowl. Five Patriots head coaches, Holovak,Chuck Fairbanks, Berry, Parcells, and Belichick, have been namedCoach of the Year by at least one major news organization. The first head coach in franchise history wasLou Saban, who coached them to a 7–12–0 record in the1960 season.[214]
| Name | Tenure | Record | Titles | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W | L | T | |||
| Lou Saban | 1960–1961 | 7 | 12 | 0 | |
| Mike Holovak | 1961–1968 | 52 | 49 | 9 | |
| Clive Rush | 1969–1970 | 5 | 16 | 0 | |
| John Mazur | 1971–1972 | 9 | 21 | 0 | |
| Phil Bengtson* | 1972 | 1 | 4 | 0 | |
| Chuck Fairbanks | 1973–1978 | 46 | 39 | 0 | |
| Ron Erhardt | 1979–1981 | 21 | 28 | 0 | |
| Ron Meyer | 1982–1984 | 18 | 15 | 0 | |
| Raymond Berry | 1984–1989 | 48 | 39 | 0 | |
| Rod Rust | 1990 | 1 | 15 | 0 | |
| Dick MacPherson | 1991–1992 | 8 | 24 | 0 | |
| Bill Parcells | 1993–1996 | 32 | 32 | 0 | |
| Pete Carroll | 1997–1999 | 27 | 21 | 0 | |
| Bill Belichick | 2000–2023 | 266 | 121 | 0 | 6 |
| Jerod Mayo | 2024 | 4 | 13 | 0 | |
| Mike Vrabel | 2025–present | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
Note:
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The Patriots' professional cheerleading squad is theNew England Patriots Cheerleaders which represents the team in theNFL.[215] Notable alumni of the cheerleading squad include wrestlerCarmella[216] and modelCamille Kostek.[217] Long-time cheerleading director Tracy Sormanti, who was the cheer director since 1994 and had been involved with the organization since 1983, died after a three-year battle withmultiple myeloma in 2020.[218] She was inducted into the Patriots Hall of Fame in 2021 as a contributor.[219]
The Patriots' officialmascot since 1995 has beenPat Patriot, arevolutionaryminuteman wearing a Patriots home jersey based on the original logo of the same name.[220]
The Patriots also employ a corps known as the End Zone Militia, a group of American Revolutionary War reenactors founded in 1996 by Geoff Campbell, a reenactor for the9th Massachusetts Regiment (26th Continental Regiment).[221] Consisting of about 30 men and women, they dress 20 for each home game and split themselves into two groups of 10 lining the back of either end zone. When the Patriots score – whether it be atouchdown,field goal,point-after-touchdown orsafety – the militia behind the opposite end zone fire a volley ofblanks fromflintlock muskets. Per an interview with theLoren & Wally Show on WROR 105.7 FM in and around the time ofSuper Bowl XLIX, said shots use double the load ofblack powder than a regular historical reenactor does, specifically 200 grains, in order to be heard throughout the stadium. ESPN writerJosh Pahigian named this one of the top ten celebrations in the league in 2007.[222]
The team draws much of its fanbase from theNew England region of the United States, as well as from the Canadian province ofQuebec[223][224][225] and much ofAtlantic Canada.[226]
The Patriots' flagship radio station isWBZ-FM (98.5 FM, otherwise known as "The Sports Hub"),[227] owned byBeasley Broadcast Group.[228] The larger radio network is called theNew England Patriots Radio Network, whose 37 affiliate stations span seven states.[227]Gil Santos andGino Cappelletti were the longtime announcing team until their retirement following the conclusion of the 2012 NFL season.[229] Santos was replaced byBob Socci.[227] Former Patriots QBScott Zolak joined the radio team in the 2011 season as a sideline analyst, and in 2013, he replaced Cappelletti as color commentator.[227]
Any preseason games not on national television are shown onCBS'sO&OWBZ-TV, who also airs the bulk of Patriots regular-season games by virtue of CBS having the rights to most AFC games; CBS also has a presence at the nearbyPatriot Place with the "CBS Scene" bar and restaurant. During the regular season whenever the Patriots host an NFC team, the games are aired onFox affiliateWFXT-TV, andNBC Sunday Night Football games are carried by BostonNBC stationWBTS-CD.[227] Preseason games were broadcast onABC affiliateWCVB-TV from 1995 until the change to WBZ in 2009 (WCVB continues to simulcast ESPN'sMonday Night Football games featuring the Patriots).[227]Don Criqui wasplay-by-play announcer for the 1995–2012 seasons, withRandy Cross as acolor commentator and Mike Lynch as asideline reporter.[227] Lynch was replaced by WBZ reporterSteve Burton in 2009.[227]
Exactly what do colors Nautical Blue and New Century Silver look like? Find out Saturday evening, May 27, right here on Patriots.com. We'll show you exactly what the new uniforms look like after they are unveiled at the WBCN River Rave concert at Foxboro stadium.
Poor Boston fans. After years of being the Evil Empire, they watched their Golden Boy move to Tampa and bring all that success with him.
The beginning of the 2023 NFL season marked the completion of the most dramatic Gillette Stadium improvements since its opening in 2002.
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