New England Patriots Timeline

(1959 - Present)

The New England Patriots are a professional American football team based in Foxborough, Massachusetts. Founded in 1959 as the Boston Patriots and a charter member of the American Football League, the franchise joined the NFL after the 1970 AFL-NFL merger. The team rose to national prominence in the 2000s under head coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady, winning six Super Bowl titles between 2002 and 2019, making them one of the most successful dynasties in NFL history. More Less

Go to: Timeline | Event List | Key Facts | Directory

Franchise Origins

Patriots founded as Boston Patriots in the AFL

Nov 16, 1959

Businessman Billy Sullivan was awarded the eighth and final franchise of the new American Football League, founding the Boston Patriots. The team became a charter member of the AFL, which began play in 1960 as a rival to the NFL.

Image source: New England Patriots

First AFL season played at Nickerson Field

Sep 9, 1960

The Patriots played their first regular-season game on September 9, 1960, losing to the Denver Broncos. The team bounced between venues including Nickerson Field, Fenway Park, Harvard Stadium, and Alumni Stadium during its early years.

Image source: 1960 Boston Patriots season

First AFL season played at Nickerson Field

AFL–NFL merger announced

Jun 8, 1966

The AFL and NFL agreed to merge, with the leagues combining into one organization by 1970. The Boston Patriots would join the NFL's new American Football Conference (AFC) East division.

Team renamed New England Patriots and moves to Foxborough

Mar 22, 1971

After moving to the new Schaefer Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, the franchise changed its name from Boston Patriots to New England Patriots to reflect a broader regional fan base.

Image source: Foxboro Stadium

First playoff appearance and division title

Dec 12, 1976

Led by quarterback Jim Plunkett's successor Steve Grogan and coach Chuck Fairbanks, the Patriots went 11-3 and won the AFC East for the first time, reaching the playoffs for the first time in franchise history.

Sullivan Stadium opens

Aug 1982

Foxboro Stadium, later named Sullivan Stadium after owner Billy Sullivan, served as the Patriots' home from its opening until the team moved to Gillette Stadium in 2002.

Robert Kraft purchases the Patriots

Jan 21, 1994

Paper and packaging magnate Robert Kraft bought the Patriots for a then-record $172 million, saving the team from a proposed move to St. Louis and beginning an era of stability and success.

Image source: Robert Kraft

Gillette Stadium opens in Foxborough

Sep 9, 2002

The privately funded $325 million Gillette Stadium replaced Foxboro Stadium as the Patriots' home, featuring modern amenities and the famous lighthouse and bridge entrance.

Image source: Gillette Stadium

Players and Records

John Hannah drafted

1973

The Patriots selected offensive lineman John Hannah fourth overall in the 1973 NFL Draft. Hannah became one of the greatest guards in NFL history, earning nine Pro Bowl selections and becoming the first Hall of Famer spent entirely with the Patriots.

Image source: John Hannah (American football)

Drew Bledsoe drafted first overall

Apr 25, 1993

Washington State quarterback Drew Bledsoe was selected with the first pick of the 1993 NFL Draft. He revitalized the franchise, setting numerous team passing records and leading the Patriots back to prominence.

Image source: Drew Bledsoe

Tom Brady drafted in the sixth round

Apr 15, 2000

Michigan quarterback Tom Brady was selected 199th overall in the 2000 NFL Draft, a pick that would become arguably the greatest value selection in league history.

Image source: Tom Brady

Record 21-game winning streak

Oct 5, 2003 - Oct 31, 2004

Spanning from October 2003 through October 2004, the Patriots set an NFL record with 21 consecutive victories, including playoff wins, surpassing the previous mark held by the 1970s Miami Dolphins.

Wes Welker sets reception records

Sep 2007 - 2012

Slot receiver Wes Welker became Tom Brady's favorite target, recording five 100-catch seasons with the Patriots and leading the NFL in receptions multiple times during his tenure from 2007 to 2012.

Image source: Wes Welker

Perfect 16-0 regular season

Sep 9, 2007 - Dec 29, 2007

With Tom Brady throwing an NFL-record 50 touchdown passes to Randy Moss, the Patriots became the first team since the 1972 Dolphins to complete an undefeated regular season, finishing 16-0.

Image source: 2007 New England Patriots season

Championships

First Super Bowl appearance against Chicago Bears

Jan 26, 1986

The Patriots won the AFC Championship behind Tony Eason and Craig James, but were overwhelmed 46-10 by the dominant Chicago Bears defense in Super Bowl XX at the Louisiana Superdome.

Image source: Super Bowl XX

Second Super Bowl appearance against Green Bay Packers

Jan 26, 1997

Parcells led the Patriots to their second Super Bowl, where they fell to Brett Favre and the Green Bay Packers 35-21 in New Orleans despite Curtis Martin's touchdown runs.

Image source: Super Bowl XXXI

First Super Bowl victory over St. Louis Rams

Feb 3, 2002

Second-year quarterback Tom Brady, starting after Drew Bledsoe's injury, led the underdog Patriots past the heavily favored 'Greatest Show on Turf' Rams 20-17 on Adam Vinatieri's last-second field goal, delivering New England's first championship.

Image source: Super Bowl XXXVI

Back-to-back titles with win over Carolina Panthers

Feb 1, 2004

Adam Vinatieri kicked another game-winning field goal with four seconds left as the Patriots beat the Panthers 32-29 in Houston, capturing their second Super Bowl in three seasons.

Image source: Super Bowl XXXVIII

Third Super Bowl win completes dynasty run

Feb 6, 2005

The Patriots defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 24-21 in Jacksonville, winning three Super Bowls in four years and cementing themselves as the NFL's newest dynasty.

Image source: Super Bowl XXXIX

Undefeated season ends in Super Bowl XLII upset loss

Feb 3, 2008

David Tyree's iconic helmet catch helped Eli Manning and the Giants stun the Patriots 17-14 in Glendale, Arizona, denying New England the first perfect 19-0 season in NFL history.

Image source: Super Bowl XLII

Fourth Super Bowl title over Seattle Seahawks

Feb 1, 2015

Malcolm Butler intercepted Russell Wilson at the goal line with seconds remaining, sealing a 28-24 victory over Seattle and giving the Patriots their first championship in a decade.

Image source: Super Bowl XLIX

Comeback win over Falcons in overtime

Feb 5, 2017

Trailing 28-3, Tom Brady engineered the greatest comeback in Super Bowl history as the Patriots rallied to beat Atlanta 34-28 in the first Super Bowl decided in overtime, earning Brady his fifth ring.

Image source: Super Bowl LI

Sixth championship with win over Los Angeles Rams

Feb 3, 2019

In the lowest-scoring Super Bowl ever, the Patriots' defense stifled the Rams in a 13-3 victory in Atlanta, tying the Pittsburgh Steelers with six Super Bowl titles and giving Brady his sixth ring.

Image source: Super Bowl LIII

Brady-Belichick Era

Bill Parcells hired as head coach

1993

Two-time Super Bowl-winning coach Bill Parcells took over the struggling Patriots, quickly turning them into contenders and drafting quarterback Drew Bledsoe first overall in 1993.

Image source: Bill Parcells

Bill Belichick named head coach

Jan 27, 2000

After a tumultuous stint with the Jets, Bill Belichick was introduced as Patriots head coach. He would go on to become one of the most successful coaches in NFL history.

Image source: Bill Belichick

Tom Brady signs with Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Mar 17, 2020

After 20 seasons and six championships in New England, Tom Brady left in free agency to join the Buccaneers, ending the most successful quarterback-team partnership in NFL history.

Recent Seasons

Deflategate scandal emerges

Jan 18, 2015

Following the AFC Championship Game win over Indianapolis, allegations arose that the Patriots had used underinflated footballs. Tom Brady was suspended four games amid a lengthy legal battle that reached federal court.

Image source: Deflategate

Key Facts

The New England Patriots were founded in 1959 as the Boston Patriots, one of the eight original teams of the American Football League (AFL).
The team joined the NFL in 1970 following the AFL-NFL merger and was renamed the New England Patriots after relocating to Foxborough, Massachusetts.
Head coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady led the Patriots to six Super Bowl victories (2001, 2003, 2004, 2014, 2016, and 2018 seasons).
The Patriots' 2007 season featured the second undefeated regular season in NFL history at 16-0, though they lost Super Bowl XLII to the New York Giants.
The team plays its home games at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, which opened in 2002, replacing the old Foxboro Stadium.

Source

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