New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) runs with wide receiver Deion Branch (84), running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis (42), and wide receiver Tiquan Underwood (10). Mark Humphrey/AP/Press Association Images
Super Bowl XLVI
Super Bowl XLVI: Let's meet the New England Patriots
The countdown continues. Steven O’Rourke continues his build up to Super Bowl XLVI with a look at the history of the Pats
Professional football arrived in New England when the Boston Patriots were awarded the eighth and final franchise in the newly-formed American Football League in November 1959.
The team struggled in the early years, only appearing in one Championship game between 1960 and 1984, a 51-10 loss to the San Diego Chargers in 1963.
When the AFL and NFL merged in 1970, the Patriots were moved to the AFC East division and used the merger as an opportunity to find a permanent home for the first time.
The relocation to Foxborough also brought about a change of name to the New England Patriots but it would be 15 years before the franchise experienced NFL success.
In 1985, the Pats recovered from a 2-3 start to win the AFC Championship for the first time. However, their fairytale season came to an abrupt end when they lost 46-10 to the Chicago Bears in Super Bowl XX, the 36-point gap the second widest in Super Bowl history.
In 1994 Robert Kraft purchased the Patriots for a reported $175 million and immediately promised two Super Bowl titles within 10 years.
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It seemed unlikely, especially as the team won only one AFC Championship in his first six years as owner. That victory came in 1996 before losing 35-21 to the Green Bay Packers in Super Bowl XXXI.
The most important day in Patriot history came on January 27, 2000 when Bill Belichick – a former DB coach with New England, was hired as head coach.
Belichick’s move was a controversial one as, just a few weeks before, he was appointed and resigned as head coach of the New York Jets on the same day.
The 2000 draft also proved to be momentous when the Patriots selected Michigan quarterback Tom Brady 199th overall in the sixth round. To put that in perspective, some of the QBs picked ahead of Brady include Giovanni Carmazzi, Chris Redman and Marc Bulger.
Nope, me neither.
What followed was the most successful coaching/quarterback combination in NFL history with 124 regular season wins, 16 playoff victories and five Super Bowl appearances, all NFL records.
The Patriots earned wins in Super Bowl XXXVI (20-17 over the Rams), XXXVIII (32-29 over the Panthers) and XXXIX (24-21 over the Eagles).
Since 2004 however, the Patriots have won just two AFC Championships both of which resulted in Super Bowl appearances against the New York Giants.
The G-Men were victorious in 2007 and we’ll have to wait a few more days to see if history repeats itself.
New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft walks on the field during practice. Pic: Mark Humphrey/AP/Press Association Images
Rivalries
New York Jets: As a relatively new franchise, it’s difficult for the Pats to have any longstanding rivalries but their series against the Jets dates back to 1960. It escalated in the 1990s when former head coach Bill Parcells and the Patriots coaching staff left for the Jets and was reinvigorated when Bill Belichick moved the other way.
The Patriots hold a narrow 53-52-1 lead in the series.
Indianapolis Colts: An even more modern rivalry, the Colts and Patriots were consistently the two best teams in the AFC during the 2000s with New England leading the series 46-29.
Players
The Patriots have just 17 players in the Pro Football Hall of Fame as well as the team’s original owner Billy O’Sullivan. Among the players currently in Canton are John Hannah (the greatest offensive line man of all time according to Sports Illustrated), Andre Tippett and Drew Bledsoe – the only QB in NFL history to have four seasons of 600 pass attempts.
Fans
Outside of New England, Patriots fans come in two flavours; those that wear a home Tom Brady jersey and those that wear an away one. Patriots fans are also likely to cheer for the LA Lakers (lately switching to Miami Heat) and whatever Manchester team happens to be winning the Premier League.
Celebrity fans include Gisele Bündchen, Marky Mark Wahlberg and Matt Damon.
Steven O’Rourke is the offensive co-ordinator of Tullamore PhoenixAmerican Football Club, winners of the IAFL DV8s national title in 2010 and 2011. Tullamore are always recruiting new players so, if you’d like to play football and not just read about it, Steven would love to hear from you.
Super Bowl XLVI: Let's meet the New England Patriots
A brief history
Professional football arrived in New England when the Boston Patriots were awarded the eighth and final franchise in the newly-formed American Football League in November 1959.
The team struggled in the early years, only appearing in one Championship game between 1960 and 1984, a 51-10 loss to the San Diego Chargers in 1963.
When the AFL and NFL merged in 1970, the Patriots were moved to the AFC East division and used the merger as an opportunity to find a permanent home for the first time.
The relocation to Foxborough also brought about a change of name to the New England Patriots but it would be 15 years before the franchise experienced NFL success.
In 1985, the Pats recovered from a 2-3 start to win the AFC Championship for the first time. However, their fairytale season came to an abrupt end when they lost 46-10 to the Chicago Bears in Super Bowl XX, the 36-point gap the second widest in Super Bowl history.
In 1994 Robert Kraft purchased the Patriots for a reported $175 million and immediately promised two Super Bowl titles within 10 years.
It seemed unlikely, especially as the team won only one AFC Championship in his first six years as owner. That victory came in 1996 before losing 35-21 to the Green Bay Packers in Super Bowl XXXI.
The most important day in Patriot history came on January 27, 2000 when Bill Belichick – a former DB coach with New England, was hired as head coach.
The 2000 draft also proved to be momentous when the Patriots selected Michigan quarterback Tom Brady 199th overall in the sixth round. To put that in perspective, some of the QBs picked ahead of Brady include Giovanni Carmazzi, Chris Redman and Marc Bulger.
Nope, me neither.
What followed was the most successful coaching/quarterback combination in NFL history with 124 regular season wins, 16 playoff victories and five Super Bowl appearances, all NFL records.
The Patriots earned wins in Super Bowl XXXVI (20-17 over the Rams), XXXVIII (32-29 over the Panthers) and XXXIX (24-21 over the Eagles).
Since 2004 however, the Patriots have won just two AFC Championships both of which resulted in Super Bowl appearances against the New York Giants.
The G-Men were victorious in 2007 and we’ll have to wait a few more days to see if history repeats itself.
New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft walks on the field during practice. Pic: Mark Humphrey/AP/Press Association Images
Rivalries
New York Jets: As a relatively new franchise, it’s difficult for the Pats to have any longstanding rivalries but their series against the Jets dates back to 1960. It escalated in the 1990s when former head coach Bill Parcells and the Patriots coaching staff left for the Jets and was reinvigorated when Bill Belichick moved the other way.
The Patriots hold a narrow 53-52-1 lead in the series.
Indianapolis Colts: An even more modern rivalry, the Colts and Patriots were consistently the two best teams in the AFC during the 2000s with New England leading the series 46-29.
Players
The Patriots have just 17 players in the Pro Football Hall of Fame as well as the team’s original owner Billy O’Sullivan. Among the players currently in Canton are John Hannah (the greatest offensive line man of all time according to Sports Illustrated), Andre Tippett and Drew Bledsoe – the only QB in NFL history to have four seasons of 600 pass attempts.
Fans
Steven O’Rourke is the offensive co-ordinator of Tullamore PhoenixAmerican Football Club, winners of the IAFL DV8s national title in 2010 and 2011. Tullamore are always recruiting new players so, if you’d like to play football and not just read about it, Steven would love to hear from you.
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