As we planned to celebrate the Patriots 60th birthday this month, we found some discrepancies regarding which date should be used for the team's official founding. The Patriots 2019 media guide lists Nov. 16, 1959 as that date. But further documentation led to some questions.
The Patriots Hall of Fame presented by Raytheon has a letter on display signed by American Football League representative Lamar Hunt and the Boston franchise's ownership group representative William H. Sullivan, Jr., that is dated Nov. 18, 1959 and states that $25,000 has been received and deposited to the American Football League account and confirms that an AFL franchise has been awarded to Boston. Case closed, right? Not so fast.
Because the letter contradicted the media guide, we dived deeper into history. A peak at the Pro Football Hall of Fame's website revealed a third date – Nov. 22, 1959, which is also a date commonly used in some history books as the team's "birthday." With three different dates now in hand, we reached out to the Pro Football Hall of Fame to see why it listed Nov. 22 as the founding date. A Pro Football Hall representative sent us a document with the minutes from the AFL owners' meeting which began on Nov. 22, 1959 at the Hotel Nicollet in Minneapolis, Minn., and carried over into Nov. 23.
On Nov. 23, the AFL owners voted to admit Boston. Here is the section from those minutes regarding the vote:
"The Chairman then advised the meeting that an application for membership in the American Football League, accompanied by a certified check for $25,000 as required under the Constitution and By-Laws, has been filed by Mr. William H. Sullivan, Jr., who represents a group which is interested in bringing a major league football team to Boston, and that it would be appropriate at this time to act upon such application. After extended discussion, on motion duly made, seconded and unanimously carried, the representatives of the member clubs unanimously voted in favor of the admission of Boston to the American Football League and the granting of a franchise to the group represented by Mr. William H. Sullivan, Jr."
So now we had Nov. 16, Nov. 18, Nov. 22 and possibly Nov. 23? Wondering from where the Nov. 16 date emanated led us into The Hall archives to reference old media guides, which, in the early 1960s, included a section on the founding of the team. The date typically used was Nov. 22, 1959.
Inexplicably, the 1969-1971 media guides used Nov. 29, 1959 as the founding date – a fifth date that emerged out of nowhere. In 1972, the media guide listed Nov. 16, 1959, which seems to have survived the media guides from that point forward (we did not check every media guide between 1972 and 2019, but 1972 was the first that used Nov. 16 and that date was also listed in 2019).
We were not sure from where Nov 29 or Nov. 16 came. So we went back to our documentation.
We then called the Patriots legal department to discuss our dilemma, shared information regarding the documentation and asked for advice. That's how we settled on Nov. 22, 1959.
Legal advised that the meeting that took place on Nov. 22-23 would serve as the official board-of-directors' meeting and, even though the vote actually took place on Nov. 23, the official legal date of the meeting was Nov. 22. Since the board (the league representatives described in the minutes) voted at that meeting to accept the Boston franchise, Nov. 22, 1959 is the official and legal day of the team's founding.
The team, later named the Patriots, played its first game on Sept. 9, 1960 and won its first game on Nov. 17, 1960 – 28-24 over the New York Titans at The Polo Grounds. Including the postseason, the Patriots have won 546 games as of Nov. 20, 2019 – more than any of the original eight AFL Teams.
In honor of the Patriots turning 60, the Patriots Hall of Fame presented by Raytheon has compiled a list of the team's Top 60 moments.
60. Chuck Fairbanks hired – The Patriots had four different coaches in a five-year span from 1968-1972 while compiling a 19-51 record. The team hired successful University of Oklahoma Head Coach Chuck Fairbanks in 1973. He oversaw some of the club's best drafts and installed a new 3-4 defense. With a re-made roster, he had the Patriots in the NFL playoffs for the first time in 1976 and captured the Patriots first AFC East title in his final season in 1978. Bill Belichick has used elements of Fairbanks' 3-4 defense from his day in New England.
59. Doin' the Butt – There are many memorable images associated with the Patriots first Super Bowl win in 2001, but when Ty Law called for an "ownership dance" on the Boston City Hall celebration stage and danced with owner Robert Kraft, it left an indelible, albeit lighthearted, memory of that first championship parade.
58. 1985 Pats clinch a playoff berth – The Patriots led the Bengals, 27-23, with two minutes left in the 1985 regular season finale. And when Robert Weathers broke through the line and raced 42 yards for a game-clinching touchdown, the Patriots were headed back to the playoffs. Fans charged the field and tore down the goal post before carrying it down Route 1 and into a power line.
57. Brady to Welker for 99 in 2011 opener – The Patriots don't often win in Miami and they certainly don't win much there early in the season. They led, 31-17, when the defense stopped Miami on fourth-and-goal from the Patriots 1-yard line. One play later, Tom Brady connected with Wes Welker for a franchise record and NFL-record-tying 99-yard touchdown pass that put the game way with 5:44 left in the fourth quarter.
56. Hail Mary in LA – The Patriots trailed the Los Angeles Rams, 28-23, when Tony Eason took the snap from the Rams 25 with three seconds left in a Nov. 16, 1986 game at Anaheim Stadium. Eason lofted a Hail Mary to the end zone and wide receiver Irving Fryar snared the tipped pass for a game winning touchdown with no time left on the clock. The miracle play proved to be the difference as the Patriots edged the Jets by one game for their second ever AFC East title.
55. The 2013 Patriots rally to beat Saints in the final seconds – The Patriots trailed the Saints by four when they took over at their own 30 with 1:13 left and no timeouts. Tom Brady's 17-yard touchdown pass with five seconds left added to his comeback aura and gave the Patriots a 30-27 comeback win.
54. Belichick's intentional safety pays dividends in comeback win in Denver – The Patriots trailed the Broncos in Denver, 24-23, with 2:51 remaining in the game back on Nov. 3, 2003. Facing a fourth down from his own 1-yard line, Bill Belichick elected to take an intentional safety rather than punt from the back of the end zone. Deltha O'Neal than misplayed the ensuing free kick pinning Denver at its own 15-yard line. The intentional safety paid off when the Patriots defense forced a three-and-out, and Tom Brady hit David Givens for an 18-yard game-winning touchdown with 36 seconds left.
53. Ty Law gets inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in August of 2019 – This was significant not only for Ty Law, but also for the Patriots. Law became the first Super Bowl era Patriots player enshrined. He won't be the last.
52. Bruschi rips ball from Rhodes in 2004 playoffs – The Patriots led the Colts, 6-0, late in the first half of a Divisional Playoff game at Gillette. Colts QB Peyton Manning completed a short pass to running back Dominic Rhodes at the Patriots 39-yard line, but Tedy Bruschi latched on to Rhodes and ripped the ball from his hands for a turnover. "You looking for this?" Bruschi yelled as he walked off with the football. The Pats went on to a 20-3 win and a berth in the AFC Championship Game.
51. Mike Jones blocks John Hall field goal to win Tuna Bowl I – The highly anticipated Patriots-Jets matchup on Sept. 14, 1997 featured Bill Parcells' first return to Foxborough as the Jets head coach. Mike Jones spoiled the trip when he blocked a 29-yard game-winning field goal try with 16 seconds left in regulation. The Patriots went on to win, 27-24, in overtime.
50. Gilmore interception clinches sixth title – The Pats were clinging to a 10-3 lead with less than five minutes left in Super Bowl LIII when cornerback Stephon Gilmore intercepted Rams quarterback Jared Goff at the Patriots 4-yard line to essentially clinch the championship win.
49. Pats score two TDs in 30 seconds in comeback win over Cleveland (Dec. 8, 2013) – The Patriots trailed, 26-14, when Tom Brady connected with Julian Edelman for a 2-yard touchdown pass with 1:01 left in the game. The Patriots then recovered their first onside kick since 1995 and scored again 30 seconds later on a Brady-to-Danny Amendola pass with 31 seconds left for a miraculous 27-26 win.
48. Tedy Bruschi returns from a stroke to play in 2005 – Patriots linebacker Tedy Bruschi suffered a stroke on Feb. 15, 2005 – just nine days after winning Super Bowl XXXIX. While nobody would have blamed Bruschi if he permanently walked away from football at that point, he instead overcame the health scare and returned to the field for an Oct. 30, 2005 game vs. Buffalo at Gillette Stadium. It was a special moment for Bruschi, the team and the fans.
47. Pats beat Titans, 59-0, in October snow – It was a rare October 18 Foxborough snow storm in 2009, but it was the Titans that fell beneath an avalanche of touchdowns. Tom Brady threw five first-half touchdowns and six overall in a 59-0 win that remains the largest margin of victory in team history.
46. McGinest sacks Manning for 12-yard loss and Vanderjagt misses ensuing field goal – The Patriots led, 27-24, in the 2004 season opener at Gillette. Indy faced a third down at the Patriots 17-yard line when Willie McGinest sacked Peyton Manning for a 12-yard loss back to the 29. That's when Colts kicker Mike Vanderjagt came on to try a 48-yard, game-tying field goal. When the Patriots called a timeout to "ice" the kicker, Vanderjagt rubbed his fingers together toward the Patriots sideline as if to say, "I'm money." His field goal try sailed way right and the Patriots held on to win a game that eventually proved critical in beating out the Colts for the AFC's top playoff seed.
45. David Patten becomes first player in 25 years to run for, pass for and catch a TD pass – The 2-3 Patriots traveled to Indianapolis for an Oct. 21, 2001 matchup and Tom Brady's fourth career start. Wide receiver David Patten stole the show, however, when he ran 29 yards for a touchdown, caught a 91-yard TD pass and threw a 60-yard TD pass to become the first player since Walter Payton in 1976 to accomplish such a feat.
44. Snow fireworks break out at Gillette Stadium – A blizzard hammered New England in the hours before the Patriots hosted the Dolphins on Dec. 7, 2003. There was so much snow, the stadium could not be fully cleared in time for the game. Those fans that made it into the game created a surreal moment when, after Tedy Bruschi intercepted a pass for a touchdown, they started throwing snow into the air as if it was a choreographed celebration. The scene looked like white snow fireworks, and the Dolphins returned to their palm trees as 12-0 losers.
43. Andre Tippett elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame – The lifelong Patriot sat in an Arizona hotel lobby the day before Super Bowl XLII while the Hall of Fame announcements aired on television. When his name was called to be part of the 2008 Hall of Fame class, Tippett thrust his arms upward in celebration. It was an emotional moment.
42. 2001 AFC Championship Scoop and Score – The Patriots were 10-point underdogs in the 2001 AFC Championship Game in Pittsburgh, but Troy Brown returned a punt for a touchdown and then scooped up a blocked field goal, which he lateralled to Antwan Harris, who raced 49-yards for a touchdown as the Patriots advanced to Super Bowl XXXVI.
41. On to Cincinnati – The 2014 Patriots were blown out on Monday Night Football in Kansas City in Week 4 to fall to 2-2, which prompted ESPN's Trent Dilfer to infamously utter, "Let's face it, they're not good anymore." With blood in the water, Bill Belichick was berated with questions regarding the team's and QB Tom Brady's demise. He calmly answered almost every question by saying, "We're on to Cincinnati." The Patriots hammered the Bengals that week, finished 12-4 and won Super Bowl XLIX. Prognosticators have been trying to bury the Patriots since.
40. Brady to Brown OT in Miami – The Patriots had never won in Miami in either September or October. That changed in overtime on Oct. 19. 2003 when Tom Brady found Troy Brown for an 82-yard, game-winning touchdown for a 19-13 Patriots win.
39. 1996 comeback in the Meadowlands to clinch a bye – Troy Brown caught a ball on his back to convert a third down and Ben Coates crashed across the goal line with 1:23 left as the Patriots overcame a 22-0 deficit for a 23-22 win and a first round playoff bye that propelled them to Super Bowl XXXI.
38. Bill Parcells hired –The 1992 Patriots finished 2-14 and were 9-39 between 1990-1992. So owner James Orthwein tabbed two-time Super Bowl champion head coach Bill Parcells to reconstruct the team, which provided instant credibility. Armed with the first pick, he drafted Drew Bledsoe. The Patriots were back in the playoffs in his second season and went to a Super Bowl in his fourth and final season with the club.
37. Fill-in rookie kicker David Posey boots game winner to clinch Patriots first ever AFC East title in 1978 – A 21-yard field with eight seconds left gave the Patriots a 26-24 win over the Bills at Schaefer Stadium for the team's first-ever AFC East title.
36. Pats clinch first NFL Playoff berth in 1976 (only team to beat Oakland that year) – The 1976 Patriots may be best remembered for getting hosed in the 1976 playoffs on the Phantom Roughing the Passer call, but this 11-3 club was the first NFL playoff team in Patriots history and was the only team to beat the eventual Super Bowl champion Raiders that season.
35. Danny Amendola's terrific in the 2017 AFC Championship vs. Jacksonville – Amendola's numbers don't do him justice. He had 7 catches for 84 yards and two touchdowns, but his spectacular toe-tapping game-winner with 2:48 to go was one of his many clutch plays in the game.
34. Wide left – Cundiff miss sends Pats to Super Bowl – The Patriots led, 23-20, when the Ravens drove to the New England 14-yard line. Facing fourth-and-one with 15 seconds left in the game, Baltimore called on kicker Billy Cundiff to attempt a 32-yard, game-tying field goal. When his kick hooked badly to the left, the Patriots were Super Bowl bound.
33. Goal line stand in Indy on Nov. 30, 2003 – The Patriots had jumped out to a 17-0 lead, but led 38-34 when the Colts lined up for a first-and-goal play from the New England 2-yard line with 40 seconds left. After holding Edgerrin James to one yard on two carries and a third down incomplete pass, the Colts faced a fourth-and-goal situation from the 1. Indy went back to James, but Willie McGinest exploded off the edge to stop James for a loss and a Patriots win that helped them secure the AFC's No. 1 playoff seed.
32. The Andruzzi Brothers representing America at Foxboro Stadium on Sept. 23, 2001 – This was an emotional afternoon. It was the first game after the 9-11 terrorist attacks, and Patriots guard Joe Andruzzi's three brothers – all New York City firefighters – were on hand as honorary captains when the NFL resumed its schedule. It also felt appropriate that the New York Jets were in town that day.
31. Patriots overcome 24-0 halftime deficit to beat Peyton Manning's Broncos in overtime on Nov. 24, 2013 – The Pats turned it over three times in the first half, but Denver returned the favor with two second half turnovers. A muffed punt in OT set the Patriots up for the amazing 34-31 win that is the largest comeback win in Patriots regular season history.
30. Patriots finish 1994 with a win over the Bears to clinch the first playoff berth since 1986 – The Patriots finished their seven-game winning streak in dramatic fashion with a playoff-clinching win over the Bears to finish 10-6 and earn a 1994 Wildcard berth. It was the team's first playoff trip since 1986. Between the two playoff seasons, the Patriots were 36-75.
29. Drew Bledsoe OT TD to Kevin Turner on Nov. 13, 1994 – The Patriots trailed the Vikings 20-0 before a late first half field goal provided a semblance of hope. Then Drew Bledsoe put the team on his back in the second half and eventually connected with Kevin Turner for a game-winning, overtime TD pass for a 26-20 win that started a seven-game winning streak and led to the team's first playoff appearance in seven years. Bledsoe set NFL records for completions (45) and attempts (70) and wasn't sacked.
28. The Snow Plow – December 12, 1982. An awful, snowy day in Foxborough. The Pats and Dolphins were tied, 0-0, in the fourth quarter. As John Smith prepared to attempt a 33-yard field goal, Head Coach Ron Meyer sent Mark Henderson onto the field on his John Deere tractor to clear a spot for the field goal try. Smith nailed it and the Patriots won, 3-0. Soon after, such a plowing move was deemed illegal.
27. Drew Bledsoe comes off the bench to throw TD pass in 2001 AFC Championship – When Tom Brady limped off of Heinz Field in the 2001 AFC Championship Game, few knew what Drew Bledsoe would bring after a long injury-induced hiatus. All he did was complete his first three passes – all to David Patten – with the last resulting in a touchdown. The triumphant return prompted radio announcer Bob Trumpy to emphatically utter, "How 'bout that for coming off the bench!"
26. Otis Smith's 47-yard fumble return clinches 1996 AFC Championship – The Patriots were clinging to a 13-6 AFC Championship Game lead over the upset-minded Jacksonville Jaguars when Chris Slade forced a fumble that Otis Smith returned 47 yards for a late fourth-quarter touchdown that cemented a berth in Super Bowl XXXI.
25. Patriots win 1963 playoff game to reach AFL title game – Important as far as planting roots … the team's first ever playoff game and win, 26-8 over the Bills at War Memorial Stadium in Buffalo, sent the upstart Patriots to the AFL Championship Game and helped put the team on the New England map.
24. Kraft helps end 135-day lockout preventing a late start to the 2011 season – The signature image is Colts center Jeff Saturday hugging Patriots owner Robert Kraft, whose wife Myra was battling cancer. While his family was dealing with personal adversity, Kraft stepped in to lead the way in ending a lockout that threatened the 2011 season.
23. John Hannah becomes first Patriot elected to the Pro Football Hal of Fame in 1991 – A franchise that struggled off and on throughout its existence finally saw one of its own enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Guard John Hannah, who Sports Illustrated called the greatest offensive lineman of all time, was the first Patriots player inducted in Canton.
22. The Patriots get their own stadium in Foxborough and change their name – From 1960-1970, the Patriots were renters, playing home games at Boston University, Boston College, Harvard and Fenway Park. In 1971, they opened a $6.7 million stadium in Foxborough and changed their name from the Boston Patriots to New England. The Patriots finally had a home.
21. Patriots overcome two 14-point deficits to win 2014 Divisional Playoff over Baltimore – The Patriots trailed seemingly all afternoon against the Ravens, but some creative formations and some trickery helped them storm back from the two different 14-point deficits before eventually pulling out a win. The signature play was a double pass that featured wideout Julian Edelman completing a 51-yard TD pass to Danny Amendola.
20. Brady to Moss sets records and helps Pats to 16-0 regular season in 2007 – When Tom Brady lofted a 65-yard touchdown pass to Randy Moss, both players set single-season NFL records and the Patriots completed the only 16-0 regular season in league history. It was Brady's 50th TD pass of the season and Moss' 23rd TD reception.
19. Patriots announced as a team before Super Bowl XXXVI – A chilling moment. When Pat Summerall announced, "Choosing to be introduced as team, the American Football Conference Champion New England Patriots," an upset was already in the making. The Patriots, 14-point underdogs in Super Bowl XXXVI, went on to win, 20-17. Since then, every team at the Super Bowl has been announced a team. #changethegame
18. Rodney Harrison interception clinches back-to-back Super Bowls – The Patriots leader on the back end of the defense intercepted Eagles QB Donovan McNabb twice including once in the final minute to clinch the Patriots 24-21 victory over Philly in Super Bowl XXXIX back on Feb. 6, 2005.
17. Patriots set record for most consecutive wins in 2004 – The streak started with a 38-30 home win over the Titans in October, 2003. It went through Super Bowl XXXVIII and eventually ended on Halloween 2004 after an NFL record 21 consecutive victories. Don't hold your breath waiting for some team to break this record in a parity-filled NFL.
16. Patriots win epic 2018 AFC Championship at KC in OT – The 2018 Patriots lost five road games to non-playoff teams so the doubters were out in full force when New England visited Arrowhead Stadium. But when Rex Burkhead slammed across the goal line in overtime, the Patriots silenced their doubters (well, not really) on the way to an eventual Super Bowl LIII win.
15. Ty Law's three interceptions vs. Colts in 2003 AFC Championship – Peyton Manning and the stampeding Colts were left prancing home after Ty Law intercepted one of history's most prolific passers three times in a 24-14 AFC Championship win at Gillette.
14. Adam Vinatieri kick wins Super Bowl XXXVIII – Two years after kicking the Pats to their first World Championship, Vinatieri did it again with the pressure on, booting a 41-yarder in the waning second for a 32-29 win over the Carolina Panthers on Feb. 1, 2004.
13. Gillette Stadium opens with a banner ceremony on Sept. 9, 2002 – The team was on the verge of leaving town when Robert Kraft bought it in 1994, but the Patriots needed a new stadium to stay competitive. So the Krafts privately financed Gillette Stadium and then raised the Patriots first championship banner at its grand opening. That's just flat-out awesome
12. The Tuck Rule announcement – "After further review, the quarterback's arm was going forward, it is an incomplete pass." The Patriots fortunes changed quickly when referee Walt Coleman uttered those words. Still trailing by three in a 2001 Divisional Playoff game at Foxboro Stadium (the last game ever played there), the Patriots converted a fourth down, booted a 45-yard field goal through the snow and won in overtime. It took 25 years to exact some revenge for the Phantom Roughing the Passer call that cost the Patriots a 1976 playoff win over the eventual champion Raiders. This game evokes emotions.
11. Squish the Fish – Jan. 12, 1985 – 18 straight trips to the Orange Bowl and 18 straight losses. But not on this day. The Patriots forced six Miami Dolphins turnovers, broke the so-called jinx and won the 1985 AFC Championship Game, 31-14, to advance to their first Super Bowl (XX). We don't recall what happened two weeks later, but we remember that rainy day in South Florida.
10. Gronk's last catch sets up only TD of Super Bowl LIII – So many great Rob Gronkowski plays from which to choose, but what better than his final NFL catch to round out our top 10? A perfect throw and a fabulous catch at the 2-yard line to set up the only touchdown in the Patriots 13-3 Super Bowl LIII win on Feb. 3, 2019. It was exactly 18 years to the day of the team's first championship win over the Rams. Long live Gronk.
9. Ty Law's Super Bowl XXXVI pick-six – No one thought the Patriots could possibly upset the heavily favored St. Louis Rams, known as the Greatest Show on Turf. But when Ty Law intercepted Kurt Warner and raced 47 yards for a touchdown and a 7-3 lead, the tide turned. The Patriots defense proved greater that night while Tom Brady led a game-winning drive that Adam Vinatieri ended with a championship-winning kick as time expired. Thankfully, the Patriots didn't take a knee and settle for overtime.
8. Adam Vinatieri's 45-yard Snow Bowl kick on Jan. 19, 2002 - Late, great NFL historian Steve Sabol called Vinatieri's game-tying, 45-yarder off a snow-covered field the greatest kick in NFL history. The snow was still falling and had been for hours and throughout the Patriots Divisional Playoff game against the Raiders. But the line-drive kick tied the game at 13 to send it to OT where a Vinatieri 23-yarder sent the Patriots to the AFC Championship Game and an eventual world championship.
7. Tom Brady named starting QB for the "foreseeable future" – Back-to-back Brady? Yes. Bill Belichick had a choice. Make the so-called safe decision and return to the veteran, Drew Bledsoe, who helped resurrect the franchise but had been out injured since Week 3, or stick with the untested kid that had helped right the ship in 2001… Belichick chose to stick with Tom Brady and nine straight wins later, the Pats were champions. History shows this as one of the most important decisions in Patriots history.
6. With the 199th pick, the Patriots select Tom Brady, quarterback, Michigan – No one batted an eye at this pick in the sixth round of the 2000 NFL Draft. No one's closed one since as they watched Brady win six Super Bowls.
5. Bill Belichick hired in February of 2000 – After a trip to Super Bowl XXXI, the Patriots experienced three years of decline. Robert Kraft then traded a first round pick to bring Bill Belichick to New England. The Patriots won a Super Bowl in Belichick's second season and he has emerged as the greatest head coach in NFL history.
4. Robert Kraft officially buys the Patriots in February of 1994 to keep the team in New England – The Patriots were gone. St. Louis bound. Robert Kraft upped his ante and kept his hometown team home when he paid a then-record $172 million to buy the Patriots. The team sold almost 6,000 season tickets the day after the sale was final – a single day record. Six Super Bowl wins later, we are all grateful.
3. Patriots overcome 28-3 deficit to win Super Bowl LI – New England trailed by 25 points (28-3) with 2:12 left in the third quarter … a strip sack, the Julian Edelman catch, a pair of two-point conversions, first overtime in Super Bowl history. A 34-28 win. A fifth world championship. Feb. 5, 2017 is a day to remember.
2. Butler's interception on the goal line wins Super Bowl XLIX – Undrafted rookie free agent Malcolm Butler made the greatest play in Super Bowl history to secure a 28-24 championship win after Tom Brady completed 13-of-15 fourth quarter passes to overcome a 10-point deficit. The Feb. 1, 2015 win was the Patriots fourth Super Bowl title.
1. Vinatieri's 48-yard field goal wins team's first Super Bowl - The Patriots, after 42 years, finally reached the top of the mountain and dispelled the something-will-go-wrong mentality when Adam Vinatieri's kick split the uprights to secure a 20-17 Super Bowl XXXVI win on Feb. 3, 2002. The confetti has been falling ever since.
