The then Boston Patriots joined the AFL in 1959 and embarked on a journey that still is great to follow. Many precedents were set and broken by the Patriots. One of the most notable, is that in 1960, the Patriots became the first team to issue public stock. More Yankee ingenuity at work there, no doubt. Also, an interesting thing occurred in 1963, the Patriots move from Harvard Stadium and begin playing their games in
Fenway Park. Renevations to Foxboro Stadium were quite common through the years. The field was orignially constructed in 1970. The next year, the Boston Patriots were renamed the New England Patriots, also, Schaefer Stadium was opened and Gino Capelletti kicked the first 3 points scored there in a 20-14 win over the New York Giants. 60,423 fans were in attendance that day. In 1991, grass was put back into Foxboro Stadium. The last game ever played at Foxboro Stadium was a snowy onslaught in which the Patriots beat the Oakland Raiders in overtime, 16-13. However, the Patriots moved into Gillette Stadium to start the 2003 season. In 1970, many things of importance happened to the Patriots, they merged into the NFL and joined the AFC. In 1978, the first ever playoff game was played in Foxboro. The Patriots had clinched their division for the first time, but lost to Houston in the first round of the playoffs. In 1982, the Patriots competed in the famed “Snow Plow Game,” a crew-worker cleared a kicking surface where John Smith knocked the only 3 points of the game through for the Patriots, giving them the win over Miami. In 1983, the Patriots lost their first playoff game since 1978. In 1985, the Patriots won their first post-season game ever at the Meadow Lands by defeating the New York Jets 26-14. In 1986, the Patriots won the AFC Championship by defeating the Miami Dolphins at the Orange Bowl, only to go on to lose in the Super Bowl, 46-10 to the Chicago Bears. In 1994, the Patriots defeated the Bears, 13-3 to get their first playoff berth since 1986. 1996 brought the Patriots back to the playoffs for the second time in 2 years, they also won their first AFC Division Title since 1986. They scored 23 unanswered second half points and got a bye the first week of the playoffs. That year, they made it all the way to Super Bowl XXXI, but lost to the Packers, 35-21. In 1997, they defeated the Miami Dolphins and won the AFC Division title once again. However, they lost 7-6 in the first round to the Steelers. In 1999, the Patriots lost the wild card game to the Jaguars. In 2002, the Patriots beat the Rams to win their first Super Bowl Championship in their 42 years of existence. The state of Massachusetts then held a victory parade for them.
In 1993, the Patriots underwent some changes. Their logo was changed to the streamlined head of the minuteman (shown above), and the main color of their uniforms changed from red to blue.
Many great players wore the Patriot uniform, of them, 3 have been inducted into the Hall of Fame, and 8 have had their numbers retired. Those 8 were:
Bruce Armstrong (78)
Andre Tippett (56)
Gino Cappelletti (20)
Mike Haynes (40)
Steve Nelson (57)
John Hannah (73)
Jim Lee Hunt (79)
Bob Dee (89)
The Patriots entered into the Hall of Fame are:
Nick Buoniconti
John Hannah
Mike Haynes
There have been many fine players who wore a Patriots jersey, whether their number was retired or not. Everyone from Doug Flutie to Drew Bledsoe has, at one time or another, has worn the red or blue. We hope that the upcoming years will bring more great players and memories to add to the long list of greats.
