History of the New England Patriots facts for kids

The New England Patriots are a professional American football team. They play in the National Football League (NFL). This article shares the exciting history of the team.

Boston had other NFL teams before the Patriots. The Boston Bulldogs played for one season in 1929. Then came the Boston Braves/Redskins from 1932 to 1936. They played at Braves Field and Fenway Park. The team moved to Washington in 1936. The Boston Yanks played from 1944 to 1948. They then moved to New York.

The Patriots Begin in the AFL (1960-1969)

On November 16, 1959, Boston businessman Billy Sullivan started a new football team. It was the eighth and last team in the new American Football League (AFL). Many people invested money to help start the team.

The team needed a name. Locals sent in their ideas. Sullivan chose "Boston Patriots." This name honored the colonists who fought for America's freedom in the American Revolution. Soon after, artist Phil Bissell created the famous "Pat Patriot" logo.

On July 30, 1960, the Boston Patriots won their first pre-season game. They beat the Buffalo Bills. The Patriots played in the very first AFL game on September 9, 1960. They lost to the Denver Broncos 10–13.

In 1963, the Patriots reached the AFL Championship for the first time. They beat the Buffalo Bills in a playoff game. But they lost the championship game to the San Diego Chargers 51–10. Nine Patriots players made the AFL All-star team that year. These included Gino Cappelletti and Nick Buoniconti. In 1966, fullback Jim Nance was named the AFL MVP. He gained many yards for the team.

Joining the NFL After the Merger (1970-1973)

After the AFL–NFL merger in 1970, NFL rules changed. All teams needed stadiums with at least 50,000 seats. The Patriots had played in several stadiums in Boston. None of them were big enough. There was no space in Boston for a new stadium. So, the team thought about moving to Florida.

In 1971, the Patriots moved to a new stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. It was built on land from the Bay State Raceway. On March 22, 1971, the team changed its name to the New England Patriots. This name showed its new location. The stadium was called Schaefer Stadium. It cost about $6.2 million and was built very quickly. It was one of the first stadiums named after a company.

The first game at Schaefer Stadium was on August 15, 1971. It was a pre-season game against the New York Giants. Many fans got stuck in traffic and missed the start.

In 1971, the Patriots got a new quarterback, Jim Plunkett. He was a Heisman Trophy winner and the first player picked in the 1971 NFL Draft. They also signed wide receiver Randy Vataha.

The Fairbanks Coaching Years (1973-1978)

In 1973, the Patriots added three great players from the 1973 NFL Draft. They were offensive guard John Hannah, running back Sam Cunningham, and wide receiver Darryl Stingley. John Hannah later became the first Patriot player to enter the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

In 1973, the team hired Chuck Fairbanks as head coach. The Patriots got better in 1974, finishing with a 7–7 record. In 1975, quarterback Plunkett got injured. The team ended the season 3–11. After that season, Plunkett was traded. He later won two Super Bowls with the Oakland Raiders.

The Patriots used the draft picks from the Plunkett trade to get defensive backs Mike Haynes and Tim Fox. In 1976, the Patriots had their best record yet, 11–3. They made it to the playoffs for the first time since 1963.

The 1976 Playoffs

The Patriots played the Oakland Raiders in the first round of the playoffs. The Patriots were leading 21–17 late in the game. A Patriots player sacked the Raiders' quarterback. This would have given the Raiders a fourth down. But the referee called a penalty for roughing the passer. This gave the Raiders a first down. The Raiders then scored a touchdown and won the game 24–21. Many people debated this penalty call.

Seasons 1977 and 1978

The 1977 season was tough for the Patriots. Some key players held out for new contracts. The Patriots finished 9–5 and missed the playoffs.

In a 1978 pre-season game, wide receiver Darryl Stingley suffered a serious injury from a tackle. The 1978 Patriots finished 11–5. They won their first AFC East championship after the merger. But just before the last game, coach Chuck Fairbanks said he was leaving. The team played their final game and playoff game without a head coach. They lost their playoff game 31–14 to the Houston Oilers.

Changes in Coaching (1979-1984)

For the next two years, the Patriots missed the playoffs with late-season losses. In 1979, they started 7–3 but finished 9–7. In 1980, they started 6–1 but finished 10–6. In 1981, the Patriots struggled, finishing 2–14.

After the 1981 season, coach Ron Erhardt was fired. Ron Meyer became the new head coach. In the 1982 NFL Draft, the Patriots picked Kenneth Sims first overall.

The 1982 season was shorter due to a player strike. A famous game that year was the "Snow Plow Game" against the Miami Dolphins. In the fourth quarter, a snow plow cleared a spot on the field for the Patriots' kicker. John Smith kicked a 33-yard field goal. It was the only score in the 3–0 win. This win helped the Patriots make the playoffs. But they lost to the Dolphins in the first round.

In 1983, the stadium's naming rights deal ended. It was renamed Sullivan Stadium. The Patriots also drafted quarterback Tony Eason in the first round. Eason became the starting quarterback in 1984. The team finished 8-8.

In the 1984 NFL Draft, the Patriots picked wide receiver Irving Fryar. The Patriots started 5–2 with Eason as quarterback. But after some losses, coach Ron Meyer was fired. Raymond Berry became the new head coach. The team finished 9–7 and missed the playoffs.

First Super Bowl Appearance (1985)

The 1985 season started tough for the Patriots. Quarterback Tony Eason got injured. Steve Grogan took over. Grogan then broke his leg, and Eason became the starter again. New England won six games in a row. They finished 11–5 and made the playoffs.

In the playoffs, the Patriots beat the Los Angeles Raiders 27–20. They forced six turnovers. Then, the Patriots played the Miami Dolphins in the AFC Championship. The Patriots defeated the Dolphins 31–14. They won the AFC Championship.

The Patriots went to Super Bowl XX to play the Chicago Bears. The Patriots scored first with a field goal. But the Bears scored 44 points. The Patriots scored one touchdown. The final score was 46–10.

Ownership Changes and Struggles (1986-1992)

In 1986, the Patriots' passing game was strong. Eason and receiver Stanley Morgan led the way. The Patriots finished 11–5 and won the AFC East. They lost to the Denver Broncos in the playoffs.

In 1987, the Patriots got Doug Flutie. He was a famous quarterback from Boston College. He joined the team during a player strike. The Patriots finished 8–7 and missed the playoffs. In 1988, they finished 9–7 and just missed the playoffs.

During this time, the Sullivan family, who owned the team, faced financial difficulties. They had to sell the team and stadium. Many people tried to buy the team, including Donald Trump. But the NFL did not approve some of these deals.

In 1988, Victor Kiam bought the team for $90 million. But the stadium went into financial trouble. Boston businessman Robert Kraft bought the stadium.

In 1989, the team had a bad season. Many key defensive players were injured. The Patriots finished 5–11. After the season, Flutie left for the Canadian Football League. Coach Raymond Berry was fired.

Rod Rust became the new coach in 1990. The Patriots had their worst season ever, finishing 1–15. Most fans at their last game were actually fans of the opposing team.

After the 1990 season, the Patriots made more changes. Rust was fired. Dick MacPherson became the new coach. Sam Jankovich became the team's CEO.

The Patriots improved in 1991. They finished 6–10, with some upset wins over strong teams.

In 1992, James Orthwein bought the Patriots. He was a businessman from St. Louis. There were rumors that the team might move to St. Louis. The Patriots finished 2–14 in 1992. MacPherson and Jankovich left the team.

The Parcells Era (1993-1996)

New Coach and New Look (1993)

In 1993, the Patriots hired Bill Parcells as head coach. He had won two Super Bowls with another team. The team also changed its uniforms and logo. The old "Pat Patriot" logo was replaced with a new Patriot head. Fans called it "Flying Elvis." The team's main color changed from red to blue.

The Patriots had the first pick in the 1993 NFL Draft. They picked quarterback Drew Bledsoe. He started the season but got injured. The 1993 season started with a 1–11 record. But the team won its last four games in a row. They even beat the Miami Dolphins in overtime, which kept the Dolphins out of the playoffs.

Robert Kraft Buys the Team (1993-1994 Offseason)

During the 1993 season, rumors continued that the team would move to St. Louis. The team's owner, James Orthwein, wanted to break the stadium lease. He offered Robert Kraft, who owned the stadium, $75 million. But Kraft refused. Orthwein then put the team up for sale.

Kraft knew that any buyer would have to deal with him because of the stadium lease. So, he decided to buy the team himself. In 1994, he offered $160 million, a record for an NFL team at the time. Orthwein had to accept Kraft's offer. Kraft made it clear he would fight any move of the team.

On February 26, 1994, Kraft's first day as owner, the team sold a record number of season tickets. By September, all tickets for the 1994 season were sold out. Every Patriots home game since then has been sold out.

The 1994 Season

Halfway through the 1994 season, the Patriots were 3–6. They had lost four games in a row. Then, in Week 10, they played the Minnesota Vikings. Drew Bledsoe led a comeback by using a fast-paced offense. Bledsoe set records for passes thrown and completed. The Patriots won 26–20 in overtime. The Patriots won their last seven games of the season. They finished 10–6 and made the playoffs. But they lost to the Cleveland Browns 20–13 in the first round.

The 1995 Season

The Patriots drafted Curtis Martin in 1995. He had a great rookie season and was named Rookie of the Year. Bledsoe struggled with injuries. The team finished 6–10.

In 1995, the Patriots played their first home game on Monday Night Football since 1981. Robert Kraft worked hard to get this game scheduled. The Patriots won the game 27–14 against the Buffalo Bills.

Second Super Bowl Appearance (1996)

In the 1996 NFL Draft, the Patriots picked wide receiver Terry Glenn. The Patriots started the 1996 season slowly. But after an early loss, they won four games in a row. They finished the season 11–5. The Patriots won the AFC East. They got a first-round bye in the playoffs.

The Patriots defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers 28–3 in a playoff game. Then they beat the Jacksonville Jaguars 20–6 in the AFC Championship game. This was the first AFC Championship game played in Foxboro. The team advanced to Super Bowl XXXI against the Green Bay Packers.

Before the Super Bowl, there were rumors that coach Bill Parcells would leave the Patriots. He wanted more control over the team. The Patriots played a close game against the Packers. They even led briefly in the second quarter. But the Packers scored two long touchdowns and a 99-yard kickoff return. The Packers won 35–21.

The Pete Carroll Years (1997-1999)

The 1997 Season

After the Super Bowl, Parcells resigned from the Patriots. He wanted to coach the New York Jets. The Patriots and Jets made a deal. The Patriots received several draft picks in exchange for letting Parcells go.

Kraft hired Pete Carroll as the new head coach. In 1997, the Patriots won the AFC East with a 10–6 record. They beat the Miami Dolphins 17–3 in the playoffs. But they lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers 7–6 in a close game.

The 1998 Season

In 1998, the Jets signed Patriots running back Curtis Martin. The Patriots received the Jets' first and third-round draft picks in return. With the first-round pick, the Patriots selected running back Robert Edwards.

A game against the Buffalo Bills on November 29, 1998, was controversial. Late in the game, a referee's call helped the Patriots score a touchdown to win. Instant replay was not used in the NFL at that time.

Drew Bledsoe and Terry Glenn were injured later in the season. The Patriots still made the playoffs with a 9–7 record. They lost 25–10 to the Jacksonville Jaguars in their first playoff game. Robert Edwards had a good rookie season. But his career was cut short by a serious knee injury.

The 1999 Season

In 1999, Terry Allen and rookie Kevin Faulk took Edwards' place. The Patriots started the season with a win over the New York Jets. They also beat the Indianapolis Colts in a comeback win. After a good start, the team struggled. They finished 8–8 and missed the playoffs. After the season, coach Carroll was fired.

The Brady/Belichick Dynasty (2000-2019)

Belichick Hired and Brady Drafted (2000)

In January 2000, Pete Carroll was fired. Owner Robert Kraft wanted to hire Bill Belichick as the new head coach. Belichick had been an assistant coach for the Jets. He resigned from the Jets to join the Patriots. The Patriots sent draft picks to the Jets to get Belichick.

Belichick changed the team's staff. The Patriots finished the 2000 season 5–11 and missed the playoffs. In 2000, the Patriots also updated their uniforms.

First Super Bowl Championship (2001)

The Patriots lost their first game in 2001. In the second game, quarterback Drew Bledsoe was injured. Tom Brady, a sixth-round draft pick from 2000, took over for Bledsoe. He remained the starting quarterback. First-round draft pick Richard Seymour was a strong defensive player. Running back Antowain Smith ran for over 1,000 yards. The Patriots won their last six games. They finished 11–5 and won the AFC East. They earned a first-round bye in the playoffs.

The Patriots hosted the Oakland Raiders in a snowstorm. This game is famous as the "Tuck Rule Game". A play was first called a fumble by Brady. But the referee changed the call to an incomplete pass because of a special rule. This allowed the Patriots to tie the game with a field goal. The Patriots won 16–13 in overtime.

The Patriots then faced the Steelers in the AFC Championship Game. Brady injured his ankle. Bledsoe came in and led the team to a touchdown. The Patriots won 24–17 with two special teams touchdowns. They advanced to Super Bowl XXXVI.

In the Super Bowl, the Patriots played the St. Louis Rams. The Rams had a strong offense. Coach Belichick used a smart defensive plan. His defense forced three turnovers.

The Rams tied the game 17–17 in the fourth quarter. With 1:30 left, Brady led the Patriots down the field. Adam Vinatieri kicked a 48-yard field goal as time ran out. The Patriots won their first Super Bowl, 20–17. Brady was named Super Bowl MVP.

About 1.2 million fans celebrated the Patriots' victory in Boston. After the season, Brady signed a long-term contract. Bledsoe was traded to the Buffalo Bills.

Gillette Stadium is Built

Robert Kraft wanted to build a new stadium for the Patriots. In 1998, he almost made a deal with the state of Massachusetts. But the deal failed. Kraft then made a deal to build a stadium in Connecticut. However, problems with the site delayed construction.

In 1999, Kraft decided not to build in Connecticut. He made a new deal with Massachusetts for improvements around the stadium. The new stadium was approved by the people of Foxborough. The naming rights were first bought by CMGi. Later, Gillette bought the naming rights. The stadium was named Gillette Stadium.

Missing the Playoffs (2002)

The Patriots won their first game in the new Gillette Stadium in 2002. They beat the Pittsburgh Steelers. They started the season with three wins. But they lost five of their next seven games. In the last week, the Patriots beat the Miami Dolphins in overtime. Both teams finished 9–7. The Jets also finished 9–7. The Jets won the tiebreaker for the division title. This meant the Patriots and Dolphins missed the playoffs.

Back-to-Back Super Bowl Titles (2003-2004)

Just before the 2003 season, safety Lawyer Milloy was released. Fans questioned coach Belichick's decision. Milloy signed with the Buffalo Bills. The Bills beat the Patriots 31–0 in the season opener. After starting 2–2, the Patriots did not lose another game that season.

The Patriots had the best record in the NFL at 14–2. They earned the top spot in the AFC playoffs. They played the Tennessee Titans in the divisional playoffs. It was a very cold game. The Patriots won 17–14 with a late field goal by Adam Vinatieri. The Patriots then faced the Indianapolis Colts in the AFC Championship. They won 24–14. The Patriots returned to the Super Bowl to play the Carolina Panthers.

Super Bowl XXXVIII was a defensive battle in the first half. The teams traded touchdowns late in the second quarter. The score was 14–10 Patriots at halftime. The third quarter had no scores. But the fourth quarter was full of action. The Patriots scored to make it 21–10. Carolina scored two touchdowns to take a 22–21 lead. The Patriots then scored a trick play and a two-point conversion. They led 29–22 with 2:51 left. The Panthers tied the game with a late touchdown. Brady led the Patriots down the field again. Vinatieri kicked a 41-yard field goal with four seconds left. The Patriots won their second Super Bowl, 32–29. Brady was again named MVP.

After their Super Bowl win, the Patriots traded for running back Corey Dillon. He replaced Antowain Smith. The Patriots set an NFL record by winning their first six games of the 2004 season. This was part of a long winning streak. During a loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, cornerback Ty Law was injured. Other defensive players were also hurt. The Patriots had to use new players at cornerback.

The Patriots finished 14–2 in 2004. They were the second seed in the AFC playoffs. They defeated the Colts at home. Then they beat the top-seeded Steelers 41–27 in the AFC Championship Game. The Patriots defeated the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl XXXIX 24–21. This was their second straight Super Bowl victory. As of 2021, the 2003–2004 Patriots are the most recent team to win back-to-back Super Bowls.

Playoff Losses (2005-2006)

Two weeks after winning Super Bowl XXXIX, linebacker Tedy Bruschi had a stroke. Cornerback Ty Law was also released. In Week 3, Rodney Harrison was injured for the rest of the season. The Patriots started 4–4. They lost their first home game since 2002. Bruschi returned to play in October. The team finished 10–6 and won their third straight AFC East title. They defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars 28–3 in the wild-card round. But they lost to the Denver Broncos 27–13 in the Divisional Playoffs. They had five turnovers in that game.

In 2006, the Patriots lost their two starting wide receivers. David Givens left, and Deion Branch was traded. Reche Caldwell and Jabar Gaffney replaced them. The team's streak of 57 games without back-to-back losses ended in November. The Patriots finished 12–4 and won their fourth straight division title. They defeated the New York Jets 37–16 in the Wild Card game. A 24–21 win over the San Diego Chargers set up a game against the Indianapolis Colts in the AFC Championship. The Patriots had a big lead, 21–3, in the second quarter. But the Colts came back and won 38–34.

An Almost Perfect Season (2007)

In 2007, the Patriots added Donte' Stallworth and traded for Wes Welker and Randy Moss. Welker led the NFL in catches. Moss set an NFL record with 23 touchdown catches.

The Patriots won the AFC East before their eleventh game. They finished the regular season with a perfect 16–0 record. This was the first time in NFL history a team finished 16–0. Brady and Moss set individual touchdown records. It was the first undefeated regular season since the 1972 Miami Dolphins finished 14–0. Tom Brady won his first NFL MVP award. The Patriots' offense broke many records.

The Patriots were the top seed in the AFC playoffs. They defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars 31–20 and the San Diego Chargers 21–12. They advanced to Super Bowl XLII. The Patriots had a chance for a perfect 19–0 season. Many thought they were the greatest team ever.

But the Patriots lost to the New York Giants in the Super Bowl. The Giants scored a touchdown late in the fourth quarter to take a 17–14 lead. The Patriots could not score again.

The Cassel Year (2008)

In the first game of the 2008 season, quarterback Tom Brady suffered a serious knee injury. He missed the rest of the season. Backup quarterback Matt Cassel took his place. Cassel led the Patriots to a win in his first start. This extended the team's regular-season winning streak to 21 games.

The Dolphins, Ravens, and Patriots all finished 11–5. Miami won the division title over the Patriots. Baltimore made the playoffs as a wild card team. The Patriots missed the playoffs.

Changes After 2008

After the 2008 season, the Patriots made many changes. Key staff members left for other teams. Quarterback Matt Cassel was traded to the Chiefs. Veteran players Tedy Bruschi and Rodney Harrison retired. Defensive end Richard Seymour was traded to the Oakland Raiders.

Early Playoff Exits (2009-2010)

In the 2009 season opener, the Patriots celebrated their 50th season. They played the Buffalo Bills on Monday Night Football. The Patriots were down late in the game but scored two touchdowns to win. This was Brady's first game back after his injury. In November, the Patriots lost to the undefeated Indianapolis Colts. The Patriots tried a risky play late in the game and failed. This led to a Colts touchdown and a Patriots loss. The Patriots won their division title. But they lost to the Baltimore Ravens 33–14 in the Wild Card Playoffs.

The Patriots started 2010 without offensive or defensive coordinators. They finished the season 14–2. They won their division title and earned the top seed in the AFC. Tom Brady set an NFL record with 335 passes without an interception. The Patriots also had a record low 10 turnovers all season.

The Patriots were expected to go to Super Bowl XLV. But they lost to the Jets in the divisional playoffs.

Return to the Super Bowl (2011)

In the 2010 offseason, the Patriots drafted quarterback Ryan Mallett. They also traded for defensive lineman Albert Haynesworth and wide receiver Chad Ochocinco.

In the first game of the 2011 season, the Patriots beat the Miami Dolphins 38–24. Brady set a personal record with 517 passing yards. This included a 99-yard touchdown pass to Wes Welker, which tied an NFL record. They beat the San Diego Chargers in their home opener. But their 15-game winning streak against the Buffalo Bills ended. Brady threw four interceptions, and the Patriots lost 34–31. The team then won three games in a row. The Patriots won their last eight games to take the top seed in the AFC playoffs.

After defeating the Denver Broncos 45–10, the Patriots won the AFC Championship Game. They beat the Baltimore Ravens 23–20. The Ravens missed a potential game-tying field goal in the final seconds. The Patriots lost to the New York Giants 21–17 in Super Bowl XLVI.

Playoff Losses in AFC Championship (2012-2013)

In 2012, the Patriots beat the Tennessee Titans in their first game. But they lost at home to the Arizona Cardinals. They also lost to the Baltimore Ravens 30–28 on a last-second field goal. The first three games had replacement referees. Coach Belichick was fined for touching a referee after the Ravens game. The Patriots then beat the Buffalo Bills 52–28. They also beat the Denver Broncos 31–21. But they lost to the Seattle Seahawks 24–23. The Patriots then beat the New York Jets in overtime. They went on a seven-game winning streak. The Patriots finished as the #2 seed in the AFC. They defeated the Houston Texans 41–28 in the playoffs. But they lost to the Baltimore Ravens 28–13 in the AFC Championship.

The Patriots started the 2013 season 4–0. But they lost to the Cincinnati Bengals 13–6. They beat the New Orleans Saints. But they lost to the New York Jets 30–27. The Patriots then had two wins. But they lost 24–20 to the Carolina Panthers. New England finished as AFC East champions. They earned the No. 2 seed and a first-round bye.

Fourth Super Bowl Championship (2014)

In 2014, the Patriots finished 12–4. They won their sixth straight AFC East title. They were the top seed in the AFC playoffs. They had a first-round bye and home-field advantage.

The Patriots defeated the Baltimore Ravens 35–31 in the divisional round. They then defeated the Indianapolis Colts 45–7. This sent them to Super Bowl XLIX against the Seattle Seahawks. The first quarter was scoreless. Both teams scored two touchdowns each in the second quarter. It was 14–14 at halftime. Seattle then scored a field goal and a touchdown. They led by 10 points going into the final quarter. The Patriots came back. They scored two touchdowns to lead 28–24 with 2:02 left. The Seahawks drove to the 1-yard line. But rookie cornerback Malcolm Butler caught an interception on Seattle's final play. This won the game for the Patriots. Brady won his third Super Bowl MVP award.

AFC Championship Loss (2015)

The Patriots started 2015 with a 10–0 record. But they lost to the Denver Broncos 30–24 in overtime. Many players were injured during the season. The Patriots earned a first-round bye as the second seed in the AFC.

In the divisional playoffs, the Patriots defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 27–20. They advanced to the AFC Championship game. They played the top-seeded Broncos. It was a tough defensive game. The Broncos beat the Patriots 20–18. They advanced to Super Bowl 50.

Fifth Super Bowl Championship (2016)

Tom Brady did not play in the first four games of the 2016 season. This was due to a league penalty. Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo helped the Patriots win their first game. Garoppolo got injured in the second game. Rookie quarterback Jacoby Brissett took over. Brissett helped the Patriots win a 27–0 game against the Houston Texans. The Patriots lost their fourth game at home to the Buffalo Bills. Brady returned the next week. The Patriots won seven straight games to end the regular season. They won their eighth straight division title and the #1 seed in the AFC.

In the playoffs, the Patriots hosted the Texans. The Patriots won 34–16. In the AFC Championship game, the Patriots beat the Pittsburgh Steelers 36–17. They advanced to the Super Bowl.

On February 5, 2017, the Patriots played the Atlanta Falcons in Super Bowl LI. The Patriots were down 28–3 after three quarters. But the Patriots made a huge comeback. Tom Brady threw for 466 yards and two touchdowns. The Patriots tied the score 28–28 in the final minutes. In the first overtime in Super Bowl history, the Patriots won the coin toss. Brady led the team down the field. Running back James White scored a touchdown. The Patriots won 34–28. Brady was named Super Bowl MVP for a record fourth time. He also won his fifth Super Bowl as a quarterback, the most ever.

Fifth Super Bowl Loss (2017)

The Patriots lost several players in the 2017 offseason. They signed cornerback Stephon Gilmore and running backs Mike Gillislee and Rex Burkhead. They also traded for defensive end Kony Ealy.

In their first game, the Kansas City Chiefs beat them 42–27. The Patriots' defense allowed many yards. The Patriots then won two games. After a loss to the Carolina Panthers, the Patriots went 11–1 for the rest of the season. They finished 13–3. In Week 15, the Patriots came back to beat the Pittsburgh Steelers 27–24. A potential game-winning touchdown for the Steelers was overturned. The Patriots won another AFC East title and the #1 seed.

After beating the Tennessee Titans in the divisional round, the Patriots faced the Jacksonville Jaguars. Brady led the team back from a ten-point deficit in the fourth quarter. The Patriots won 24–20. They earned a trip to their eighth Super Bowl. In Super Bowl LII, Brady set a Super Bowl record with 505 passing yards. Brady tried to lead another comeback. But a defensive player sacked Brady and forced a fumble. The Patriots lost 41–33.

Sixth Super Bowl Championship (2018)

In the 2018 offseason, the Patriots lost several key players. They added left tackle Trent Brown, running back Jeremy Hill, and wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson. They also drafted left tackle Isaiah Wynn and running back Sony Michel.

In September, the Patriots signed Josh Gordon. In Week 5, Brady became the third quarterback to throw 500 touchdowns in his career. The Patriots had a six-game winning streak. But they lost to the Tennessee Titans. They also had back-to-back losses in Weeks 14 and 15. Gordon left the team in late December. The Patriots finished 11–5 and earned a first-round bye.

The Patriots beat the Los Angeles Chargers 41–28 in the divisional round. Rookie Sony Michel scored three rushing touchdowns. In the AFC Championship, they faced the Kansas City Chiefs. The Patriots led 14–0 at halftime. The Chiefs came back to lead 21–17 in the fourth quarter. The score went back and forth. The Chiefs kicked a field goal to tie the game at 31–31. The game went to overtime. The Patriots won the coin toss. Brady led the Patriots down the field. Rex Burkhead scored a rushing touchdown. The Patriots won 37–31.

In Super Bowl LIII in Atlanta, the Patriots played the Los Angeles Rams. The game was tied 3–3 until the fourth quarter. Brady and Rob Gronkowski made two long passes. This put the Patriots near the goal line. Sony Michel scored the game's only touchdown. The Patriots won 13–3. Wide receiver Julian Edelman was named Super Bowl MVP. This sixth Super Bowl victory tied the Patriots with the Steelers for the most all-time.

The End of an Era (2019)

Before the 2019 season, Tom Brady signed a contract that allowed him to become a free agent after the season. On September 9, 2019, the Patriots signed wide receiver Antonio Brown. He was released by another team due to off-the-field issues. Brown played only one game for New England. He was released on September 22, 2019, due to more issues. New England started the season with an 8–0 record. The streak ended with a loss to the Baltimore Ravens. The team won its 11th straight AFC East division title. But New England did not get a first-round bye for the playoffs.

The Patriots were the #3 seed in the AFC playoffs. They lost to the Titans at home in the wild card round, 20–13. This was Brady's last game with the Patriots. On March 17, 2020, Brady announced he would not re-sign with the Patriots. On March 20, 2020, Brady signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. On April 21, 2020, the Patriots traded the rights to retired tight end Rob Gronkowski to the Buccaneers.

Post-Brady Years (2020-2023)

The 2020 Season

Before the 2020 season, the Patriots changed their uniforms. They used their former "Color Rush" jerseys as their new home uniforms. They also had white uniforms with blue pants for road games. Former Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton became New England's new starting quarterback. Several veteran players chose not to play the season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Later in the season, other key players were injured.

The Patriots were out of the AFC East championship race in Week 14. They were also eliminated from playoff contention in Week 15. This was only the fourth time since 2000 that the Patriots missed the playoffs. Their streak of 10+ win seasons, an NFL record, also ended. Cam Newton and Brian Hoyer finished the season with a 7-9 record.

The 2021 Season

The 2021 season started with the Patriots signing many new players. These included Hunter Henry, Nelson Agholor, Jonnu Smith, and Matthew Judon.

On August 31, 2021, the Patriots released quarterback Cam Newton. Rookie Mac Jones became the starting quarterback. The Patriots started the season 2–4. But they then won seven games in a row. They battled Buffalo for the division title. New England finished the season 10–7. This was the first NFL season with 17 games. They made the playoffs as the #6 seed. This was their first time in the playoffs without Brady since 1998. They lost to the Bills 47–17 in the wild-card round. This was their worst playoff loss under Belichick. Despite the loss, Jones broke several rookie quarterback records for the team.

The Mayo and Wolf Years (2024-Present)

The 2024 Season

After a tough 4–13 record in the 2023 season, the Patriots and Bill Belichick decided to part ways on January 11, 2024. Belichick had been with the team for 24 years. His final years saw the team's offense struggle. The next day, the Patriots promoted Jerod Mayo to head coach. He was a former player and linebackers coach. Eliot Wolf became the general manager. He is the son of a famous general manager.

Mac Jones, the starting quarterback for three seasons, was traded in 2024. The new leaders started a new era for the team. In the 2024 NFL draft, they picked quarterback Drake Maye third overall. This was the highest draft pick for the Patriots in 31 years.

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  Regular season winning percentage, 1960–2010