New England Patriots | History & Notable Players - Britannica

Early history and Drew Bledsoe

The franchise joined the American Football League (AFL) in 1960 as the Boston Patriots and quickly fielded a competitive team that featured quarterback Vito (“Babe”) Parilli, linebacker Nick Buoniconti, and wide receiver Gino Cappelletti. The Patriots posted a winning record in their second season and advanced to the AFL championship game in their fourth. However, after a second place divisional finish in 1966, the team recorded seven consecutive losing seasons. The Patriots also struggled to find a permanent home stadium, playing at four different Boston-area locations in 10 years. In 1971 the team—a member of the NFL following the 1970 AFL-NFL merger—relocated to Foxborough and was renamed the New England Patriots.

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Led by John Hannah, considered one of the greatest offensive linemen in NFL history, future Hall of Fame cornerback Mike Haynes, and quarterback Steve Grogan, the Patriots experienced sporadic success in the 1970s and ’80s. They advanced to their first Super Bowl in 1986 but lost to a dominant Chicago Bears team, 46–10. Businessman Robert Kraft acquired the Patriots in 1994, paying $172 million, the highest price for an NFL team up to that time. New England did not return to the Super Bowl until 1997, this time under the direction of coach Bill Parcells and led by quarterback Drew Bledsoe. The Patriots lost Super Bowl XXXI to the Green Bay Packers, but their postseason appearance marked the beginning of three straight years of playoff football for the team, then a franchise record.