The New England Patriots are a professional American football team based in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
Since their founding in 1960 as the Boston Patriots, over 1,000 players, including 10 Pro Football Hall of Famers have played for the team.
Starting in 2010, every ten years the club's Patriots Hall of Fame committee will release an all-decade team to celebrate the greatest members of the team at every position during each respective decade.
[a][1] In November 1971, fans voted on a 10-year Patriots anniversary team, which coincided with the team's 10 years in the then-defunct American Football League:[2] Additional selections for returner, special teamer, and coach were added in 2009:[3] Bold indicates those elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
On October 22, 2020, the Patriots Hall of Fame selection committee selected a one-time "All-Dynasty Team" to celebrate the greatest members of the team at every position throughout the Patriots dynasty from 2001 to 2019:[6][1] Bold indicates those elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
FL/K
Gino Cappelletti
was one of the franchise's first star players, playing from the inaugural season until the 1970 season. He then remained close to the team as broadcaster until 2012.
RB
Sam "Bam" Cunningham
is the franchise's all-time rushing yards leader. He was the leading rusher of the historical
1978
team, in which the Patriots achieved an NFL
record
3,165 total rushing yards as a team. This league record stood until
2019
.
QB
Steve Grogan
was known as one of the daring players of his era, with his willingness to scramble out of the pocket. His 12 rushing touchdowns as a QB in 1976 would stand as single-season
NFL-record
until 2011, when
Cam Newton
surpassed it.
K
Adam Vinatieri
began his long and storied career with the Patriots, completing multiple franchise-altering kicks to help the team reach and win three Super Bowls. Vinatieri kicked two famous field goals in the
Tuck Rule Game
in blizzard-like conditions, as well as the game-winning field goals in the Patriots' first two Super Bowl victories.
WR
Wes Welker
, despite being undrafted and undersized, broke barriers and re-defined the
slot receiver
position in the NFL. He holds the franchise's career receptions record (672), single-season receptions record (123 in 2009), and single-season receiving yards record (1,569 yards in 2011).
LB
Steve Nelson
was a defensive anchor for the Patriots for 14 seasons.
S
Rodney Harrison
joined the Patriots after the team failed to repeat as champions in the
2002 season
. His physicality, mental toughness and work ethic was a perfect fit and led to Harrison having a big role in the Patriots winning back-to-back Super Bowls in
2003
and
2004
.
DT
Vince Wilfork
was drafted in the
2004 NFL draft
and contributed immediately. Wilfork is known as one of the greatest pure
nose tackles
in NFL history, and was a favorite amongst teammates and fans alike.