Most of you know them as the New England Patriots, but did you know they originally had a different name when they were first created. The franchise was granted on November 22, 1959 as the Boston Patriots by a businessman named Billy Sullivan Jr. The following year was their very first season in the NFL. Years later in 1971 they changed their name to what they are known as today the "New England Patriots". During 1960 the Patriots defeated the Buffalo Bills in the first AFL pre-season game in July. Later in Septmeber they played the Denver Broncos whihc they lost; 13-10 in the first ever AFL regular season game. Following a string of losing seasons after the AFL-NFL merger, the Patriots became serious contenders in the late 1970s.

The 1976 Patriots finished 11-3 and just barely lost to the eventual-Super Bowl champion Oakland Raiders in a first-round playoff game. They won the AFC Eastern championship in 1978 and wound up a close second in 1979. Raymond Berry took over the coaching reins in 1984 and led the Patriots to a 51-41-0 record the next five and a half years. Berry's 1985 team had an 11-5 record, earned a wild-card playoff berth and won three straight AFC playoff games on the road and advanced to Super Bowl XX, where the Patriots lost to the Chicago Bears. That game marked the final appearance of guard John Hannah, who in 1991 became the first Patriot to be elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. In recent years, Patriots ownership has changed often, from Sullivan to Victor K. Kiam II in 1988, to James B. Orthwein in 1992 and finally to Robert Kraft in 1994.

With the highly-regarded veteran coach Bill Parcells in charge and the successful stockpiling of quality talent through the NFL draft, the Patriots won the AFC Championship in 1996 and earned a trip to their second Super Bowl. Then in 2001, with new coach Bill Belichick and surprise star quarterback Tom Brady, the Patriots completed a miracle season, winning Super Bowl XXXVI after a 5-5 start. Belichick and Brady have created a modern-day dynasty in New England. The duo has led the Patriots to six Super Bowl appearances including four victories. The most recent occurring in Super Bowl XLIX following the 2014 season.