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The New England Patriots are a National Football League team based in Foxborough, Massachusetts
- Founded: 1960, as a charter American Football League member. Joined the NFL in the 1970 merger.
- Formerly known as: Boston Patriots (1960-1970)
- Head coach: Bill Belichick (since 2000)
- Home field: Gillette Stadium (since 2002)
- Previous home fields:
- Nickerson Field (1960-1962)
- Fenway Park (1963-1968)
- Alumni Stadium (1969)
- Harvard Stadium (1970)
- Foxboro Stadium (1971-2001)
The Boston Patriots played in the first-ever game in the American Football League, against the Denver Broncos on September 9, 1960. Although the team made only two AFL playoff appearances, it had numerous stars. In 1963, eleven Patriots made the AFL All-star team, including Gino Cappelletti, Nick Buoniconti, and Babe Parilli. In the late 1960's, fullback Jim Nance became a powerful offensive weapon for the Patriots, gaining 1,458 yards in 1966 and 1,216 in 1967, when he was the American Football League's MVP.
In 1970 the Patriots became a member of the NFL pursuant to the merger of the AFL and NFL that had been agreed to three years earlier, but their first experience therein was anything but pleasant as they finished 2-12 and in sole possession of the newly-merged league's worst record. The following season, after bouncing around between four different stadiums in their first 11 years, a new stadium was built in Foxboro, MA. and the team was renamed the New England Patriots, since the location was approximately 30 miles south of Boston. (Originally called Schaefer Stadium, the name was to changed in 1983 to Sullivan Stadium, and finally to Foxboro Stadium in 1990). Also new in 1971 was a new quarterback, first-round pick Jim Plunkett, taken with the draft's first overall selection, which the Patriots received for having finished worst overall in 1970.
During this time the Patriots consistently had losing records, and went through three coaches in four seasons. In 1973 the team hired Chuck Fairbanks to lead it. Through the mid-1970s, the team showed signs of life, if only briefly. The Patriots finished 7-7 in 1974, but with injuries to Plunkett in 1975, slumped to 3-11 that season. Plunkett was traded to the San Francisco 49ers after the season, and eventually won 2 Super Bowls with the Oakland Raiders.
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