The New England Patriots are tied for the most Super Bowl victories in NFL history. In about two decades, the franchise went from being Super Bowl-less to a perennial juggernaut. During that time, many great players worked under Bill Belichick and transformed the image of the organization. However, New England had some great players before the current dynasty.
While plenty of great players have donned New England's uniform in the past, not many stayed long enough to have a lasting impact. This list focuses heavily on players who spent extensive periods with the Patriots. If a player made an extreme impact in a short time, they will appear, but players like Curtis Martin and Randy Moss won't be listed.
Before getting into the top seven, there are some honorable mentions. Four wide receivers define New England's history. Stanley Morgan played for the franchise from 1977 to 1989, He's the only Patriot with more than 10,000 receiving yards. Troy Brown came next (1993-07), settling in as Tom Brady's first go-to receiver. Wes Welker was next (2007-12), and Julian Edelman (2009-present) is currently Brady's favorite receiver.
The Patriots also have a rich history of defensive linemen, offensive linemen, and kickers. Bruce Armstrong (1987-00) made six Pro Bowls at left tackle during his 14-year career with New England. Likewise, Logan Mankins (2005-13) made six Pro Bowls at left guard. On the other side of the ball, Richard Seymour (2001-08) won three Super Bowls and was a First Team All-Pro three times with the Pats. Vince Wilfork (2004-14) captured two rings and five Pro Bowls, while Devin McCourty (2010-present) commanded the secondary.
Of course, there are also kickers Stephen Gostkowski (2006-present) and Adam Vinatieri (1996-05). Gostkowski won three Super Bowls with New England and leads the franchise in all-time points scored. Meanwhile, Vinatieri also won three championships with the team and earned his reputation as the most-clutch kicker in the game's history.
New England has retired the numbers of seven players, including Armstrong, Bob Dee (1960-67), Jim Lee Hunt (1960-70), Steve Nelson (1974-87), and three players who appear in the following seven greatest Patriots of all-time.
7. Ty Law (1995-2004)
A member of the 2019 Pro Football Hall of Fame class, Law was the shutdown corner for the first half of New England's dynasty. He captured three Super Bowls with the franchise and made four Pro Bowls during his time with the team. The Associated Press selected Law as a First Team All-Pro in 1998 and 2003. His 36 interceptions are tied for the most in franchise history.
6. Mike Haynes (1976-82)
While Haynes didn't spend as much time with the Patriots as some of the other players on this list, he was the original shutdown corner for New England. The 1976 Defensive Rookie of the Year made six Pro Bowls with the franchise before the team traded him to the Los Angeles Raiders.
Haynes entered the Pro Football Hall of Fame as a member of the class of 1997. While 28 of his interceptions came with the Patriots, Haynes legacy grew alongside Lester Hayes on the 1983-84 Super Bowl-winning Raiders.
5. Gino Cappelletti (1960-70)
Back in the days when people played multiple positions, Cappelletti was a stud. Serving as a kicker, wide receiver, and briefly, as a defensive back, Cappelletti made five Pro Bowls. In 1964 he won the AFL Player of the Year, an award Joe Namath would later claim twice.
Cappelletti's No. 20 is one of the seven numbers retired by the franchise, although the team was called the Boston Patriots back when he played. In his 11 seasons, Cappelletti scored 1,130 points and led the AFL in scoring five times.
4. Andre Tippett (1982-93)
New England has drafted and signed many Pro Bowl pass rushers, but none impacted the franchise like Tippett. The Patriots drafted Tippett in the second-round in 1982. He didn't record a single sack his rookie season. However, Tippett rebounded and finished his career with a franchise-record 100 sacks.
Tippett went to five consecutive Pro Bowls during his career and was a First Team All-Pro in 1985 and 1987. He entered the Pro Football Hall of Fame with the 2008 class, and his franchise sack record still stands.
3. Rob Gronkowski (2010-18)
Injuries prevented Gronkowski from having a lengthy career, but the monstrous tight end made an impact during his time in the NFL. A second-round draft choice in 2010, Gronkowski made his first Pro Bowl in 2011. He made to four more, and the Associated Press named him as a First Team All-Pro four times.
The 2014 Comeback Player of the Year won three Super Bowls with New England. He was ranked inside the top 25 on NFL Network's Top 100 players series six times during his career. Aside from perhaps being the most physically dominant tight end in history, Gronkowski is second in receiving yards and first in receiving touchdowns in team history.
2. John Hannah (1973-85)
In NFL Films' The Top 100: NFL’s Greatest Players from 2010, Hannah ranked 24th, one spot ahead of Dan Marino. No other guard is ranked higher than Hannah, and the only offensive lineman ahead of him is Anthony Munoz. That shows how much respect Hannah deserves from the football community.
The greatest guard in history, Hannah spent his entire 13-year career with New England. In the final year of his career, the Patriots made the Super Bowl. However, the Chicago Bears easily crushed them.
Hannah's No. 73 is retired by the Patriots. The nine-time Pro Bowler and seven-time First Team All-Pro entered the Pro Football Hall of Fame as a member of the 1991 class.
1. Tom Brady (2000-present)
With three MVPs and six Super Bowl rings, Brady is the greatest player of all-time. Obviously, he owns every major franchise passing record and will have his No. 12 jersey retired one day.
The Michigan product was a sixth-round pick back in 2000 who took over for the injured Drew Bledsoe in 2001 and never looked back. Brady and New England have won 218 regular season games and 30 playoff games since then.
Brady is in the final year of his current contract, and there is a lot of speculation as to whether he will return to New England or go elsewhere in the offseason.
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