Tom Brady
Tom Brady is widely recognized as the greatest quarterback of all time.
Brady has won six Super Bowl titles with the New England Patriots (XXXVI, XXXVIII, XXXIX, XLIX, LI and LIII) and one with Tampa Bay (LV).
He's won the Bert Bell award for NFL player of the year with the Associated Press three times (2007, 2010 and 2017).
Brady has been named league MVP three times (2007, 2010, 2017) and Super Bowl MVP four times. His MVP award for Super Bowl XLIX was presented to him by Pro Football Hall of Famer Joe Montana.
Brady has earned 14 Pro Bowl selections and was selected to the NFL's All-Decade Teams for the 2000s and the 2010s.
In 2016, Brady became the first quarterback to win 200 games. His 230 regular season victories are the most ever by a quarterback.
Tom Brady set the all-time touchdown passing mark during the first quarter of a Week 5 2021 matchup against the Chicago Bears, catching Brees' mark with a nine-yard score to Mike Evans.
Brady retired Feb. 1, 2023, as the all-time leader in quarterback wins, Pro Bowl selections and Super Bowl appearances (10), as well as completions (7,753), attempts (12,050), passing yards (89,214), and passing touchdowns (649).
Tom Brady is the only starting quarterback to capture Super Bowl titles in three decades.
Brady's Wins/Losses by Team
AFC East Win/Loss
VS Buffalo Bills 33-3 .917VS Miami Dolphins 24-12 .667
VS New York Jets 30-8 .789
AFC North Win/Loss
VS Baltimore Ravens 8-4 .667VS Cincinnati Bengals 8-1 .889
VS Cleveland Browns 8-1 .889
VS Pittsburgh Steelers 12-4 .750
AFC South Win/Loss
VS Houston Texans 9-1 .900VS Indianapolis Colts 12-4 .750
VS Jacksonville Jaguars 8-1 .889
VS Tennessee Titans 8-3 .727
AFC West Win/Loss
VS Denver Broncos 9-9 .500VS Kansas City Chiefs 5-4 .556
VS Las Vegas Raiders 6-1 .857
VS Los Angeles Chargers 8-0 1.000
NFC East Win/Loss
VS Dallas Cowboys 6-0 1.000VS New York Giants 5-2 .714
VS Philadelphia Eagles 3-1 .750
VS Washington Football Team 4-0 1.000
NFC North Win/Loss
VS Chicago Bears 5-1 .833VS Detroit Lions 5-3 .625
VS Green Bay Packers 3-1 .750
VS Minnesota Vikings 6-0 1.000
NFC South Win/Loss
VS Atlanta Falcons 8-0 1.000VS Carolina Panthers 5-0 1.000
VS New Orleans Saints 5-2 .714
VS Tampa Bay Buccaneers 4-0 1.000
NFC West Win/Loss
VS Arizona Cardinals 2-1 .667VS Los Angeles Rams 5-2 .714
VS San Francisco 49ers 6-1 .857
VS Seattle Seahawks 2-1 .667
Coach Belichick
Bill Belichick was the head coach of the New England Patriots from January 2000 until 2023.
He is the only head coach in NFL history to win six Super Bowls (XXXVI, XXXVIII, XXXIX, XLIX, LI and LIII), all with the Patriots.
Belichick is one of just three coaches in NFL history to win three Super Bowls in a four-year span and is one of eight coaches who have won NFL championships in consecutive years.
He won the AP NFL Coach of the Year award three times (2003, 2007 and 2010).
Belichick won a combined 324 regular season and playoff games (and 31 playoff games). He is the only coach to achieve both of those marks with one team.
A win over the Tennessee Titans in the 2021 playoffs was the 31st postseason victory of Belichick's career. He is the all-time NFL postseason wins leader.
Belichick coached eight teams to a Super Bowl appearance, the most of any NFL coach. The runner up are Tom Landry (Dallas Cowboys), Don Shula (Miami Dolphins and Baltimore Colts) and Dan Reeves (Denver Broncos and Atlanta Falcons), with five apiece.
Belichick is the only coach in NFL history to lead his team to 10 or more wins in 17 consecutive seasons (2003-2019).
Belichick-coached teams won 17 AFC East championships in 19 years.
HEAD COACHING RECORD
Regular Season
Cleveland Browns 36-44 | .450New England Patriots 266-121 | .687
Total 302-165 | .647
Playoff
Cleveland Browns 1-1 | .500New England Patriots 30-12 | .714
Total 31-13 | .705
Overall
Cleveland Browns 37-45 | .451New England Patriots 296-133 | .690
Total 333-178 | .651
Wes Welker
He was one of the best slot receivers of all-time, but his New England tenure is what carried him to NFL greatness. For one, Welker set Patriots records for pass receptions in a season with 123 in 2009 and his 672 receptions with New England lead the career category. It's hard to argue the longevity of Welker in New England, but what really would push him over the edge for the Hall of Fame is the sheer dominance Welker held in his first season in New England. He was not a productive player with the Dolphins, leading many to believe that Brady and Belichick were the catalysts for his production. Welker was the focal point of that offense outside of Randy Moss, who was also brought in from Oakland after being inactive for his final season with the Raiders. The Patriots offense was one of the best in NFL history in 2007 and Welker played a big part in that with 112 receptions for 1,175 yards and eight touchdowns, finishing the season with an average of 15.1 yards per punt return. New England had one of the best offenses the NFL has ever seen, finishing with 589 total points and averaging an astonishing 36.8 points per game. Although the Patriots fell short in the Super Bowl that season, it is hard to ignore what Welker brought to the 2007 team and the seasons to follow. Welker also set records for most receptions in a single postseason run during his time in New England during the 2011 postseason with 21, surpassing Jerry Rice's former record of 16 and leading the Patriots to the Super Bowl with Tom Brady under center.
Career Regular Season Numbers
903 receptions9,924 Receiving yards
50 Receiving TDs
11 Yards per Reception
8.4 Yards per Target
Julian Edelman
Julian Edelman announced his retirement from the Patriots in April 2021 and holds many records in Patriots history.
Edelman was selected with the 232nd pick of the seventh round in the 2009 NFL Draft from Kent State, in a draft that also brought linebacker Jermaine Cunningham, running back Patrick Chung, defensive back Darius Butler, guard Sebastian Vollmer, tight end Rob Gronkowski, cornerback Brandon Spikes, wide receiver Brandon Tate, linebacker Myron Pryor, linebacker George Bussey and running back undrafted free agent BenJarvus Green-Ellis to Foxborough, MA.
Through his 12-season career, Edelman has earned a spot in the record books in more ways than one. He currently ranks second on the Patriots all-time receptions list with 620 while leading the franchise and ranking second in the NFL all-time with 118 postseason receptions. Edelman's 1,442 postseason receiving yards are most by a wide receiver in NFL history, topping Michael Irvin (1,315), Hines Ward (1,181), and Jerry Rice (2,245). His six games with at least 100 yards receiving in the playoffs is also tied for the most ever by an NFL wide receiver (Rice, Larry Fitzgerald).
In his 19 career playoff games, Edelman averages 6.2 receptions, 75.9 yards, and 0.32 touchdowns per game. With 9,056 career receiving yards, Edelman sits fourth all-time in Patriots history, with 6,822 of those yards coming over the course of three Super Bowl championship seasons (LI, LIII, and XLIX). In all three Super Bowl victories, Edelman was the leading receiver, including a Super Bowl MVP performance in Super Bowl LIII where he recorded 10 catches for 141 yards and zero turnovers. Edelman is also the only player in Patriots franchise history with 100 receptions and 1,000 receiving yards in the same season twice, which he did in 2013 (105 rec., 1,056 yards) and 2016 (98 rec., 1,106 yards). He tied that mark again in 2019 with 100 receptions and 1,117 receiving yards.
Rob Gronkowski
Rob Gronkowski was selected in the second round of the 2010 NFL Draft with the 42nd overall pick by the New England Patriots.
In his first seven seasons with the Patriots (he spent all of 2016 season on injured reserve and sat out the entire 2019 season), Gronkowski earned five Pro Bowl selections and four First-Team All-Pro nods. He helped the Patriots win three Super Bowl championships during that stretch, including victories in Super Bowls XLIX, LI, and LIII.
Gronk led the NFL in touchdown receptions in 2011 (17) and in receiving yards by a tight end that season (1,327) as well. He earned Associated Press Comeback Player of the Year honors in 2014 after missing five games in 2013 due to injuries.
Gronkowski ranks second all-time in career receiving yards by a tight end with 9,286 yards and his 92 career receiving touchdowns rank tied for second all-time at the position.
Gronkowski missed most of the 2016 season with a back injury and sat out the entire 2019 season after announcing his retirement from the NFL. He came out of retirement to sign with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2020, where he reunited with Tom Brady and won his fourth Super Bowl title.
Gronkowski announced his retirement from the NFL for a second time on June 21, 2022. He finished his career with 621 receptions, 9,286 yards, and 92 touchdowns.
Playoff point maker
Hall of Fame wide receiver Jerry Rice is the only player with more career postseason receiving touchdowns than Gronk (22). Gronkowski and Hall of Fame wide receiver John Stallworth are tied for second with 12 apiece.Charlie Riedel/Associated PressBrady, to Gronk
Tom Brady has a higher passer rating (124.0) when targeting Rob Gronkowski during his career than any other player (minimum of 100 targets).Elise Amendola/Associated PressFranchise scorer
Rob Gronkowski has scored 80 career touchdowns (79 receiving, 1 rushing), the most in Patriots franchise history.Damian Strohmeyer/Associated PressHistorical duo
Tom Brady and Gronkowski have connected for 12 touchdowns in the playoffs, tied for the most postseason touchdown by quarterback-receiver duo in NFL history; Joe Montana and Jerry Rice also combined for 12 playoff touchdowns.Kathy Willens/Associated PressCareer numbers
Rob Gronkowski has 521 career receptions, 7,861 career receiving yards, and 79 career receiving touchdowns. In his playoff career, Gronk has 81 receptions, 1,163 receiving yards, and 12 receiving touchdowns.Jeffrey T. Barnes/Associated PressPostseason hands
Rob Gronkowski has by far the most career postseason receiving yards by a tight end (1,163). Dallas Clark and Ketih Jackson trail with 847 and 834 yards respectively, and Hall of Famer Shannon Sharpe comes in 4th with 814 yards. Gronk ranks 9th all-time in postseason receiving yards, regardless of position.Todd Rosenberg/NFL
Ty Law
Cornerback Ty Law was selected in the first round, 23rd player overall, out of the University of Michigan in the 1995 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots. As one of the most dynamic cornerbacks to ever play the game, Law dominated the league for 15 seasons.
Law was named the NFL Alumni Defensive Back of the Year in 1998 after leading the league with nine interceptions and was named Pro Bowl Co-MVP after making his first Pro Bowl appearance that same year.
During his 10-year tenure with the Patriots, New England won four AFC championship games (1996, 2001, 2003-04) and three Super Bowls (XXXVI, XXXVIII and XXXIX). Law had a stellar performance in the Patriots' Super Bowl XXXVI victory over the St. Louis Rams as he made seven tackles and one assist along with an interception which he returned 47 yards for a touchdown and recorded two passes defensed.
Two years later in Super Bowl XXXVIII, Law and the Patriots took down the Carolina Panthers 32-29. Law had five tackles and one pass defensed. Law was forced to sit out the latter portion of his 2004 season and Super Bowl XXXIX due to a foot injury. Law also started at left cornerback in Super Bowl XXXI in which the Patriots fell to the Green Bay Packers.
In 2005, Law signed with the New York Jets and had a remarkable season as he led the league with a career-high 10 interceptions. Law joined the Kansas City Chiefs the following year as a free agent and played for the team in 2006 and 2007. He returned to the Jets for the 2008 season before one last season in 2009 with the Denver Broncos.
Law finished his career with 53 interceptions which he returned for 828 yards and seven touchdowns in 203 career games. He also forced seven fumbles, made five fumble recoveries, and had five career sacks.
A five-time Pro Bowler (1998, 2002-04, 2006), Law was also named first-team All-Pro in 1998 and 2003, elected to the Patriots Team of the Century, and named to the NFL's All-Decade Team of the 2000s.
Rodney Harrison
Harrison spent the final six seasons of his 15-year NFL career with the Patriots after spending his first nine seasons with the San Diego Chargers.
He played a key role in helping the Patriots to back-to-back Super Bowl titles in his first two seasons with New England in 2003 and 2004. Harrison came up big on the biggest stage, with seven interceptions in nine postseason games with the Patriots, including two in Super Bowl XXXIX.
His seven postseason interceptions are tied for the third-most in NFL postseason history.
In his first two seasons in New England, Harrison was not only the Patriots' leading tackler each year, but also led all NFL defensive backs in tackles in both seasons. Additionally, he was the leading tackler in the 2003 and 2004 postseasons, while also recording a total of two sacks, six interceptions, seven passes defensed and two forced fumbles in the six games leading to New England's back-to-back Super Bowl championships.
He is the all-time leader in sacks by a defensive back with 30 1/2, including nine during his time with the Patriots.
He is the only defensive back in NFL history with 30 sacks and 30 interceptions with eight of those picks coming during his Patriots career.
Harrison was voted a team captain in each of his six seasons with the Patriots.
Adam Vinatieri
Adam Vinatieri has played in five Super Bowls, four with the Patriots and one with the Colts, winning four.
Vinatieri won a Super Bowl in 2007 with Indianapolis and won Super Bowls in 2002, 2004, & 2005 with the Patriots.
Vinatieri is the first kicker ever to play in five Super Bowls and win four Super Bowl rings. His two Super Bowl losses coming in Super Bowl XXXI in 1996 to the Green Bay Packers 35-21 and Super Bowl XLIV, though in which he did not play due to his injury during the 2009 season.
Vinatieri is generally considered to be one of the most talented clutch kickers in the history of the National Football League.[1] Nicknamed "Automatic Adam" for his accuracy, and "Iceman" for his incredible poise under pressure,
Vinatieri has converted several of the most pressurized field goals in NFL history, including game-winning kicks in the final seconds of two Super Bowls.
In 1996 he was signed by the Patriots as an undrafted free agent to be a place kicker. He played in New England for the first 10 years of his NFL career, during which he played in four Super Bowls, winning three.
His first Super Bowl appearance was in his rookie season of 1996, when he played with the Patriots in their 35-21 loss to the Green Bay Packers in Super Bowl XXXI. One of his kickoffs was returned by Desmond Howard a Super Bowl record 99 yards for a touchdown, winning the game for Green Bay.
In the 2001 playoffs, during a blizzard against the Oakland Raiders in the final game at Foxboro Stadium, Vinatieri kicked a 45-yard field goal to tie the game 13-13 and send it into overtime. The kick is considered one of the greatest in league history. The Patriots then won the game on another field goal of 23 yards by Vinatieri.
In Super Bowl XXXVI he kicked a 48-yard field goal on the final play to give the New England Patriots their first Super Bowl victory, a 20-17 win over the St. Louis Rams. Two years later, and in an almost identical situation, he kicked a 41-yard field goal with 4 seconds left in Super Bowl XXXVIII to boost the Patriots to another championship (after missing one field goal and having another attempt blocked in the first half). This time, the Patriots defeated the Carolina Panthers, 32-29, making Vinatieri the first player ever to be the deciding factor in two Super Bowl games.
Vinatieri led the NFL in scoring in 2004 with 141 points (31-for-33 on field goals, and a perfect 48-for-48 on points after touchdown or PATs). His best game of the season came against the St. Louis Rams, against whom he scored 16 points (4 field goals, 4 PATs), and threw a 4-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Troy Brown on a fake field goal attempt (that pass gives him a career passer rating of 122.9). [2] He went on to score a field goal and 3 extra points in the Patriots 24-21 win over the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl XXXIX.
To date, Vinatieri has kicked 20 game-winning field goals with less than one minute remaining (out of 21 attempts; his lone miss came in 1999), including those mentioned in the postseason. At the conclusion of the 2005 season, he had a career field goal percentage of 81.9 percent (263/321), fifth highest in NFL history. His career long is 57 yards.
He has a reputation as a toughnosed defender on kickoff returns. In his third season with the Patriots, 1998, Vinatieri made 6 tackles and 1 assist on 71 kickoff returns: i.e., he was directly responsible for stopping almost 10% of his own kickoff returns. Throughout his first 10 seasons, he made 20 tackles and 7 assists. 726 of his kickoffs were returned during those years, but only 2 were returned for touchdowns.
Vinatieri finished his 10 seasons with the Patriots as the team's all time leading scorer with 1,158 points.
