Who are the ten biggest Patriots gamers ever?

You cannot win six Super Bowls with out having lots of nice gamers. Just ask the New England Patriots.

Now, many of those greats have been with the group for a span of 20 years over the franchise’s 65 seasons. But these greats helped the Patriots shortly turn out to be one of many league’s premier franchises, setting the report for many Super Bowl victories ever and holding the report for many Super Bowl appearances (11).

Of these greats, some have established themselves as higher gamers than the remainder of the pack. So, let’s check out the ten finest gamers in Patriots historical past.

10.Stanley Morgan (1977-1989)

Morgan was an integral a part of the Patriots’ profitable seasons within the Nineteen Eighties, rising as one of the explosive gamers in NFL historical past after being drafted within the first spherical within the 1977 draft. The four-time Pro Bowler’s 19.2 yards per reception and of the two-time second-team All-Pro are essentially the most in NFL historical past for a receiver with at the very least 500 receptions. His 10,352 receiving yards are additionally essentially the most in Patriots historical past. Morgan was not inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, however was enshrined within the workforce’s Hall of Fame in 2007.

9. Vince Wilfork (2004-2014)

Wilfork was on the middle of a few of the peak years of the Patriots dynasty. Playing nostril deal with, Wilfork by no means put up unbelievable stats as he by no means recorded 4 sacks in a season and solely made greater than 60 tackles as soon as. But Bill Belichick as soon as famous that Wilfork was “unattainable to dam within the run sport” as New England typically had a few of the finest defenses within the league throughout his 11 years there. This helped the Patriots win two Super Bowls and play in two extra as Wilfork was a five-time Pro Bowler and four-time All-Pro (one first-team).

8. Logan Mankins (2005-2013)

There had been many nice gamers who performed in New England through the run of the Patriots dynasty, however not all of them had been lucky sufficient to win a Super Bowl. Mankins’ time in New England aligned completely with the 10-year drought the Patriots had between Super Bowls, having been drafted instantly after their third win in 2004 and traded weeks earlier than their title-winning season in 2014. But Mankins was constantly among the many league’s high offensive linemen throughout his time in Foxborough, incomes seven Pro Bowls and 6 All-Pros (one first-team). Mankins’ incapability to win a Super Bowl wasn’t on account of his lack of making an attempt both. He performed the complete 2011 season with a torn ACL, which led to a Super Bowl loss.

7.Richard Seymour (2001-2008)

Seymour’s arrival in New England helped spherical out a proficient protection within the 2001 Super Bowl-winning season earlier than turning into a key participant within the subsequent two Super Bowl titles. He completed second in Defensive Player of the Year voting in 2003, recording eight sacks and 56 complete tackles as an inside defensive lineman that yr. He had 5 sacks when the Patriots received all of it once more in 2004. Over the course of his Patriots profession, he was named a Pro Bowler 5 occasions and an All-Pro on 4 events (three first-team). Those accolades, plus his function on three Super Bowl-winning groups, helped Seymour be named a Hall of Famer in 2022.

6. Ty Law (1995-2004)

While Seymour commanded the defensive position through the Patriots’ first three Super Bowls, Law was a nightmare matchup for opponents within the secondary. He truly helped the Patriots attain the Super Bowl in his second season in 1996, recording three interceptions that season. Two years later, he had a league-leading 9 interceptions whereas ending third in Defensive Player of the Year voting. He recorded arguably the perfect defensive sport in franchise historical past when he returned an interception for a landing within the Super Bowl XXXVI victory in opposition to the Rams, which was one in all three choose sixes he had that yr. He had six interceptions of their second Super Bowl-winning season in 2003 and added three extra when he picked off Peyton Manning 3 times within the AFC Championship Game that yr. Law’s performances in massive video games helped him get into the Hall of Fame in 2019.

5. André Tippett (1982-1993)

Over a decade earlier than Seymour did injury as a cross rusher for the Patriots, Tippett did the identical in New England. He was one of many NFL’s finest cross rushers within the Nineteen Eighties, recording at the very least 12.5 sacks in three seasons. His look helped the Patriots attain the Super Bowl in 1985, recording 16.5 sacks that yr. He was named a Pro Bowler 5 occasions and an All-Pro 4 occasions (three first-team), incomes him a spot within the Hall of Fame in 2008.

4. Mike Haynes (1976-1982)

Law adopted in Haynes’ footsteps to New England. Haynes started the lineage of nice cornerbacks enjoying for the Patriots quickly after the workforce drafted him in 1976, instantly turning into among the best gamers at his place. He received Defensive Rookie of the Year, recording a career-high eight interceptions that season. He was additionally named a Pro Bowler and All-Pro in all however one in all his seven seasons in New England, which ended when the workforce determined to commerce him to the Raiders in 1983. Haynes continued to play nice with the Raiders, the who helped turn out to be a Hall of Famer in 1997.

Three gamers who had been arguably the perfect at their respective positions performed nearly all of their careers with the Patriots. Gronkowski established himself as the perfect tight finish in NFL historical past throughout his 9 seasons with the Patriots, successful three Super Bowls and incomes 5 Pro Bowl nominations. His 2011 season was arguably the perfect ever for a good finish, recording 90 receptions for 1,327 yards and 17 touchdowns that yr. The 79 landing receptions he had in his New England profession can be sixth all-time. His 12 landing receptions within the playoffs with the Patriots would additionally rank third in NFL historical past, no matter place.

2. John Hannah (1973-1985)

Often thought of the perfect guard in NFL historical past by many analysts, Hannah was a nine-time Pro Bowler and 10-time All-Pro (seven first-team) throughout his illustrious profession. He truly earned each All-Pro honor within the last 10 seasons of his profession, serving to the Patriots turn out to be a playoff workforce within the late Nineteen Seventies earlier than reaching his first Super Bowl in his last season. Among these feats, Sports Illustrated named Hannah the “finest offensive lineman of all time” whereas he graced the quilt of an version of its journal.

There could not have been anybody else at No. 1. Brady’s resume speaks for itself, successful six Super Bowls and three MVPs throughout his time with the Patriots. His introduction because the workforce’s beginning quarterback in 2001 instantly modified the course of not solely the workforce’s historical past, but in addition the historical past of soccer. New England, which was typically one of many league’s laughingstocks in its first 40-plus seasons of existence, grew to become a dynasty in simply 4 seasons with Brady as its beginning quarterback. He, together with Bill Belichick, helped redefine success within the NFL as their six Super Bowls helped the Patriots tie the Steelers for essentially the most wins ever by a single franchise in simply 18 seasons.

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