NFL Team Guide
New England Patriots: History, Super Bowls & Facts
The New England Patriots have won six Super Bowls, tied with the Pittsburgh Steelers for the most as of 2026, and have played in 12, more than any other team. Here is the franchise at a glance.
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Updated live from ESPN.
Quick facts
| Founded | 1959 as the Boston Patriots (AFL); first season 1960 |
|---|---|
| Became New England Patriots | 1971, on moving to Foxborough, Mass. |
| Stadium | Gillette Stadium, Foxborough (opened 2002) |
| Super Bowl wins | 6, tied for the most (as of 2026) |
| Super Bowl appearances | 12, the most of any team (through the 2025 season) |
| AFC championships | 12 (through the 2025 season) |
Super Bowl history
All six Patriots championships came between the 2001 and 2018 seasons.
- Super Bowl XXXVI (2001 season): beat the St. Louis Rams 20–17
- Super Bowl XXXVIII (2003 season): beat the Carolina Panthers 32–29
- Super Bowl XXXIX (2004 season): beat the Philadelphia Eagles 24–21
- Super Bowl XLIX (2014 season): beat the Seattle Seahawks 28–24
- Super Bowl LI (2016 season): beat the Atlanta Falcons 34–28 in overtime
- Super Bowl LIII (2018 season): beat the Los Angeles Rams 13–3
- Also reached Super Bowls XX, XXXI, XLII, XLVI, LII and LX
Franchise history
- 1960: Began play as the Boston Patriots, a charter member of the AFL.
- 1971: Moved to Foxborough and became the New England Patriots after the NFL rejected the name "Bay State Patriots."
- 2002: Opened Gillette Stadium, replacing Foxboro Stadium.
- 2001–2018: Won six Super Bowls.
- 2024: Retired Tom Brady's number 12.
Franchise record holders
| Passing yards | Tom Brady, 74,571 |
|---|---|
| Rushing yards | Sam Cunningham, 5,453 |
| Receiving yards | Stanley Morgan, 10,352 |
Retired numbers
- 12Tom Brady
- 20Gino Cappelletti
- 40Mike Haynes
- 57Steve Nelson
- 73John Hannah
- 78Bruce Armstrong
- 79Jim Lee Hunt
- 89Bob Dee
Hall of Famers
John Hannah, Mike Haynes, Andre Tippett, Ty Law, Richard Seymour, Adam Vinatieri.
Biggest rivalries
- New York Jets: AFC East rivals since 1960, sharpened by the Parcells and Belichick defections.
- Indianapolis Colts: the Brady vs. Manning era and multiple AFC Championship meetings.
- Buffalo Bills: a long-running AFC East rivalry.
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How many Super Bowls have the Patriots won?
Six: XXXVI, XXXVIII, XXXIX, XLIX, LI and LIII. As of 2026 that ties the Pittsburgh Steelers for the most.
How many Super Bowls have the Patriots played in?
Twelve through the 2025 season, the most of any NFL team.
Why are they called the New England Patriots?
The team moved from Boston to Foxborough in 1971 and took a regional name after the NFL rejected "Bay State Patriots."
Is Tom Brady's number retired?
Yes. The Patriots retired number 12 in 2024.
Who is the Patriots' all-time leading passer?
Tom Brady, with 74,571 passing yards for New England.
Sources
Facts checked September 23, 2026. Live figures above come from ESPN.