Fan mail address
New England Patriots
Gillette Stadium
1 Patriot Place
Foxboro, MA 02035-1388
USA
Address information
Gillette Stadium
(Stadium)
1 Patriot Place
Foxboro, MA 02035-1388
USA
Phone: (508) 543-8200
Fax: (508) 384-9247
The New England Patriots were established in 1960 as a charter member of the American Football League (AFL) and were initially known as the Boston Patriots. The team’s founding was part of a broader effort to bring professional football to New England. The Patriots played their home games at various venues, including Boston University’s Nickerson Field and Fenway Park.
The franchise struggled during its early years, experiencing limited success on the field. The Patriots made their first playoff appearance in 1963 but were ultimately defeated in the AFL Championship game. The team continued to face challenges throughout the 1960s, including a lack of stability at the quarterback position and inconsistent performances.
In 1971, the team rebranded itself as the New England Patriots to better represent the entire region. The franchise’s fortunes began to improve in the 1970s under head coach Chuck Fairbanks, who led the team to its first playoff berth in 1976, culminating in a disappointing loss to the Oakland Raiders in the AFC Divisional Playoff.
