Today In Patriots History June 29, 1965: Heisman Trophy winner Joe Bellino signs with Pats

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Today in Patriots History
Billy Sullivan lands
big-name local & national star​

June 29, 1965:
The Boston Patriots sign 1960 Heisman Trophy winner Joe Bellino, after his completion of a four-year commitment to the Navy. Bellino was one of the greatest high school athletes in New England sports history, leading Winchester High School to two state basketball championships, batting over .400 on their baseball team (he was also offered a major league baseball contract), as well as being an outstanding back on their football team.


Joe Bellino was nicknamed the "Winchester Rifle" – a reference to his hometown and high school, as well as his explosive running style. He was a fast and agile back who specialized in finding daylight in the smallest of holes.


"My first step was at top speed," explained Bellino. "I could hit the hole as fast as anyone, then quickly get outside."

He starred at Navy from 1958-60 under College Football Hall of Fame head coach Wayne Hardin, rushing for 1,664 yards on 330 carries and scoring 31 touchdowns during his three-year career, while also serving as a dangerous return man.


In 1960, Bellino rushed for 834 yards and an incredible 17 touchdowns. He added 17 receptions for another 280 yards, while leading Navy to a 9-2 record. After beating archrival Army 17-12, Navy earned an invitation to the prestigious Orange Bowl – losing 21-14 to Missouri on Jan. 2 in Miami. Bellino also inspired a 14-7 win over Notre Dame, and had four touchdowns and a 90-yard run against Virginia that season.

A unanimous All-America selection, Joe Bellino was awarded both the Heisman Trophy and Maxwell Award in 1960. Playing both ways, he was also a defensive back, recording an end zone interception to preserve Navy's narrow victory over Army that year.


In 1958, Bellino scored the Middies' only touchdown in a 22-6 loss to Army. He avenged the loss to the Cadets by gaining 115 yards and scoring three touchdowns in a 43-12 victory the following season.


Bellino, who also played baseball for the Midshipmen, capped his senior year by winning Navy's top two athletic awards – the Thompson Trophy Cup and the Naval Academy Athletic Association Sword, marking the first time in 41 years that one midshipman received both honors. His No. 27 jersey was retired following the 1960 season.

Due to his four-year unavailability, Bellino was not an early draft pick. He was selected late in both the NFL Draft (17th round by the Washington Redskins) and AFL Draft (19th round by the Boston Patriots) in 1961. He chose the Patriots, but would not suit up for the team until 1965 due to his Naval commitment. Bellino spent three seasons with the Pats, primarily as a kick returner. He is the only Heisman Trophy winning running back to play for the Patriots. (The Pats have had five other Heisman winners play, all quarterbacks: John Huarte (1964), Jim Plunkett (1970), Doug Flutie (1984), Vinny Testaverde (1986) and Cam Newton (2010). There is also Tim Tebow (2007), but he was strictly a preseason side show.) Joe was also the lowest drafted Heisman winner in NFL history due to the military commitment, though it should also be noted that three recipients went undrafted. Pete Dawkins (1958) went to Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar after graduating from Army, and Charlie Ward (1993) chose the NBA over the NFL.


Joe Bellino served 28 years in the Navy and Naval Reserve, retiring with the rank of captain. He also spent four decades working in the auto leasing and auction industry.


Since 2007 the Navy annually presents the Joe Bellino Award to the varsity football player whose inspiring on-field performance made a significant impact on the team and contributed to its overall success during the season.

Bill Belichick can draw up a play from 1959 from memory because of course he can

Belichick sat down with Leslie Visser and Joe Bellino to talk about his father and Navy football

www.cbssports.com

In a segment for CBS Sports Network produced ahead of this weekend's Army-Navy football game, Belichick sat down with Leslie Visser and former Navy halfback (and Heisman Trophy winner) Joe Bellino, and Belichick drew up the exact diagram for Navy's 27 F Trap, from memory, complete with the route Bellino would usually take -- through the seven hole, then to the outside, then up the field -- when running the play.​

June 16, 2004: Bill Belichick with Navy Heisman Trophy winners Joe Bellino and Roger Staubach



Joe Bellino and Jim Plunkett, two former Heisman trophy winners, talk with newly retired Pats receiver and placekicker, Gino Cappelletti​

USNA Class of 1963 -- memories

Half a century ago, few players caught the nation's fancy like Bellino, a modest little plugger who, at 5-feet-9, looked like anything but America's best. Yet there he was, the nation's No. 2 scorer (110 points), darting here and feinting there and scuttling for touchdowns with a spontaneity that drove opponents nuts.​

"He runs like a berserk butterfly," Sports Illustrated wrote of its cover boy on the eve of the 1960 Army-Navy game.​

Red Smith, sports columnist for the New York Herald Tribune, wrote that Bellino "wriggles like a brook trout through congested traffic."​

"All I know is that I was quick," Bellino said. "I wasn't big in the shoulders or waist, but my legs were stocky and I was built low to the ground. I could run straight, or sideways, without losing any speed, and I had lateral movement that let me bounce in and out (of jams)."​

Bellino appeared on "The Ed Sullivan Show." Two days later, he won the Heisman Trophy in a landslide vote over college stars like Mike Ditka (Pitt), Tom Matte (Ohio State) and Billy Kilmer (UCLA).​

"I was in engineering class when I got the news," Bellino said. "Someone said the (Naval Academy) Superintendent wanted to speak to me. I thought, 'Geez, I'm in trouble academically.' "​

Afterward, a reporter asked Bellino what else he hoped to accomplish.​

"Well," the All-American said, "another guy from Massachusetts did pretty good this year and I'd like to meet him."​

Within days, Bellino found himself having lunch with that "other guy," - President elect John F Kennedy - in Georgetown. Kennedy, a former Navy Lieutenant who served in World War II, attended the Orange Bowl, where the Midshipmen fell to No. 5 Missouri, 21-14. Playing with a broken collarbone, Bellino made a diving, 28-yard TD catch that he still calls "the best play I ever made."​

He and Kennedy stayed friends.​

"In June of 1961, I was picked to deliver our class yearbook to the President," Bellino said. "He invited me into the Oval Office, where we sat for an hour, just two guys with Boston accents talking football."​

Ten Questions: Joe Bellino

Editor’s Note: Our January 2014 issue featured an interview with Pete Dawkins, West Point’s soldier-scholar-athlete who won the 1958 Heisman Trophy. This

historynet.com

What can you tell us about playing pro football with the Boston Patriots?​

BELLINO: That was the summer of ’65, and I accepted a contract at Patriot camp, resigned my active commission from the Navy, but stayed in the Reserves.​

I played with the Patriots for three years; but unfortunately, the first two years I had a broken ankle. My last year, I was healthy and did very well on punt returns and was also a wide receiver and running back. In my third year, I was picked up by the Cincinnati Bengals in the expansion draft, but at age 30 I was not keen on moving my young family to Cincinnati.​

Joe Bellino - Heisman

Joe Bellino, the “Winchester Rifle” is the first Naval Academy football player to win the Heisman Trophy. Born and raised in Winchester, Mass., Bellino was a three-sport star for Winchester High. He was good enough in baseball to be offered a contract out of high school by the Pittsburgh...

www.heisman.com

Joe Bellino, the “Winchester Rifle” is the first Naval Academy football player to win the Heisman Trophy.​

Born and raised in Winchester, Mass., Bellino was a three-sport star for Winchester High. He was good enough in baseball to be offered a contract out of high school by the Pittsburgh Pirates, but he chose to play football for Navy despite offers from Notre Dame and several Big Ten schools.​

After a year in prep school, Bellino became an instant star for the Midshipmen. In his three years at Navy, he scored 31 touchdowns, rushed for 1,664 yards on 330 carries, returned 37 kicks for 833 more yards and altogether set 15 Naval Academy football records.​

In 1960, Bellino rushed for 834 yards and 15 touchdowns and scored another three TDs via pass receptions. He was a unanimous All-America selection and also the winner of the Maxwell Award. He won the Heisman handily over Richie Lucas of Penn State, totaling 1,929 points to Lucas’ 613.​

In addition to his football exploits, Bellino was an outstanding catcher and outfielder on Navy baseball teams. He hit .428 in 22 games in 1959 and led the Eastern Intercollegiate League in stolen bases. He had a .320 average in 1960 and was the baseball team captain in 1961.​

Boston Patriots players Joe Bellino (Winchester); Ed Toner (Lynn); Bobby Nichols (South Boston); Ray Ilg (Wellesley) pose for a portrait together on July 25, 1967


July 2, 1965: Joe Bellino and Boston Patriots president Bill Sullivan pose for a photo after Bellino signed with the team.


Oct 8, 1960, Norfolk, VA; Navy vs SMU in the Oyster Bowl: Navy HB Joe Bellino, #27, vaults the SMU line in the third quarter for a 6 yard gain.




1965 Wire Photo: Joe Bellino reported to Boston Patriot's coach Mike Holovak​

You grew up in Winchester and can be considered a townie:

You grew up in Winchester and can be considered a townie: (This is obviously my limited list. Please add your own). - if you remember the W...

nowfamilyperspective.blogspot.com

 

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Dec 9, 2016:
Some Bellino memories from our own PatFanKen:

I have one Joe Bellino Story though. When I signed with the Quincy Giants I had to go Joe Bellino's office to do the player work. In his office he introduced himself to me and shook my hand, and then pointed out his Heisman Trophy. It then took about 2 minutes to finish up and I was out the door with the next guy coming in. He seemed like a pretty nice guy, and it was many years later before I met him again. But I still remember walking out the office with a copy of my contract (which paid me $250/game) and remembering him pointing out the Heisman so proudly and thinking to my self, "what a douche" ​

I can't recall ever seeing him again that season, or for over a decade. Joe lived in Winchester and so did one of my weekly poker buddies. On night Joe showed up for poker night and he was great. Great stories, Great laughs, and he was a bad player. . Since then I've always felt a little bad for my initial reaction that summer night in August of 1969... But it was still a "little" bit douchie, don't you think. ​

July 5, 2025:
PatsWicckedPissah shares a Joe Bellino encounter:

Moved into Winchester from Arlington my sophomore year in HS. One day walking thru the halls Joe was coming towards me in Navy whites. He was very wide but no way was he 5' 9" as at 5'9"and a half I had inches on him. I thought "No way could I ever tackle this guy" His younger brother Mike was in my class. A decent running back but not even a shadow of Joe. Later on with relatives living in Winchester I got to meet him and his family. Good people.​

Drove by Bellino's Pizza old location week ago and it is not there now.​

 

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Today in Patriots History
Other 20th Century News​

June 29, 1960:
Boston Patriots sign QB Bob Anastas

Robert Anastas received All-America honors in both football and ice hockey at American International College in Springfield Mass., in1958-59. The initial Boston Patriots training camp saw over 350 players come and go, and Anastas was one of about 150 that made it through the first round of cuts. The Hudson Mass. native did not make it onto the week one roster though, and he began a long career as a teacher and ice hockey coach in Framingham and Wayland, at one point being named "Massachusetts Teacher of the Year".

Following the deaths of two students in separate drunk driving crashes in 1981, Anastas founded Students Against Drunk Drivers. 45 years later SADD has about 10,000 local chapters and 350,000 active members.

https://www.masslive.com/sports/2008/09/bob_anastas_an_allamerica_quar.html

BOB ANASTAS (2008) - Hall of Fame - American International College

BOB ANASTAS, Class: 1959 Induction: 2008 Sport(s): Football, Ice Hockey - Bob Anastas was a member of the AIC football and men’s ice hockey teams. He earned

aicyellowjackets.com

Bob Anastas was a member of the AIC football and men’s ice hockey teams. He earned Associated Press All-America honors in 1958 and finished his collegiate career as AIC’s all-time passing leader with 3,279 yards. He led all passers in New England and the ECAC from 1956-58, was named a first-team ECAC all-star as a senior and was later drafted signed by the New England Boston Patriots.​

As a member of the ice hockey team, Anastas received honorable mention to the All-America team and earned all-region and all-New England honors. He received the F.J. Maloney Award in 1959 as the College’s most outstanding athlete, and was also the recipient of the William E. Conniff Hockey Award.​

Anastas went on to found Students Against Driving Drunk (SADD), which is now known as Students Against Destructive Decisions, in 1981 and served as its executive director for 12 years. He has traveled around the world to lecture on the use of drugs and alcohol by students.​

June 29, 1961:
Patriots sign S/QB/K Ivan Toncic

Ivan Toncic was a T-formation quarterback for the Pitt Panthers from 1957 to 1959. He was selected by Buffalo in the 1960 AFL draft, but instead chose to play for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in Canada. Between incumbent Butch Songin and newcomers Babe Parilli and Tom Yewcic, Toncic faced long odds of making the roster as a QB, but had much better chances as a safety. Toncic was released on August 15 after a severe knee injury, then spent six seasons playing and coaching minor league football, with the Akron Pros and Wheeling Ironmen of the old Continental Football League.

Beaver County Sports Hall of Fame - Ivan Toncic

Midland High School may no longer exist, but the proud community has a ton of wonderful memories of its great student-athletes. One of its favorite sons is Ivan Toncic, who was a triple threat with the Leopard football team - running, passing, and kicking his way to All County, All WPIAL, and All State honorable mention awards his senior season of 1956. He concluded his scholastic career by being named MVP in the Beaver County All Star Game and also was picked to play in the Pittsburgh Area All Star Game.​

At the University of Pittsburgh, Ivan was a three year starter as a multidimensional threat, quarterbacking, playing defensive back, punting, and kicking for the Panthers. His spirited play earned him third team All American honors as a senior and an invitation to play in the East-West Shrine All Star Game. In 1960 he was named Most Outstanding Amateur Athlete in Pittsburgh by the Dapper Dan Banquet.​

Although drafted by both the Washington Redskins and Buffalo Bills in the newly formed American Football League, Ivan signed with Hamilton of the Canadian Football League, where he played defensive back and backup quarterback. Ivan suffered a broken arm his first year in Canada and the following season signed with the Boston Patriots of the AFL as a safety, but ended his year with a major knee injury, which caused him to lose much of his speed.​

Ivan then went to Wheeling of the United Football League, where he played for three years, earning MVP honors his second season. In the third year player-coach Ivan again suffered a knee injury, this one ending his playing days. Ivan stayed with Wheeling for several years, helping to start flag football and hockey leagues.​

Ivan Toncic College Stats, School, Draft, Gamelog, Splits | College Football at Sports-Reference.com

Check out Ivan Toncic's College Stats, School, Draft, Gamelog, Splits and More College Stats at Sports-Reference.com

www.sports-reference.com

Ivan Toncic Pro Football Record

The trusted source for pro football information about Ivan Toncic. Get statistics, transactions. biographical data and more at Pro Football Archives.

www.profootballarchives.com

Ivan Toncic Coaching Record

The trusted source for the pro football coaching record of Ivan Toncic.

www.profootballarchives.com

June 29, 1972:
Patriots acquire Jim Flanigan

The Pats sent a sixth round draft pick - that they had just acquired the previous day from Pittsburgh, for PR/DB/WR Ron Gardin - to New Orleans for Flanigan. The middle linebacker from Pitt was a 2nd round pick by Green Bay in 1967, but could not crack the starting lineup in four seasons with the Packers. The Saints claimed him off waivers and he was their starting middle linebacker in 1971. His son Jim Flanigan Jr was a defensive tackle for the Bears, playing in the NFL from 1994 to 2003, and his grandson James Flanigan is a tight end at Notre Dame.

The Pats waived the original Jim Flanigan on September 5, 1972, marking the last stop of his NFL career.

Packers linebacker Flanigan fit right in

Jim Flanigan fit the mold of the University of Pittsburgh linebackers in the 1960s.<br /><br />Big. Tough. Smart. Old school.

archive.jsonline.com

June 29, 1983:
Schaefer Stadium is rededicated as Sullivan Stadium, highlighted by a free concert from the Boston Pops

The name change had been announced on May 23 as 'a way to honor William Sullivan', but it was also surely part of the terms of a marketing agreement that the Patriots had recently signed with Anheuser-Busch. I find it interesting that Billy Sullivan was way ahead of the curve by securing revenue by selling the naming rights to Schaefer Stadium back in 1970, yet the team failed to capitalize on that opportunity through multiple owners for nearly two decades.




June 29, 1987:
Patriots re-sign CB Ronnie Lippett

Lippett was entering the fifth season of his eight year career with the Patriots and was coming off a 1986 season in which he had eight picks. The former Miami Hurricane would add three more interceptions in 1987 - two of which were the pick-six variety. In week one Lippett picked off Dan Marino in the second half of a tie game for the winning points in a 28-21 victory. Then in week 10 his 45-yard return off Gary Hogeboom sealed a 24-0 victory over former head coach Ron Meyer's Indianapolis Colts.

Over the course of his career Ronnie Lippett had 24 interceptions for the Patriots.
He is a member of the New England Patriots All-1980s Team.

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