The Pats Best Ever Players

With the NFL season now underway, many are beginning to make predictions how teams will perform — and who will make it to the Super Bowl this year. The NFL odds suggest the Patriots have real hope of winning the Super Bowl this season, this is disappointing considering they share the record for the most Super Bowl wins with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Both teams have won the grand title a total of six times, followed by the shared record of 5 by the San Francisco 49ers and the Dallas Cowboys.

Of course, one of the reasons that the New England Patriots have been successful in making it to the top so many times is because of how fantastic their players are. We’ve compiled a list of the best-ever players that have made the Pats the team they are today.

Tom Brady

When football fans think of one of the top players of all time, Tom Brady is undoubtedly one of the first names that comes to mind. The quarterback has had a career with the Patriots since 2000 and played 6 Super Bowls, as well as having 3 All-Pro First-Team Selections and 3 MVPs.

Last season he outdid himself, eclipsing both 500 touchdowns and 70,000 passing yards in his career. At an approximate value of 269, Brady is one of the best, with more approximate value with the patriots than the combination of their second and third most valuable players.

John Hannah

One of the best offensive linebackers of all-time in NFL history, John Hannah has to make the list. He began his career with the patriots back in 1973 and played until 1985, with an approximate value of 147, 9 Pro Bowls and 7 All-Pro First-Team Selections, he made it to the NFL Hall of Fame in 1991. Second only to the incredible Tom Brady on approximate player value, he helped bring the patriots to success.

During the NFL’s first 16-game season in 1978, with the help of Hannah, the Patriots ran for a still-record 3,165 yards. He carried the team for many years, with the first year after he retired the team felt the impact. They dropped to 2.91 yards per carry following twelve years straight of 3.73 and above. Hannah is a player that’s become of the Pats legacy and will continue to be a firm figure in the NFL history books.

Andre Tippett

Andre Tippet was a linebacker for the Patriots between 1982 and 1993. With an approximate value of 109, 5 Pro Bowls and 2 All-Pro First-Team Selections, Andre made it to the NFL Hall of fame in 2008. He finished his incredible career with 100 sacks in 151 games over a 142-game span. He led the NFL in approximate value for two years: 1985 and 1987. And he’s certainly something of a legend within the history of the Patriots, which is why he definitely deserves to be on this list.

Rob Gronkowski

Rob Gronkowski’s career with the Pats spends 8 years, between 2010 and 2018. During this time, he had an approximate value of 82, as well as playing 5 Pro Bowls and 3 Super Bowls. He had career-best marks, including 90 receptions for 1,327. He also achieved a league-leading 17 touchdowns during 2011.

Not only was Rob a fantastic player, but a bit of a cultural phenomenon. He had some truly incredible touchdown spikes— but was also on television with his larger-than-life persona. Party cruises and night clubs were part of his lifestyle, as well as some pretty insane Tide Pods commercials which got him seen all over the place outside the pitch.

Richard Seymour

Richard Seymour had a successful seven-year career with the Patriots playing both Defensive Tackle and Defensive End during this time. He ranked an approximate value of 85, with 5 Pro Bowls, 3 Super Bowls and 3 All-Pro First-Team Selections.

During his first four seasons with The Patriots the team won the Super Bowl three times, which is really a feat. While most of that success has been credited to Bill Belichcik and Tom Brady, Seymour definitely played a part on the strong defensive line. Many say that’s why the franchise was so tough to move the ball against during the 2000s.

He was such a talented player he even made the odd appearance as fullback during his first few seasons. Seymour definitely made his mark on the team and continues to be remembered as one of their best ever players.

Ty Law

A defensive back for the Patriots, Ty Law played with the team from 1995 to 2004. His stats include an approximate value of 83, 4 Pro Bowls, 3 Super Bowls and 2 All-Pro First-Team Selections. He made it to the NFL Hall of Fame in 2019.

Law was a great and consistent player, making multiple interceptions every year and leading all NFL players in 1998 with nine picks. During the Pats runs to the Super Bowl in both 2001 and 2003, he had a total of 34 tackles, eight passes and four interceptions. He’s one of the best and alongside the others on this list, has made a name for himself in NFL history.