Tom Brady, QB
Brady’s regular season stats are prolific, but his post-season accomplishments may never be equaled. Brady is the first quarterback in NFL history to lead his team to 5 Super Bowl wins and the first player in Super Bowl history to win 4 MVP awards. He is the all-time leader in Super Bowl passing yards (2,071), TD passes (15), and starts (7). As for leadership, Brady has been elected as team captain every season since 2002.
Drew Bledsoe, QB
Bledsoe played nine seasons for the Patriots (1993-01), and ranks second in team history with 2,544 completions and 29,657 passing yards and third in team history with 166 touchdown passes. Bledsoe was picked for three Pro Bowls and led the Patriots to the postseason four times in his first six seasons as the starting quarterback.
Michael Haynes, CB
Haynes was a lockdown cornerback who played for the Patriots from 1976-82 and was inducted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1997. In his rookie season, Haynes had 8 interceptions and returned 2 punts for touchdowns.
Vince Wilfork, DT, NT
Wilfork’s large size was not as huge as his charisma and popularity. A fan favorite, Wilfork anchored the Patriots defense from 2004-14 and won 2 Super Bowls along the way.
Adam Vinatieri, K
There are few players more clutch than Vinatieri. He kicked a 48-yard FG on the final play as the Patriots notched their first Super Bowl in 2002 and Vinatieri came through again two years later, booting the Super Bowl winning 41-yard FG. By the time Vinatieri finished his final season with the Patriots (1996-2005), he had kicked 18 game-winning field goals with less than one minute remaining, including the postseason.
Ty Law, CB
Law played 10 seasons for the Patriots (1995-2004) and tied Raymond Clayborn’s career franchise-record with 36 interceptions. His six interceptions returned for touchdowns are also a franchise best.Law made his mark in the post season as a part of three Super bowl Championships in four years.
Stanley Morgan, WR
Morgan electrified Patriots fans with his speed from 1977-1989. Morgan remains one of the most prolific wide receivers in team history and still holds the franchise record with 10,352 receiving yards.
Julian Edelman, WR
Edelman came from humble beginnings to emerge as Tom Brady’s favorite target. Edelman has solidified his stardom in the postseason, catching the game-winning TD in the Super Bowl win over Seattle and nobody will ever forget his miraculous catch in the Super Bowl comeback against Atlanta. Still in his prime, Edelman holds the franchise record for postseason receptions with 89, third-most in NFL history behind Jerry Rice (151) and Reggie Wayne (93). Edelman is also a dangerous punt returner.
Tedy Bruschi, LB
Bruschi spent his entire 13-year career (1996-2008) with the Patriots as a stalwart linebacker and defensive team captain for 7 seasons. He appeared in five Super Bowls, winning three. Despite all his success on the field, Bruschi’s greatest accomplishment might have been coming back to play after suffering a stroke in February 2005. For his courage and determination, Bruschi was awarded the 2005 NFL Comeback Player of the Year.
Andre Tippett, LB
Tippett played 11 seasons for the Patriots (1982-93) and was one of the best sack artists in NFL history. From 1984-85, Tippett recorded 35 sacks, the highest two-season sack total by a linebacker in NFL history and he holds the Patriots franchise record with 100 career sacks. Tippett was elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1991.
John Hannah, OT
Hannah is the best offensive lineman to ever don a Patriots uniform and arguably the most dominant offensive lineman in NFL history. He played his entire 13-year career (1973-85) in New England capping it with a Super Bowl appearance and All-Pro honors in his final season. Hannah missed only five games because of injury of a possible 191 during his career. He was the first Patriots player to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1991.
Willie McGinest, DE, LB
McGinest was a defensive stalwart, was a versatile player starring on three Super Bowl Championship teams and has the most career sacks in the postseason with 16. The charismatic McGinest played for the Patriots from 1994-2005. His 78 career sacks rank second all-time for the Patriots.
Wes Welker, WR
Welker played for the Patriots from 2007-12 and few receivers have ever put together a greater six year span during the regular season. He averaged an incredible 112 catches per year during that time.
Troy Brown, WR, DB
While many Patriots made their mark with gaudy stats, Brown’s claim to fame is that of a gamer. While Brown did average 94 catches over three seasons from 2000-02, he earned a reputation as a clutch performer who did whatever necessary to win. Primarily a wide receiver, Brown played defensive back and is still the Patriots all-time leading punt returner with 252 returns for 2,625 yards and 3 touchdowns. Brown played his entire 15-year career (1993-2007) with the Patriots.
Raymond Clayborn, DB
Clayborn was a ferocious hitter and ball hawk on defense, still tied for the Patriots franchise record with 36 career interceptions. He spent 13 seasons with the Patriots (1977-1989).
Rob Gronkowski, TE
Gronkowski’s oft-goofy personality can overshadow the fact that he’s one of the most dominant tight ends in NFL history. Gronk’s five double-digit touchdown seasons (2010-12, 2014-15) are the most by a tight end in NFL history. Brady and Gronkowski have connected on 67 TD passes, the most by a duo in team history.