| The Patriots Hall of Fame |
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Background - In 1991, John Hannah became the first Patriots player in franchise history to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. That year, the Patriots created a new distinction for honoring past greats by creating a team Hall of Fame. A committee of media and staff selected Patriots players for induction, choosing John Hannah to become the first player in the Patriots Hall of Fame. Twelve other players have since been added. The Hall at Patriot Place provides a home for current and future members of the New England Patriots Hall of Fame. Induction ceremonies will be held at the Hall at Patriot Place each season. All former players and coaches who have been retired for at least four years are eligible for induction into the Patriots Hall of Fame. Here are the Hall of Famers.
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 | John Hannah played entire career with the Patriots from 1973 through the Super Bowl season of 1985 and was dubbed "The Greatest Offensive Lineman of All Time" by Sports Illustrated. A durable player at a physical position, Hannah played in 183 games and missed only five games due to injury. He was one of only two Patriots voted to the NFL’s 75th anniversary team. The nine-time Pro Bowler earned Offensive Lineman of the Year honors for four straight years (1978-81). He anchored the 1978 offensive line that set an NFL record with 3,165 rushing yards - a record which has not been challenged since. In 1991, Hannah was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame and was the initial member of the Patriots Hall of Fame. In 1999, Hannah was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame for his outstanding career at the University of Alabama under coach Bear Bryant. |
 | Nick Buoniconti played linebacker for the Patriots from 1962-68 and was voted an American Football League All-Star five times, including 1966 when he was the top vote getter. The Springfield, MA native took night classes during the season at Suffolk University and received his law degree in 1968. In 1970, Buoniconti was named to the All-AFL team, commemorating the best players in that league’s history. Hall of Fame quarterback Len Dawson said of Buoniconti, "if you are lucky enough to knock him down, you have to lay on him or he'll get right back into the play." In 1992, Buoniconti was inducted into the Patriots Hall of Fame and in 2001. He was named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. |
 | Gino Cappelletti is perhaps the most recognized figure in Patriots history. A versatile player, Cappelletti played wide receiver and kicker for the Patriots from 1960-70 and was the Patriots' all-time leading scorer until 2005. He led the American Football League in scoring five times and holds two of the top five scoring seasons in league history – 147 points in 1961 and 155 points in 1964. The 1964 AFL Most Valuable Player, Cappelletti was voted an AFL All-Star five times. Cappelletti still holds the Patriots records for career field goals made and is still among the top ten receivers in Patriots history. After his playing career ended, Cappelletti moved into the broadcast booth with his longtime partner Gil Santos. For the better part of the past quarter century, Santos and Cappelletti have been the voices of the Patriots for millions of New England football fans. In 1992, Cappelletti was inducted in the Patriots Hall of Fame. |
 | Bob Dee was the Ironman of the American Football League, never missing a game during his career. A local product, Dee was born in Quincy, MA and graduated from the College of Holy Cross. A defensive lineman for the Patriots from 1960 to 1967, Dee started 112 consecutive games, wearing the same helmet nearly every game. He scored the first touchdown in AFL history when he dove onto a fumble in the end zone in a preseason contest vs. Buffalo. Dee was voted to five AFL All-Star teams and was enshrined in the Patriots Hall of Fame in 1993. |
 | Jim Lee Hunt played for the Patriots from 1960-71. Nicknamed "Earthquake,” Hunt played in 141 games at defensive tackle. He was voted to four AFL All-Star games and named "best pass rushing tackle in the AFL" by AFL scouts in 1967. Hunt possessed great speed for a man of his size, once intercepting a pass and out-running two running backs for a 79-yard touchdown return. An award for the best Patriots lineman was named in his honor and John Hannah won it in 1981. In 1993, Hunt was inducted into the Patriots Hall of Fame. |
 | Steve Nelson played for the Patriots from 1974-87 and the linebacker was the nucleus of the Patriots defense. Nelson was voted to three Pro Bowls recorded over 100 tackles nine times during his career. He led the Patriots in tackles in 8 of his 14 seasons, including an unofficial team record of 207 in 1988. After retirement, he coached for the Patriots and built Curry College into a perennial power. More recently, Nelson has become a familiar football analyst on local television and radio. In 1993, Nelson was inducted into the Patriots Hall of Fame. |
 | Vito “Babe” Parilli played quarterback for the Patriots from 1961-67 and threw for more than 20,000 yards during his career. Parilli was voted to three American Football League All-Star teams and was named the AFL Comeback Player of the Year in 1966 when he threw for 3,441 yards and 31 touchdowns. In addition to his skills as a quarterback, Parilli became known as an excellent kick holder and earned the nickname “gold finger.” The combination of holder/quarterback Parilli and kicker/wide receiver Gino Cappelletti came to be known as the “Grand Opera.” In 1993, Parilli was inducted into the Patriots Hall of Fame. In 1982, Parilli was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame for his collegiate career under Bear Bryant at the University of Kentucky. |
 | Mike Haynes played for the Patriots from 1976-82 and was one of two Patriots selected to the NFL's 75th Anniversary team. A cornerback known for tenacious man-to-man coverage, Haynes was named to six Pro Bowls in his seven years with the Patriots. A superlative punt return specialist, Haynes was the first Patriot to return a punt for a touchdown. His rookie season in 1976 was one of the best in team history, intercepting 8 passes and returning two punts for touchdowns. Haynes was elected to the Patriots Hall of Fame in 1994 and inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1997. He was also inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame for his career at Arizona State University in 2001. |
 | Steve Grogan was a model of toughness and longevity, playing in 149 games over his 16-year playing career from 1975-1990. A strong rusher, Grogan rushed for an NFL record 12 touchdowns in 1976 and for 35 during his career. Grogan led the 1976 team to the AFC Championship game, a team many consider one of the best in team history. He also helped lead the Patriots to their first AFC Championship in 1985. Grogan ranks among the leaders in team history in nearly every passing category. Despite playing quarterback, he was still revered as one of the hardest hitters and toughest players in Patriots history. Grogan was inducted into the Patriots Hall of Fame in 1995. |
 | Andre Tippett was one of the greatest linebackers in NFL history, spending his entire 12-year career with the Patriots. A strong-side linebacker who excelled at the pass rush, Tippett set the record for most sacks over a two-year period with 35 in the 1984 and 1985 seasons. In 1985, he was named the Defensive Player of the Year for the AFC Champion Patriots. He is still the only Patriot in team history to accumulate 100 sacks for his career. Since his retirement, Tippett has worked for the Patriots and currently serves as the team’s Executive Director of Community Affairs. Tippett was voted into the Patriots Hall of Fame in 1999 and enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2008. |
 | Bruce Armstrong holds the team record with 212 games played, starting in every one of them. A six-time Pro Bowl participant, Armstrong was only one of three players in league history to play with the same team in three different decades. Though somewhat undersized for his tackle position, Armstrong anchored the offensive line through the late 1980s and 1990s. He played the last eight games of the 1999 season with three torn ligaments in his right knee and was name an alternate to the Pro Bowl that season. Armstrong was selected for the Patriots Hall of Fame in 2001. |
 | Stanley Morgan played wide receiver for the Patriots from 1977 to 1989 and hauled in 534 career reception, a franchise record that stood for 17 years. He remains the franchise record holder with 10,352 receiving yards and 67 touchdowns. His career average of 19.2 yards per catch still stands as an NFL record for those with more than 500 career receptions. Morgan also holds the single season receiving record for touchdowns (12 in 1979) and yards (1,491 in 1986). A four-time Pro Bowl honoree, he also was a fine punt returner, ranking among the career leaders in Patriots history. In 2007, Morgan was inducted into the Patriots Hall of Fame. |
 | Ben Coates played in 142 games over nine seasons as a Patriot with 105 starts. Entering the 2008 season, Coates was third all-time in team history in receptions (490), fourth in receiving yards (5,471) and second in receiving touchdowns (50) – all tops among tight ends in Patriots annals. In 1994, Coates set a single-season record for receptions by a tight end with 96 (now tied for third) and still holds the franchise record for receptions by a tight end. He also led the team in touchdown receptions for six straight seasons between 1993 and1998 and led the team in overall receptions five times. Coates was named to the Patriots Team of the Century in 2000 and ranks in the top 10 all time among NFL tight ends in career receptions, yards and touchdowns. Read and listen to his conferance call! |
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Selection Process
As of 2007, a new selection process provides fans with ultimate decision to induct players into the Patriots Hall of Fame. One former player or head coach will be inducted prior to the start of each season. A nomination committee will meet annually to discuss, nominate and ultimately vote for their top three candidates for induction. First-place votes are worth five points with second place scoring three points and third place one point. All votes are tabulated and the top three vote-getters are announced as the upcoming season’s Patriots Hall of Fame Finalists. Once the finalists are announced, fan voting takes place online at Patriots.com, allowing fans the final say for Hall of Fame induction. Stanley Morgan (2007) was the first Patriots Hall of Famer inducted via the new selection process.
Eligibility
All former players and coaches who have been retired for at least four years are eligible for induction into the Patriots Hall of Fame.
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