Where did the New England Patriots name come from and what other nicknames have they considered? Find out

The New England Patriots were founded in 1959. However, the franchise did not have the same name when it first started. Many suggestions were made before the Boston-based franchise finalized its name.

The Patriots were not able to achieve much glory until the 21st century. Aside from a few AFC Championship titles and five division titles, Boston was a barren land for titles. However, they won 6 Super Bowls in the next 25 years, becoming the most successful team.

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How did the New England Patriots get their name?

Boston is known as the birthplace of America. Since the franchise was founded in Boston, the owners wanted to honor the city’s heritage. So they chose the name Boston Patriots. The word Patriots refers to the American colonists who rebelled against British rule in the 1770s.

Boston University Field, Harvard Stadium, Fenway Park, and Boston College’s Alumni Stadium formerly hosted the franchise’s games. However, they were relocated to Foxborough to a new stadium after the NFL and AFL merged in 1970.

The Patriots were placed in the AFC East Division. Initially, they changed their name to the Bay State Patriots. However, the league rejected the request in 1971, and so the franchise decided to change their name to the New England Patriots.

The team played at Foxboro Stadium for the next 30 years. In 2002, it moved to Gilette Stadium, which remains its home.

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What other names were considered for the New England Patriots?

The Patriots had several other names for the franchise name that also paid similar homage to American history. Beantowners, Braves, and Colonials were among the suggestions, according to The Sports Chief’s report.

Minuteman and Bulls were other questionable options. The MLB’s Atlanta Braves had already used the Boston Braves when they were stationed in the city. Therefore, Braves was rejected by the panel. Minuteman was not wasted as a North American Soccer League team later used him.

New England Patriots Nicknames

The Patriots’ success earned them a huge fan base. They nicknamed their team The Pats or Evil Empire. The tight ends from 2010 to 2012 were collectively called the Boston TE Party. Fans coined a similar nickname for the linebackers, calling them the Boogeymen.

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