Team Hall of Famers
John Hannah 73, elected 1991: Hannah was a left guard, called “The Best Offensive Lineman of All Time” by Sports Illustrated in 1981. In addition to his own talent, he motivated his teammates to the same high levels, and missed only 5 games out of 1971. He’s also in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.Nick Buoniconti 85, elected 1992: Buoniconti played when the team was still the Boston Patriots. He served as middle linebacker and had an unofficial eighteen sacks with the Patriots (and six with the Miami Dolphins). Buoniconti is also enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.Gino Cappelletti 20, elected 1992: 1964 AFL MVP and still the all-time leading scorer in the AFL, Cappelleti is now an announcer for the Patriots’ radio broadcasts. His number is retired.Bob Dee 89, elected 1993: Bob was one of the first players signed by the Patriots in 1960, coming off a three-sport letter career at the College of the Holy Cross. He scored the first touchdown in American Football League history, and his number is retired.Jim Lee Hunt 79, elected 1993: Also one of the first players, Hunt played the 1960-1971 seasons as defensive tackle. He earned the honor of being a four-time AFL All-Star and playing all ten years of the AFL. His number is retired.Steve Nelson 57, elected 1997: This popular linebacker missed only three games during a 14-season career. He played the Pro Bowl three times and served as the director and head coach at Curry College after retirement from 1998-2006. His number is also retired.Babe Parilli 15, elected 1993: Parilli played for ten different teams, but is notable for attaining over 25,000 yards and 200 touchdowns during his five seasons with the Patriots (1961-1966). Babe made it to three All-Star Games.Mike Haynes 40, elected 1994: This cornerback from Arizona State provided the Patriots with the team’s first touchdown on punt returns during his rookie year (1976). The Sporting News ranked him 93 on the list of 100 Greatest Football Players in 1999. He’s also in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.Steve Grogan 14, elected 1995: Grogan played for the Patriots between 1975 and 1990, and not only succeeded on the field, but offhis teammate John Hannah said, “He was the kind of guy you wanted to protect, the kind of guy you wanted to play for.”Andre Tippet 56, elected 1999: Tippett was drafted in 1982 and played until 1993. He holds the franchise record for career sacks (100.0), and still serves as the Patriots’ Executive Director of Community Affairs. He is also recognized in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.Bruce Armstrong 78, elected 2001: Armstrong played offensive tackle and holds 3rd place for number of Pro Bowls played in as an offensive lineman. Armstrong even came back from tearing his medial collateral and both anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments in 1992. His number is retired.Stanley Morgan 86, elected 2007: Wide receiver Stanley Morgan led the NFL in yards/reception in 1979, 1980, and 1981, and still holds the all-purpose yards record (4,642) at the University of Tennessee.Ben Coates 87, elected 2008: Coates didn’t start playing football until his senior year of high school, but that didn’t keep him from creating an enduring partnership with quarterback Drew Bledsoe, led by head coach Bill Parcells.Jim Nance 35, elected 2009: Playing only one season with the Patriots, he retired as the team’s record-holding leading rusher with 60 touchdowns over his career. That record still stands.Sam Cunningham 39, elected 2010: “Bam” retired “with 5,453 rushing yards, 210 receptions for 1,905 yards, and 49 touchdowns” (from Wikipedia). He also attended the Pro Bowl in 1978.Billy Sullivan: Owner and founder Billy Sullivan was also enshrined in the team Hall of Fame in 2009.