New England Patriots: Top 5 Greatest Players
WHO ARE the five greatest players in New England Patriots history?
It’s pretty hard to argue with the fact that Tom Brady is the greatest player in the history of professional football, so it’s obvious that he’s going to take the top spot on any list of the greatest players in Patriots history. But the Pats have boasted many other incredible players over the years – even in the old days, when they were still called the Boston Patriots. Choosing the four greatest Patriots players after Brady is tough, but I believe Steve Grogan, Matt Light, Gino Cappelletti, and Rob Gronkowski can be rightfully included with him on this list of the five greatest players who have ever donned the Patriots uniform.
Top 5 Greatest
#1 – Tom Brady:
7-Time Super Bowl Champ, NFL GOAT
Quarterback Tom Brady is the greatest player in New England Patriots history (and as I state in a previous article, the team is still trying to recover from losing him). He’s also widely considered the greatest quarterback in the history of the NFL and one of the league’s all-time greatest players of any position. Some even say that the two-decades long “Brady-Belichick dynasty” is the greatest dynasty in North American sports history.
As a seven-time champion, Brady holds the record for most Super Bowls won by an individual player. He’s also the league’s all-time leader in quarterback wins, touchdown passes, and Super Bowl MVPs – not to mention the career playoff leader. One notable metric rates him as “the Super Bowl-era career leader in total QB value over replacement” and unequivocally calls him football’s GOAT: Greatest of All Time. Judged by practically any standard, Tom Brady is clearly the greatest NFL player in history.
But, Brady is more just a talented athlete. He’s a proven leader, an inspiration across generations, and an outstanding example of human achievement. Like all true greats, he earned himself a place in the annals of history and his name will be remembered for centuries to come.
#2 – Steve Grogan:
Ace Passer, Record-Breaking Rusher, Hall of Fame QB
Before Tom Brady, Steve Grogan was the greatest quarterback New England had ever fielded. He was a dual-threat QB who led one of the best Patriots teams in franchise history. Before his 16-year career was cut short by injuries, Grogan rushed for 35 touchdowns (including a record-breaking 12 in 1976 alone) and helped the Patriots make it to their first AFC Championship. At one point, he even led the NFL in passing touchdowns, with 28 in a season (1979).
Grogan was inducted into the Patriots Hall of Fame in 1995. The hall’s website says the quarterback “ranks among the leaders in team history in nearly every passing category.” It calls him a “model of toughness and longevity” who was “revered as one of the hardest hitters and toughest players” to ever play for the Patriots. That’s saying a lot, especially since Grogan was a quarterback. Even though Tom Brady’s achievements surpass those of Steve Grogan, Grogan should still be recognized for his contributions to the franchise, which I believe justifies his placement in the number two spot.
#3 – Matt Light:
Elite Tackle & 3-Time Super Bowl Champ
Hailed as the best left tackle in Patriots history, Matt Light was a keystone in the team’s offensive line during some of its best years. He protected Tom Brady’s blindside, preventing innumerable sacks and helping the Patriots win 11 consecutive seasons. Those seasons included nine division championships, five conference titles, and three Super Bowl wins. Light also made three Pro Bowls and was a member of the Patriots’ 50th-anniversary team.
In 2012, Light retired as a career Patriot after only 11 seasons, revealing that he’d been battling Crohn’s disease. He was inducted into the Patriots Hall of Fame in 2018, having been chosen for it by the fans in his first year of eligibility.
#4 – Gino Cappelletti:
AFL All-Star & Original Boston Patriot
Gino Cappelletti joined the Boston Patriots in 1960, the year the team was founded under the auspices of the American Football League. Cappelletti played both offense and defense for the Patriots and did it successfully: he was a kicker, a defensive back, and a wide receiver who smoothly returned kickoffs and punts. As one source writes, “He might have been the only player in NFL history who could catch a touchdown pass and then kick the extra point.”
A five-time Patriots All-Star and 1964 AFL MVP, Cappelletti broke numerous records and earned distinctions that clearly make him one of the greatest players in Patriots history. When he retired just before the AFL-NFL merger, Cappelletti was the AFL’s all-time leading scorer and one of its top 10 all-time receivers in yards and receptions. During his career, he made 176 field goals, caught 42 touchdown passes, and set a team scoring record that wasn’t broken until 2005 by Adam Vinatieri. He was inducted into the Patriots Hall of Fame in 1992.
#5 – Rob Gronkowski:
Record-Breaking Receiver, Complete Tight End,
4-Time Super Bowl Champ
Rob Gronkowski has been called the most productive tight end in NFL postseason history. Yardbarker ranks him as the 20th greatest player the Pats have ever had, but I think he deserves better. Gronkowski was a superior tight end who played a crucial role in keeping the Patriots’ machine running from 2010 to 2019, winning three Super Bowls in the process. Afterward, he followed Tom Brady to Tampa Bay and won another Super Bowl with the Buccaneers.
Gronkowski is one of the most accomplished players in his position ever. Besides winning four championships, he was selected for the Pro Bowl five times and the First Team All-Pro four times. He was also named to the NFL’s All-Century team and 2010s All-Decade Team. Gronkowski set numerous records for receiving, including scoring 17 touchdowns in his second NFL year, which broke the single-season record for touchdowns by a tight end. He could do more than just catch, too. As a complete tight end, Gronkowski could run any route in the playbook, mow down defenders who got in his way, and even block for the quarterback.
There They Are, the 5
So, who are the five greatest players in the history of the New England Patriots? In my opinion, it’s pretty clear: Tom Brady, Steve Grogan, Matt Light, Gino Cappelletti, and Rob Gronkowski.