The New England Patriots, alongside the Pittsburgh Steelers, are tied for the most Super Bowl titles (6) in NFL history. However, while the Steelers have won two Lombardi trophies this century, the Patriots have claimed all six of theirs in the 21st century, establishing one of the greatest dynasties in NFL history. Their reign, from 2001 to 2019, is often considered the league’s most dominant, thanks to the duo of Tom Brady and Bill Belichick. The dynasty can be split into two distinct eras.
The first, from 2001 to 2010, saw the Patriots win three Super Bowls and lose one, with a young Brady fulfilling his role efficiently, though without spectacular numbers, save for the 2007 MVP season. In this era, defense, Belichick’s specialty, was the team’s strong suit. The second era, from 2011 to 2019, began with a Super Bowl loss but ended with three more championships. Brady, now the league’s top player, led the Patriots to consistent division titles, and only faltering to reach the Divisional Round in his final year (2019), when they lost in the Wild Card round.
Rookie Rob Gronkowski’s First Awkward Encounter with Bill Belichick
During the second era of the Patriots’ dynasty,Rob Gronkowski emerged, widely considered the greatest tight end in NFL history-though Travis Kelce’s recent achievements make this a debatable point. Gronkowski was Brady’s best teammate during their Patriots years, even teaming up again to win another title with Tampa Bay in 2020. Known for his humor and joyful playstyle, Gronk had his share of clashes with the stern Belichick, a dynamic that seemed to have started in his rookie year. Former Houston Texans coach Bill O’Brien shared an anecdote on Julian Edelman’s podcast, “Games with Names,” about Belichick quizzing his players on upcoming opponents. O’Brien, then the Patriots’ offensive coordinator, recounted a memorable rookie-year story about Gronk that perfectly fits the star tight end’s personality.
Over his nine seasons with the Patriots, Gronkowski faced numerous injuries that likely prevented him from reaching even greater heights. Nonetheless, he won three Super Bowls and set the record for most total touchdowns in a season by a tight end (18). He amassed 521 receptions, 7,861 yards, and 80 touchdowns in 100 games with the Patriots. Those who watched him play know that it wasn’t just the stats that impressed-it was his sheer dominance on the field, a level unmatched even by Kelce despite his outstanding career.
The Patriots Are Far from Their Dynasty Days
This marks the first season without Bill Belichick at the helm since 2000. Since Brady left for Tampa Bay in 2019, the Patriots have made just one playoff appearance and have a cumulative record of 30-40, including this season. Their offense has been lackluster so far, and it seems this year might be as bad, if not worse, than their 4-13 campaign last year. Patriots fans may feel the sting of their current struggles, but they can still take pride in 20 years of dominance, even as those glory days seem further away than ever.
