New England Patriots · Franchise era 2 of 7
From contender to crisis: the New England Patriots story
Franchise era
1976—1992
From contender to crisis
New England Patriots
The story in one sentence
New England produced several excellent teams and reached Super Bowl XX before ownership turmoil and a near-relocation threatened the franchise.
Strong running teams reach the first Super Bowl
John Hannah, Steve Grogan and Andre Tippett gave the era its recognizable core.
Its ending created the conditions for parcells and bledsoe reset expectations.
Timeline
How it unfolded
Before 1976
What came before
The Patriots reached the 1963 AFL title game but struggled for stability while playing in a succession of Boston-area stadiums.
1986-01-05
Divisional Round: New England Patriots vs Los Angeles Raiders
1986-01-12
Conference Championship: New England Patriots vs Miami Dolphins
1986-01-26
Super Bowl: Chicago Bears vs New England Patriots
After 1992
What came next
Robert Kraft's ownership and Bill Parcells's coaching stabilized the organization, leading to Super Bowl XXXI and a roster ready for another regime.
The core