NFL-Profile of the AFC champion New England Patriots

Feb 5 (Reuters) – Profile of the New England Patriots, who will play the Seattle Seahawks in the Super Bowl on Sunday in Santa Clara, California.

* Founded in 1959 as the “Boston Patriots”, the team was anoriginal member of the American Football League. They joined theNFL during the 1970 AFL/NFL merger and changed their name to theNew England Patriots when they moved to Foxborough,Massachusetts in 1971. * From 2001-18, head coach Bill Belichick and quarterbackTom Brady led the Patriots on a dominant run, winning six SuperBowls in nine appearances. * AFC Titles (season): 12 (1985, 1996, 2001, 2003, 2004,2007, 2011, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2025) * Super Bowl titles (season): 6 (2001, 2003, 2004, 2014,2016, 2018)Head coach: Mike VrabelVrabel is the eighth coach inNFL history to reach a Super Bowl in his first season. He isalso one of eight coaches to play in a Super Bowl and then reachone as a head coach. The 50-year-old Vrabel played eight of his14 NFL seasons with the Patriots, a stretch during which he wonthree Super Bowls and was recognized as one of the mostversatile linebackers and best free-agent signings in Patriotshistory.Starting quarterback: Drake MayeMaye was drafted by thePatriots with the third overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft and,at 23, is the second-youngest quarterback ever to reach theSuper Bowl and with a victory would be the youngest to win thetitle.During the regular season, Maye threw for 4,394 yards and31 touchdowns against just eight interceptions.Patriots 2025regular season record: 14-3, won AFC East division

Week 1 – vs Las Vegas, lost 20-13

Week 2 – at Miami, won 33-27

Week 3 – vs Pittsburgh, lost 21-14

Week 4 – vs Carolina, won 42-13

Week 5 – @ Buffalo, won 23-20

Week 6 – @ New Orleans, won 25-19

Week 7 – @ Tennessee, won 31-13

Week 8 – vs Cleveland, won 32-13

Week 9 – vs Atlanta, won 24-23

Week 10 – @ Tampa Bay, won 28-23

Week 11 – vs New York Jets, won 27-14

Week 12 – @ Cincinnati, won 26-20

Week 13 – vs New York Giants, won 33-15

Week 14 – Bye Week

Week 15 – vs Buffalo, lost 35-31

Week 16 – @ Baltimore, won 28-24

Week 17 – @ New York Jets, won 42-10

Week 18 – vs Miami, won 38-10

AFC playoff seeding: 2

Path to the Super Bowl: Beat Los Angeles Chargers 16-3 in the wild card round; Beat Houston 28-16 in the divisional round; Beat Denver 10-7 for the AFC Championship.

(Reporting by Angelica Medina in San FranciscoEditing by Toby Davis)