Since the turn of the millennium, no city in the history of North American sports has had a more dominant quarter-century than Boston, Massachusetts.
Your Patriots have won six Super Bowls, your Red Sox have won four World Series, your Celtics have won two NBA Finals, and your Bruins have won a Stanley Cup.
Here’s a look at the full trophy case:
- 13 championships
- 20 conference championships
- 33 semifinals appearances
- 41 division titles
It’s been an unprecedented run of success with countless iconic games, draft picks, free agent signings, coaching decisions and more. And with all four teams continuously in the banner conversation, there’s been a bevy of heartbreaking moments that have helped define the last 25 years of Boston sports.
As 2025 comes to a close, WEEI.com will be ranking the 25 most significant moments for all four teams in town. That distinction of “significant” is key - not all moments of significance are covered in glory.
We’ll have rankings for the Patriots on Monday, Celtics on Tuesday, Red Sox on Wednesday and Bruins on Thursday.
With that said, here’s your 25 most significant moments since 2000 for the New England Patriots:
25. 2017 AFC Championship win vs. Jaguars (January 21, 2018)
Tom Brady led a late-game comeback with a stitched throwing hand in a gritty performance that’s become somewhat forgotten given the result of Super Bowl LII. (more on that later). With that said, New England’s 24-20 win over an upstart Jacksonville team just makes the cut for this list of 25.
This was arguably the signature game of wide receiver Danny Amendola’s career, catching 7 balls for 84 yards and 2 touchdowns, one of which being that incredible toe-tapper at the back of the end zone with 2:48 to play in the fourth quarter.
24. Patriots and Bill Belichick “mutually agree” to part ways after 24 seasons (January 11, 2024)
After a 4-13 season in 2023 led to the Patriots missing the playoffs for the third time in four years, Bill Belichick and the organization he helped lead to unprecedented heights “mutually agreed to part ways” after 24 seasons together.
Robert Kraft has since called it a firing, but that’s beside the point.
The departure of Belichick closed the book on the longest and most successful coach-team relationship of the modern NFL. The double-dynasty era was already in the rearview at this point in time, but the awkward press conference officially put it all to rest.
Unfortunately for the Krafts, they hired the wrong defensive legend to replace Belichick for the 2024 season before getting in right in January of 2025.
23. Tom Brady leaves Patriots, signs with Tampa Bay (March 20, 2020)
Between COVID and the Brady news, this is in the running for the worst St. Patrick’s Day of all time.
The greatest player in NFL history departed after 20 seasons, ending a singular run at 1 Patriot Place.
It signaled the close of the NFL’s most successful player-team partnership, and was the official end of the double-dynasty era.
After winning six Super Bowls in New England, Brady would go on to win a seventh ring in his first of three seasons in Tampa Bay.
22. Tom Brady tears ACL in Week 1 vs. Chiefs (September 7, 2008)
After falling short of perfection at University of Phoenix Stadium just seven months prior, the Patriots returned for the 2008 season with almost the entirety of that 18-1 roster intact.
That all changed 15 offensive plays into the season, as Brady suffered a torn ACL after a low hit by Chiefs safety Bernard Pollard.
Brady’s season-ending injury shocked the NFL and derailed what could have been another run of dominance. Without the defending league MVP, the Patriots still managed to win 11 games with Matt Cassel at quarterback. Think about what could have been for Brady and the Patriots with wide receiver Randy Moss still at the peak of his powers in his second season in New England.
The “what if” element of this moment looms large enough to vault it into the top 25.
21. “The Ty Law Game” - Patriots win 2003 AFC Championship Game (January 18, 2004)
Ty Law’s three interceptions smothered five-time MVP Peyton Manning, powering New England to its fourth Super Bowl appearance in franchise history.
In addition to the future Hall of Fame corner’s work on that snowy Sunday, Hall of Fame semifinalist Rodney Harrison also added a pick, marking Manning’s worst playoff performance, to that point, of his career (his blowout loss to Seattle in Super Bowl XLVIII eventually topped this).
The Law-led performance by the Patriots’ secondary helped prompt the NFL to re-examine contact rules for defensive backs. It was that dominant.
Shoutout to The Greg Hill Show regular for having the signature performance of his brilliant career crack the top 25.
20. Spygate penalties announced by Roger Goodell (September 13, 2007)
Though it didn’t derail New England’s on-field success, the scandal became an enduring part of the franchise’s national narrative and public perception. Additionally, it became an international news event.
Ranked 20th, it represents a significant yet not defining chapter - important enough to acknowledge, but far from the moments that truly built the dynasty.
Due to illegal filming of the Jets’ sidelines just four days prior, commissioner Roger Goodell’s punishments for the Patriots were as follows: a $250,000 fine for the team, a $500,000 fine for Belichick, and the forfeiture of their 2008 first-round draft pick.
Eight years later, ESPN reported that many around the league felt these punishments weren’t harsh enough, which led to the next item on our list…
19. Deflategate: NFL announces Brady’s four-game suspension (May 11, 2015)
Might as well bang both of these out back-to-back, right?
That aforementioned ESPN report quotes an owner as saying this four-game suspension for Braday was “a makeup call,” for not coming down harder on the team for their violations related to Spygate.
I’m not going to re-hash Deflategate, as it’s the most ridiculous “scandal” in the history of team sports. In addition to this also becoming an international news event, all you need to know is this:
Brady eventually served his four-game suspension to start a 2016 season that ended with the QB hoisting his fifth-career Lombardi Trophy (more on that later).
18. Manningham makes the catch, Patriots lose Super Bowl XLVI (February 5, 2012)
Mario Manningham’s sideline grab jump-started the game-winning drive, and devastated New England’s hopes of revenge against the Giants in Super Bowl XLVI.
Even though it’s lower on the list than his helmet-catch toss to David Tyree, this was the most impressive throw of Eli Manning’s career. If he ever receives a gold jacket in Canton, this will be the play that closes out his highlight package on stage.
You would think a 21-17 loss on football’s biggest stage would be listed higher, but this was arguably the least well-rounded New England team to win the AFC during the double-dynasty era. Despite sporting the league’s second-ranked offense that season, their 31st ranked defense was ultimately too much to overcome.
With how dominant Rob Gronkowski was this season, his high ankle sprain against the Ravens in the 2011 AFC Championship Game looms large in the “missing ring” conversation.
17. Drew Bledsoe leads Patriots past Steelers in 2001 AFC Championship Game (January 27, 2002)
After getting Wally Pipp’d by Brady, Drew Bledsoe had not seen the field since going down with a life-threatening injury in Week 2 of the 2001 season against the Jets (more on that later).
But after Steelers safety Lee Flowers rolled up on Brady’s ankle with 1:35 remaining in the second quarter of the 2001 AFC Championship Game at Heinz Field, it was time for Bledsoe to dust off the helmet and help New England continue its improbable season against a 10-point favorite in Pittsburgh.
Bledsoe went on to complete 10 of 21 passes against the AFC’s top-ranked defense for 102 yards and a touchdown, highlighted by his TD strike to the late David Patten in the back-right corner of the end zone to help give New England a 14-3 lead heading into halftime.
The blocked field goal returned 49 yards to the house by Antwan Harris (with hockey assists to Brandon Mitchell and Troy Brown) to help make it a 21-3 game in the third quarter was the most impactful play of the game, but Bledsoe’s poise after months of inactivity is what lives on as the true legacy of this game.
He might’ve lost his gig to Brady, but this whole thing never gets truly started without his relief performance in Pittsburgh that Sunday.
16. Patriots complete a 16-0 regular season (December 29, 2007)
In 2007, New England became the first team in NFL history to go 16-0 in the regular season. The achievement remains a benchmark of dominance that has yet to be replicated - especially difficult now with the NFL adding a 17th regular season game ahead of the 2021 season.
In the fourth quarter of their 16th win that regular season, Brady completed a 65-yard touchdown pass to Moss that secured the tandem a pair of regular season records - single-season touchdown passes (50) and single-season touchdown catches (23). Moss’ record still stands, while Brady’s was broken by Peyton Manning in 2013 (55) and tied by Patrick Mahomes in 2018.
The Patriots 38-35 win over New York at Giants Stadium that Saturday night was one of their more difficult wins in a season full of blowouts.
The Giants showing an ability to compete with the mighty 2007 Patriots that weekend turned out, as we all know, to be prophetic (more on that later). But this win is the only on-field regular season highlight to make this list.
15. Belichick benches Butler, Patriots lose Super Bowl LII (February 4, 2018)
The next two items on this list is a perfect juxtaposition of the gift and curse that Belichick’s self-assuredness was for this franchise across his 24 years as head coach.
After playing 97.8% of his team’s defensive snaps throughout the 2017 season, corner Malcolm Butler - a Super Bowl hero just three seasons prior - was mysteriously benched on defense for the entirety of Super Bowl LII against the Eagles.
While there’s been a range of reasons half-reported over the years as to why he made this decision, Belichick has been steadfast in his assertion that this was a football decision.
"I respect Malcolm's competitiveness, and I'm sure that he felt like he could have helped," Belichick said the day after his third Super Bowl loss as Patriots head coach. "I'm sure other players felt the same way. In the end, we have to make the decisions that we feel are best for the football team, and that's what we did, that's what I did."
Without one of their starting corners, New England lost a 41-33 shootout to Philadelphia - a game in which the Patriots never punted and Tom Brady threw for a Super Bowl-record 505 yards.
Butler’s mysterious benching is almost inarguably the most controversial decision of Belichick’s career.
14. Belichick names Brady permanent starter over Bledsoe (November 20, 2001)
No. 15 on the list was the curse. No. 14 on the list is the gift.
With Bledsoe medically cleared ahead of the Patriots’ Week 11 game against the Saints, debate was running wild on both talk radio and in columns as to whether or not the Pro Bowl quarterback should be handed his job back with the team sitting at 5-5.
Belichick chose to stick with the 24-year-old despite enormous public and internal pressure, marking a bold decision that cemented the direction of the Patriots for the next two decades.
“One player has had an opportunity to play the last eight weeks, he is game ready and we are in a rhythm and that's the way it is,” Belichick told the media - a fascinating transcript to look back on, if you’re into that sort of thing.
“Unfortunately, Drew hasn't had that opportunity. So it isn't a case where somebody beat somebody out, or somebody is taking something. It’s the circumstance that we’re in. Right now, we have six regular season games left, we’re 5-5, we’re in the last third of the season, and how we do will determine what happens in the postseason. So that’s really what this is about.”
With Bledsoe signing a 10-year, $103 million contract just nine months prior, there’s very few people in the history of sports that would have had the cajones to make this call as the head coach.
13. 2014 AFC Divisional Round win vs. Ravens (January 10, 2015)
The Patriots erased two separate 14-point deficits, and unleashed the iconic Edelman double-pass in one of the most dramatic playoff wins in franchise history.
This game propelled the team toward its Super Bowl XLIX victory - their first win on football’s biggest stage in a decade (more on that later).
After 10 years of disappointing playoff loss after disappointing playoff loss, there were multiple points during that fateful Saturday night at Gillette Stadium that had Patriots fans wondering if the end was near for Brady as New England’s man under center.
“One more year for Brady? Maybe two? Is Jimmy G ready to be the guy?”
Instead of going quietly into the night, Brady and the Patriots became the living, breathing embodiment of The Undertaker meme. They just wouldn’t die.
New England came away with the 35-31 win, and truly launched into the second run of their double-dynasty.
12. Patriots hire Bill Belichick (January 27, 2000)
When Bill Parcells exited the Jets after the 1999 season, what should have been a routine handoff to Belichick instead unraveled into one of the strangest coaching sagas in NFL history.
Belichick famously used his introductory press conference to resign on the spot, scribbling his intent on a napkin before delivering an impromptu explanation to the stunned media.
"I resign as HC of the NYJ,” he wrote on a napkin.
It almost sounds too ridiculous to be true. Quintessential Jets dysfunction at the highest level.
The chaos opened a window for New England, who had quietly been eyeing him to replace the recently dismissed Pete Carroll.
Because the Jets insisted Belichick was still under contract, the Patriots ultimately had to surrender a first-round pick to make the hire official. That bold, contentious move became a franchise-defining pivot point, one that obviously reshaped New England football for the next two decades.
Robert Kraft told Edelman and Gronkowski on a podcast in June that this was the best move he has made since buying the franchise in 1994, saying he was questioned for trading a first rounder and was “hammered in the Boston media.”
Belichick made it clear through ESPN in July that he was the one taking the risk by joining the Patriots, not Kraft.
Regardless of the petty war of words between these two in recent years, it doesn’t change the fact that Kraft executing the trade for Belichick was one of the most significant moves in the history of the franchise.
11. Mo Lewis hits Drew Bledsoe, and Tom Brady never looks back (September 23, 2001)
Jets linebacker Mo Lewis’ crushing hit on Bledsoe late in the fourth quarter in Week 2 of 2001 became one of the most pivotal turning points in league history, as it unexpectedly launched the Tom Brady era.
What looked (and sounded) like a devastating blow to the Patriots instead opened the door for a little-known second-year quarterback out of Michigan who would forever redefine what it means to sustain excellence in professional sports.
The moment didn’t just change a season, it altered two decades of NFL history.
How many Super Bowls does Peyton Manning win if Brady never gets thrust into the lineup? How many years does Belichick last in New England? Who would have emerged as the team-to-beat out of the AFC East throughout the 2000s and 2010s?
The butterfly effect of that single hit has this lowlight on the precipice of cracking the top 10.
(I call it a lowlight because of what happened to Bledsoe medically, as a sheared blood vessel in his chest led to internal bleeding that started filling his thoracic cavity with blood, which could have been fatal if not for his doctors and nurses springing into action)
10. 2018 AFC Championship win at Arrowhead vs. Chiefs (January 20, 2019)
Brady converted three straight 3rd-and-10s in overtime to defeat Mahomes on the road 37-31, in what many consider to be Brady’s last truly great performance as the maestro of New England’s offense.
The image of the 41-year-old quarterback throwing off his helmet while leaping into his teammates’ arms in celebration while wearing that black scuba suit under his white road uniform is etched in Patriot fans’ brains forever.
In the sub zero temperatures at Arrowhead, with the help of an offside penalty by Chiefs defensive end Dee Ford with just over a minute to play nullifying a game-sealing interception for Kansas City, the Patriots willed their way to a third consecutive Super Bowl berth - their final with Brady and Belichick as running mates.
No matter what Mahomes is ultimately able to put together career-wise as he chases the GOAT, Brady will always have his playoff head-to-head to lean on in the argument. This win, along with the beatdown he orchestrated with the Bucs over the Chiefs in Super Bowl LV, will forever be his trump cards.
This is, without question, one of the defining moments of the late dynasty years.
9. Super Bowl LIII win vs. Rams (February 3, 2019)
A defensive masterpiece from Belichick delivered the sixth Lombardi of the era, closing out two decades of dominance.
Not only did this win tie New England with Pittsburgh for most Super Bowl wins all-time, it marked their final championship of the Brady-Belichick partnership.
Was it a pretty game? Absolutely not. But when you win a Super Bowl, it automatically has to be in the top 10.
It did, however, include one of the all-time great moments for Gronkowski, whose 29-yard catch in the fourth quarter set up the game’s only touchdown - a go-ahead rushing score from Sony Michel that helped give the Patriots a 10-3 lead with 7:00 to play.
Edelman won Super Bowl MVP with 10 catches for 141 yards, giving him some individual postseason hardware to go along with the longshot Hall of Fame resume he put together over the course of a 12-year career.
8. Super Bowl XXXVIII win vs. Panthers (February 1, 2004)
A high-scoring 32-29 classic ended with another Adam Vinatieri game-winner (a couple more of those coming up), officially proving something that had already been made crystal clear by the way the team had played that whole season:
The 2001 Patriots were not just a flash-in-the-pan. The group had staying power, and was going to be a part of the NFL story for years to come. 2003 was the start of one of the most dominant runs of football this league has ever seen across a two-season stretch (more on that later).
They could beat you in a shootout. They could punch you in the mouth. They could line a linebacker up at tight end and embarrass you in the red zone.
At that point in NFL history, close games in the Super Bowl had been a rarity. This back-and-forth affair with an upstart Panthers team immediately joined the team’s first Super Bowl win as an instant classic within the pantheon of football’s biggest game.
7. Super Bowl XXXIX win vs. Eagles (February 6, 2005)
The Patriots beat the Eagles in Jacksonville 24-21, cementing themselves as a dynasty the likes of the Steelers in the 1970s, the 49ers in the 1980s, and the Cowboys in the 1990s.
Little did we know, the coach and quarterback would carry this thing into an unprecedented double-dynasty territory over the course of 20 years. But even without the benefit of hindsight, we know what we saw in 2004 was special.
The final score made the game seem closer than it actually was, as New England led the ballgame 24-14 with 9:21 to go in the fourth quarter. The Eagles clock-mismanaged their way out of the game, putting on full display how much cleaner Belichick’s operation was than any of the other contenders at that point league-wide.
Including postseason play from the season before, the 2004 team helped carry a two-year winning streak of 21 straight games through Halloween of that season. This group was a wagon all the way through, with many arguing this as the best single-season team in Patriots’ team history.
That Super Bowl win gave Brady a 9-0 record to start out his postseason career, a mark he eventually got to 10-0 with a win against the Jaguars in the Wild Card Round that following season.
6. Super Bowl XLII loss to Giants puts end to perfect season (February 3, 2008)
The most painful loss in franchise history ended New England’s pursuit of a historic 19-0 season.
It’s, almost unequivocally, the biggest championship game upset in the history of professional sports in North America.
“The Helmet Catch” from David Tyree immediately became one of the NFL’s defining moments.
Brady is on the record saying he would trade two Super Bowl rings to have won this game against a scrappy Giants team in Glendale, AZ.
New York was in Brady’s face all night long, producing the MVP’s worst performance of the season.
This 17-14 loss by New England is the very definition of “significant.”
If the Patriots won that game, they would have been considered the greatest single-season team in the history of the NFL, vaulting them into arguments with the 1927 Yankees, 1996 Bulls, and any other team you want to throw in the discussion as the greatest of all time. Full stop.
That didn’t happen.
The narrative flipped from coronation of an all-time team to celebration of David’s ability to slay Goliath.
It hurts, but this game has to be in the top 10 on this list.
5. Snow Bowl vs. Raiders (January 19, 2002)
This one doesn’t hurt at all.
The “Tuck Rule” call and Vinatieri’s kick through the blizzard revived a dying season, keeping Brady’s first postseason run alive and powering New England to its third AFC Championship Game appearance in franchise history.
For the final act of Foxboro Stadium, the Patriots gave us an instant classic. We all knew, in the moment, that we were watching one of the greatest games in the history of the NFL.
It’s been said a million times as it relates to this game in particular, but it bears repeating:
Without this moment, the Patriots dynasty may never happen.
And if he hasn’t reminded us enough already on the air, WEEI’s Jermaine Wiggins led all pass catchers in the snow that day with 10 grabs on 13 targets for 68 receiving yards.
“The Wiggy Game” will live on forever!
4. Tom Brady drafted 199th overall (April 16, 2000)
This sixth-round pick became the most successful draft selection in NFL history, with his arrival completely reshaping the trajectory of the franchise.
The winning. The valuation as a franchise. The Patriots as a global brand. All of it starts with pick No. 1999 on that April afternoon in 2000.
24 years and six banners later, Brady became the first player in franchise history to be inducted into the Patriots Hall of Fame without a waiting period, as he was given a red jacket in front of a sold out stadium, accompanied by a night of speeches and panels reflecting on his singular run through the NFL. On that same night, Brady’s No. 12 became the first number the organization would retire since 2001. And a little over a year later, Brady became the only person in the history of the organization to receive a statue outside the stadium.
In the summer of 2028, he will be inducted in Canton, OH as a first ballot member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He’s the NFL’s all-time leader in passing yards (89,214), passing touchdowns (649), completions (7,753), games played (335), career wins (251), division titles (19), playoff wins (35) and Super Bowl victories (7). He’s won five Super Bowl MVPs and 3 regular season MVPs.
Almost none of this franchise’s success in the 21st century happens without Belichick drafting Brady.
3. Super Bowl LI - the 28-3 comeback vs. Falcons (February 5, 2017)
The greatest comeback in Super Bowl history became, arguably, the signature achievement of the Brady-Belichick era.
It cemented Brady’s reputation as the greatest quarterback of all time, while doing the same for Belichick as the greatest coach of all time.
The term “28-3” has almost taken on a life of its own, as the catch-all term for crazy comebacks is now always connected to this game.
The Hightower strip-sack.
The Edelman catch.
The James White touchdown in overtime.
Amendola’s two-point conversion.
So much has been written and said about this 34-28 win, there’s really nothing left to say.
Brady being handed the Lombardi Trophy after being suspended four games by Goodell earlier that season was, quite possibly, the most satisfying podium moment in the history of the city.
2. Super Bowl XLIX - Malcolm Butler’s interception vs. Seahawks (February 1, 2015)
Butler’s goal-line pick is one of the most iconic plays in NFL history, swinging a championship with a single, unbelievable moment.
The 28-24 win launched the second leg of the Patriots’ dynasty after a 10-year title drought, and completely flipped the inevitable narrative that was about to ensue for both Brady and Belichick.
If not for Butler’s amazing play, it would have been a third consecutive loss for the Patriots on football’s biggest stage. That would have put Brady and Belichick at 3-3 all-time in Super Bowls. It feels weird even writing that.
Patriots fans should be thanking Carroll, then head coach of Seattle, each and every day for deciding to throw the ball from the 1 yard line with 20 seconds left in the game, allowing the rookie corner the ability to jump the route the way he did.
Brady’s brilliance in the fourth quarter to help orchestrate the comeback should not go overlooked. There’s a reason why he was the unquestioned MVP of the game.
But there’s a reason why Brady gave Butler the Chevy truck he received for winning Super Bowl MVP that year. Without that read by the 24-year-old, the last decade of Patriots football might look completely different.
1. Super Bowl XXXVI win vs. Rams (February 3, 2002)
This was the moment the New England Patriots dynasty was born, as Brady led a surgical final drive that set up Vinatieri for the game-winning 48-yard field goal in the Superdome.
Patriots 20, Rams 17.
Until the Giants pulled off their upset in Super Bowl XLII six years later, this was the biggest upset in Super Bowl history.
An upstart Patriots team with a first-year starting quarterback was taking on a Rams offense that was dubbed as “The Greatest Show on Turf” for all the records they had set offensively over the course of three seasons. They were two years removed from a storybook Super Bowl run of their own, and had a pair of MVPs on their roster in Kurt Warner (1999 & 2001) and Marshall Faulk (2000).
St. Louis was a 14-point favorite heading into the game, with just about no one outside of New England giving Belichick and his group a chance of pulling off the upset.
An incredible defensive game plan rattled the Rams best players, with Warner throwing 2 picks on the night - one of which being an iconic pick-six by Law that produced one of the enduring images in franchise history.
This whole dynasty getting started in this fashion makes the whole thing that much sweeter.
A franchise with just nine playoff appearances in 41 seasons had won an improbable Super Bowl against one of the best roster’s in NFL history.
25 years later, the Patriots have arguably become this league’s signature franchise.
NOTES:
- I so badly wanted to include the drafting of Drake Maye in this top 25, but this franchise has just been too successful to give up a spot based on a projection - even if we all feel pretty good about this one. 25 years from now, if we’re lucky, we’ll be able to look at this piece and rip me for not having the foresight or testicular fortitude to put Maye’s draft pick somewhere in the 20s.
- Even with “significant” being the guiding light of this piece, I wanted to keep all the events listed to football-related topics. That’s why you won’t see any mention of the Aaron Hernandez saga above. Yes, a significant event for the Greek tragedy of it all, but not what we were looking to dive into for a “25 Years, 25 Moments” series.
- Simply too much winning over the course of 25 years to include any regular season moments on this list. I canvassed friends and family for moments, and different stuff from regular season games came up from time to time. And while there were so many awesome moments, there’s just too many iconic playoff runs for any one regular season moment (outside of Bledsoe’s injury and 16-0) to break-in.
HONORABLE MENTIONS, NO PARTICULAR ORDER (MISSING A LOT, SEND YOUR FAVORITES THAT WE ARE MISSING)
- Drake Maye drafted third overall in 2024
- Gronk drafted 42nd overall in 2010
- The Randy Moss trade in 2007