The New England Patriots are the apex of the modern-day NFL. The franchise is a well-oiled machine from the owner to game-day personnel and players. The last two decades created a mystique and myth around the brand as it turned champions into legends.
Things weren't always that way. The Boston Patriots of the 1960s just wanted legitimacy for both franchise and league. The American Football League's owners, dubbed "The Foolish Club," started a battle with the more-established National Football League but hadn't gained traction across the United States sports landscape. The Patriots of the time struggled financially in their first seasons while playing at Boston University's Nickerson Field.