FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Forty-six years ago today, the Boston Patriots officially became the New England Patriots.
Not a bad day for a history lesson of sorts.
“It was mixed. Some people thought it was a good deal, and then others thought we were the Boston Patriots and that should be it,” recalled Gino Cappelletti, who played for the franchise from 1960-1970 and is in the team’s Hall of Fame. “I’d say those who preferred Boston probably won out over those who wanted New England.”
Now 82, Cappelletti fondly recalls how the team’s new name came about in the year home games were moved to the new Schaefer Stadium in Foxborough.