The Boston Patriots logo began the visual identity of a now-legendary football franchise. This character, nicknamed “Pat Patriot,” became an early fan favorite. While the team moved and rebranded over the years, the Boston Patriots logo still holds meaning for long-time supporters of the franchise and AFL history.
Boston Patriots
1961 - 1972
From 1961 - 1992, the Patriots used a logo of a Revolutionary War minuteman hiking a football. “Pat Patriot,” the cartoon of a Minuteman preparing to snap a football drawn by the Boston Globe’s Phil Bissell, was chosen as the team’s logo.
Boston Patriots
1960 - 1961
For their first season, the newly christened Patriots took to the field with a tri-corner blue hat for it's logo.
The Story Behind Patriot Pat from the Cartoonist Who Created Him
In 1960, Boston Globe cartoonist Phil Bissell, working for $25 a day, was handed an assignment that would change his life—and the lives of fans of the brand-new AFL football team coming to Boston. “Sports editor Jerry Nason came to me and he said, ‘They’ve decided to call the team the Boston Patriots. You better have a cartoon ready for tomorrow’s edition.’ I sat down, I drew that cartoon original of Pat in about 45 minutes,” Bissell said. “I thought about it for about two minutes and went to work. I had to get the day’s work out.” Read More...
Boston Patriots Logo and Early Team Identity
The Boston Patriots joined the American Football League in 1960. Their original logo, detailed and unique, quickly stood out. Over time, fans embraced the character’s bold look and traditional style. You can explore rare designs from that period in our Patriots alternate logo archive.
Early uniforms featured strong red, white, and blue themes that matched the logo’s patriotic message. The old Boston Patriots logo became one of the most iconic symbols of the AFL era. Today, the original identity is honored by fans and collectors. To follow the modern team’s updates, visit the New England Patriots official website.