An American football team located in Boston, the New England Patriots play their home games at Gillette Stadium. Members of the American Football Conference East compete in the National Football League.
New England Patriots defense has contributed to six championships in the past two decades, as well as success in the years prior to that.
Here is a list of the top 5 New England Patriots Best Defensive Players Of All-Time
1. Andre Tippett
All 11 of Andre Tippett’s NFL seasons were spent in New England. He had the most sacks in franchise history with 100 in 151 games.
Tippett has received numerous honors over the years. As a defensive end, he won the NFL Defensive Player of the Year award in 1985 and was a member of the 1980s All-Decade Team. He made five Pro Bowls and was twice named to the NFL’s first and second teams, respectively.
Tippett was inducted into the Patriots Hall of Fame in 1999, and he was finally inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2007.
2. Mike Haynes
Haynes spent seven seasons in the NFL with the New England Patriots, recording 28 interceptions during that time. Before joining the Raiders and winning a Super Bowl, he was selected to six Pro Bowls.
Both the NFL’s 75th Anniversary Team and the NFL’s 1980s All-Decade Team included him among their honors and accolades. In 1997, Haynes was inducted into the Hall of Fame and his number 40 was retired in New England.
3. Ty Law
With 36 interceptions, Ty Law was the Patriots’ most effective player during this year’s playoffs. In his Patriots postseason career, he tallied four goals, three of which came in 2003. Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts were the opponents for all three touchdowns in the AFC Championship Game.
4. Tedy Bruschi
There are 675 tackles in Tedy Bruschi’s record for the Patriots. In terms of sacks, he’s 10th with 30.5. Bruschi joined the Patriots two years after Willie McGinest and formed a powerful linebacking triumvirate with Ted Johnson.
5. Willie McGinest
Despite being drafted in 1994, he made an immediate impression as a player. He had 4.5 sacks and two forced fumbles in his debut season. McGinest helped the Patriots win the Super Bowl in 1996, and he surely acquired valuable experience.
McGinest was a key member of the Patriots’ early 2000s defense that won three Super Bowl championships in four years.
