NFL-Profile of the AFC champion New England Patriots

Feb 5 (Reuters) - Profile of the New England Patriots, who will play the Seattle Seahawks in the Super Bowl on Sunday in Santa Clara, California.

• Founded in 1959 as the "Boston Patriots", the team was an original member of the American Football League. They joined the NFL during the 1970 AFL/NFL merger and changed their name to the New England Patriots when they moved to Foxborough, Massachusetts in 1971.

• From 2001-18, head coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady led the Patriots on a dominant run, winning six Super Bowls in nine appearances.

• AFC Titles (season): 12 (1985, 1996, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2011, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2025)

• Super Bowl titles (season): 6 (2001, 2003, 2004, 2014, 2016, 2018)
  
  Head coach: Mike Vrabel
  Vrabel is the eighth coach in NFL history to reach a Super Bowl in his first season. He is also one of eight coaches to play in a Super Bowl and then reach one as a head coach.

  The 50-year-old Vrabel played eight of his 14 NFL seasons with the Patriots, a stretch during which he won three Super Bowls and was recognized as one of the most versatile linebackers and best free-agent signings in Patriots history.
  
  Starting quarterback: Drake Maye
  Maye was drafted by the Patriots with the third overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft and, at 23, is the second-youngest quarterback ever to reach the Super Bowl and with a victory would be the youngest to win the title.
  
  During the regular season, Maye threw for 4,394 yards and 31 touchdowns against just eight interceptions.
  
  Patriots 2025 regular season record: 14-3, won AFC East division

Week 1 - vs Las Vegas, lost 20-13

Week 2 - at Miami, won 33-27

Week 3 - vs Pittsburgh, lost 21-14

Week 4 - vs Carolina, won 42-13

Week 5 - @ Buffalo, won 23-20

Week 6 - @ New Orleans, won 25-19

Week 7 - @ Tennessee, won 31-13

Week 8 - vs Cleveland, won 32-13

Week 9 - vs Atlanta, won 24-23

Week 10 - @ Tampa Bay, won 28-23

Week 11 - vs New York Jets, won 27-14

Week 12 - @ Cincinnati, won 26-20

Week 13 - vs New York Giants, won 33-15

Week 14 - Bye Week

Week 15 - vs Buffalo, lost 35-31

Week 16 - @ Baltimore, won 28-24

Week 17 - @ New York Jets, won 42-10

Week 18 - vs Miami, won 38-10

AFC playoff seeding: 2

Path to the Super Bowl: Beat Los Angeles Chargers 16-3 in the wild card round; Beat Houston 28-16 in the divisional round; Beat Denver 10-7 for the AFC Championship.