The 2001 season was the New England Patriots' 32nd in the National Football League (NFL) and their 42nd season overall. They finished with an 11–5 record and a division title before advancing to and winning Super Bowl XXXVI.
Coming off a fifth-place finish in the AFC East during head coach Bill Belichick's first season in 2000, the Patriots were not expected to fare much better in 2001. On August 6, quarterbacks coach Dick Rehbein died of cardiomyopathy at the age of 45. In the second game of the regular season, nine-year starting quarterback Drew Bledsoe, who had received a 10-year contract extension in March, was injured on a hit by New York Jets linebacker Mo Lewis, causing backup Tom Brady, a sixth-round draft pick in 2000, to enter the game after serving as the Patriots' 4th string rookie the season before. The Patriots lost the game to fall to 0–2, but Brady started the final 14 games of the season and compiled an 11–3 record as a starter, helping the Patriots clinch the 2nd seed in the AFC playoffs and a first round bye; this was their first playoff berth since 1998. As a result, the Patriots became the first team in NFL history to win the Super Bowl after starting the season 1–3, and only the 2nd team in NFL history to win the Super Bowl after starting the season 2–3, after the 1980 Oakland Raiders.
This was the first season since 1986 that Bruce Armstrong was not on the opening-day roster.
With the second seed in the AFC playoffs, the Patriots faced the Oakland Raiders at home following a first-round bye in the final game at Foxboro Stadium; in a snowstorm, a Patriots drive late in the fourth quarter was kept alive in an application of the now-infamous tuck rule that was used in overturning a Brady fumble into an incomplete pass. Shortly after, a 45-yard Adam Vinatieri field goal through the snow, considered one of the most clutch field goals in NFL history, sent the game into overtime, when Vinatieri scored another field goal to win the game 16–13. After defeating the top-seeded 13–3 Pittsburgh Steelers 24–17 in the AFC Championship Game, the Patriots faced the heavily favored NFC's number one seeded 14–2 St. Louis Rams, known as "The Greatest Show on Turf", in Super Bowl XXXVI. Once again, Vinatieri kicked a game-winning field goal; the 48-yard kick sailed through the uprights as time expired, and gave the Patriots the win 20–17, and their first ever Super Bowl championship in what has been considered by many to be a "Cinderella" season.
The 2001 season served as a launching pad for the team. Over the next 18 seasons, they would win 16 more division titles, eight more AFC Championships in 12 appearances, five more Super Bowl titles in eight appearances, and achieve an undefeated regular season in 2007.
Offseason Additions SubtractionsQB Damon Huard (Dolphins) T Bruce Armstrong (retirement)FB Marc Edwards (Browns) S Larry Whigham (Bears)LB Mike Vrabel (Steelers) DT Henry Thomas (retirement)WR Charles Johnson (Eagles) LB Chris Slade (Panthers)WR Bert Emanuel (Dolphins) FB Tony Carter (Broncos)WR David Patten (Browns) DT Chad Eaton (Seahawks)WR Torrance Small (Eagles) CB Terrell Buckley (Broncos) TE Johnny McWilliams (Vikings) G Joe Panos (Bills) G Mike Compton (Lions) DE Anthony Pleasant (49ers) DT Riddick Parker (Seahawks) RB Antowain Smith (Bills) CB Terrance Shaw (Dolphins) LB Larry Izzo (Dolphins) LB Roman Phifer (Jets) LB Bryan Cox (Jets)
2001 NFL draft
Undrafted free agents
+ 2001 undrafted free agents of notePlayerPositionCollegeRonney DanielsWide receiverAuburnDan HadenfeldtPunterNebraskaDrew InzerGuardBrownYubrenalei IsabelleLinebackerVirginiaJace SaylerDefensive LinemanMichigan StateWalter WilliamsRunning backGrambling State
Staff
Roster Opening training camp roster At the time of the first public training camp practice at Bryant College on July 26, they had the NFL maximum of 80 players signed to their roster. The Patriots received seven roster exemptions for the NFL Europe allocations of Michael Bishop, Brad Costello, Tony George, Sean Morey, Josh Rawlings, Kato Serwanga, and Tony Simmons. Additionally, the Patriots allocated wide receiver Tony Hamler and linebackers John Eskridge and Marc Megna to NFL Europe and received roster exemptions for them, but those players were waived before the start of training camp. Finally, injured draft pick Brock Williams had not yet signed a contract at the start of camp and did not count against the roster limit.
New England Patriots 2001 opening training camp roster Quarterbacks Michael Bishop Drew Bledsoe Tom Brady Damon Huard
Running backs Marc Edwards FB Robert Edwards Kevin Faulk Patrick Pass FB Jeff Paulk FB J. R. Redmond Walter Williams UR
Wide receivers Troy Brown PR Ronney Daniels UR Shockmain Davis Bert Emanuel Terry Glenn Curtis Jackson Charles Johnson Dane Looker Sean Morey David Patten Tony Simmons Torrance Small
Tight ends Chris Eitzmann Johnny McWilliams Rod Rutledge Jermaine WigginsOffensive linemen Joe Andruzzi G Mike Compton G Adam Davis G Drew Inzer C UR Kenyatta Jones T R Adrian Klemm T Matt Light T R Stephen Neal G Joe Panos G Josh Rawlings G Greg Robinson-Randall T Grey Ruegamer C Grant Williams T Damien Woody C
Defensive linemen Reggie Grimes DE Bobby Hamilton DE Garrett Johnson NT David Nugent DE Chuck Osborne DE Riddick Parker DE Anthony Pleasant DE Jace Sayler NT UR Richard Seymour NT RLinebackers Tedy Bruschi ILB Matt Chatham OLB Antico Dalton ILB Rob Holmberg ILB Yubrenal Isabelle ILB UR Larry Izzo ILB Ted Johnson ILB Andy Katzenmoyer ILB Greg Spires OLB Maugaula Tuitele ILB T. J. Turner OLB R Mike Vrabel OLB
Defensive backs Hakim Akbar SS R Terrell Buckley CB Je'Rod Cherry FS Tony George SS Antwan Harris FS Ray Hill CB Tebucky Jones FS Ty Law CB Lawyer Milloy SS Leonard Myers CB R Kato Serwanga CB Terrance Shaw CB Otis Smith CB Matt Stevens SS
Special teams Brad Costello P Dan Hadenfeldt P UR Lee Johnson P Lonie Paxton LS Owen Pochman K R Adam Vinatieri K Reserve lists Terrance Beadles G (PUP) Jabari Holloway TE (Active/PUP) R Arther Love TE (Active/PUP) R Willie McGinest OLB (Active/PUP) Brandon Mitchell DE (Active/PUP) Antowain Smith RB (Active/PUP)
Unsigned draft picks Brock Williams CB R
Notations R: 2001 rookie UR: 2001 undrafted rookie Italicized players are not on the 80-man roster.
Week 1 roster New England Patriots 2001 Week 1 roster Quarterbacks Drew Bledsoe Tom Brady Damon Huard
Running backs Marc Edwards FB Kevin Faulk Patrick Pass FB J. R. Redmond KR Antowain Smith
Wide receivers Troy Brown PR Bert Emanuel Charles Johnson David Patten Torrance Small
Tight ends Rod Rutledge Jermaine WigginsOffensive linemen Joe Andruzzi G Mike Compton G Kenyatta Jones G R Adrian Klemm T Matt Light T R Greg Robinson-Randall T Grey Ruegamer C Grant Williams T Damien Woody C
Defensive linemen Bobby Hamilton DE Brandon Mitchell DE Riddick Parker DE Anthony Pleasant DE Jace Sayler NT UR Richard Seymour NT R Chris Sullivan DELinebackers Tedy Bruschi ILB Bryan Cox ILB Larry Izzo ILB Ted Johnson ILB Willie McGinest OLB Marty Moore ILB Roman Phifer OLB T. J. Turner OLB R Mike Vrabel OLB
Defensive backs Hakim Akbar SS R Terrell Buckley CB Je'Rod Cherry FS Antwan Harris FS Tebucky Jones FS Ty Law CB Lawyer Milloy SS Leonard Myers CB R Terrance Shaw CB Otis Smith CB Matt Stevens SS
Special teams Lee Johnson P Lonie Paxton LS Adam Vinatieri KReserve lists Terry Glenn WR (Left Squad) Ray Hill CB (IR) Jabari Holloway TE (IR) R Andy Katzenmoyer ILB (IR) Arther Love TE (PUP) R Brock Williams CB (IR) R Walter Williams RB (IR) UR
Practice squad Tom Ashworth OT UR Matt Chatham OLB Curtis Jackson WR Drew Inzer C UR David Nugent DT
Notations R: 2001 rookie UR: 2001 undrafted rookie Italicized players are not on the 53-man roster.
Final roster New England Patriots 2001 final roster Quarterbacks Drew Bledsoe Tom Brady Damon Huard
Running backs Marc Edwards FB Kevin Faulk KR Patrick Pass KR J. R. Redmond Antowain Smith
Wide receivers Troy Brown PR Fred Coleman Terry Glenn Charles Johnson David Patten
Tight ends Arther Love R Rod Rutledge Jermaine WigginsOffensive linemen Joe Andruzzi G Mike Compton G Kenyatta Jones G/T R Matt Light T R Stephen Neal G UR Greg Robinson-Randall T Grey Ruegamer C Grant Williams T Damien Woody C
Defensive linemen Bobby Hamilton DE Willie McGinest DE Brandon Mitchell DT David Nugent DT Riddick Parker DT Anthony Pleasant DE/DT Richard Seymour DT R Chris Sullivan DELinebackers Tedy Bruschi MLB/OLB Matt Chatham OLB Bryan Cox MLB Larry Izzo OLB Ted Johnson MLB/OLB Roman Phifer OLB Mike Vrabel OLB
Defensive backs Terrell Buckley CB Je'Rod Cherry CB/S Antwan Harris SS Tebucky Jones FS Ty Law CB Lawyer Milloy SS Leonard Myers CB R Terrance Shaw CB/FS Otis Smith CB Matt Stevens FS
Special teams Lonie Paxton LS Adam Vinatieri K Ken Walter PReserve lists Hakim Akbar S (NF-Inj.) R Kole Ayi LB (IR) Ray Hill CB (IR) Jabari Holloway TE (IR) R Curtis Jackson WR (IR) Andy Katzenmoyer LB (IR) Ben Kelly CB (IR) Adrian Klemm T (IR) Marty Moore LB (IR) Jace Sayler DT (IR) UR Brock Williams CB (IR) R Walter Williams RB (IR) UR
Practice squad Maurice Anderson DT Tom Ashworth T UR Setema Gali DE UR Drew Inzer G UR Scott McCready WR UR
Notations R: 2001 rookie UR: 2001 undrafted rookie Italicized players are not on the 53-man roster. 53 active, 12 inactive, 5 practice squad
Schedule
Preseason Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 New York Giants W 14–0 1–0 Foxboro Stadium Recap 2 at Carolina Panthers W 23–8 2–0 Ericsson Stadium Recap 3 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers L 3–20 2–1 Raymond James StadiumRecap 4 Washington Redskins W 33–13 3–1 Foxboro Stadium Recap
Regular season Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 September 9 at Cincinnati Bengals L 17–23 0–1 Paul Brown Stadium Recap 2 September 23 New York Jets L 3–10 0–2 Foxboro Stadium Recap 3 September 30 Indianapolis Colts W 44–13 1–2 Foxboro Stadium Recap 4 October 7 at Miami Dolphins L 10–30 1–3 Pro Player Stadium Recap 5 October 14 San Diego Chargers W 29–26 2–3 Foxboro Stadium Recap 6 October 21 at Indianapolis Colts W 38–17 3–3 RCA Dome Recap 7 October 28 at Denver Broncos L 20–31 3–4 Invesco Field at Mile High Recap 8 November 4 at Atlanta Falcons W 24–10 4–4 Georgia Dome Recap 9 November 11 Buffalo Bills W 21–11 5–4 Foxboro Stadium Recap 10 November 18 St. Louis Rams L 17–24 5–5 Foxboro Stadium Recap 11 November 25 New Orleans Saints W 34–17 6–5 Foxboro Stadium Recap 12 December 2 at New York Jets W 17–16 7–5 Giants Stadium Recap 13 December 9 Cleveland Browns W 27–16 8–5 Foxboro Stadium Recap 14 December 16 at Buffalo Bills W 12–9 9–5 Ralph Wilson Stadium Recap 15 Miami Dolphins W 20–13 10–5 Foxboro Stadium Recap 16 Bye 17 January 6 at Carolina Panthers W 38–6 11–5 Ericsson Stadium Recap
Postseason Round Date Opponent (seed) Result Record Venue Recap Wild Card First-round bye Divisional January 19, 2002 Oakland Raiders (3) W 16–13 1–0 Foxboro Stadium Recap AFC Championship January 27, 2002 at Pittsburgh Steelers (1) W 24–17 2–0 Heinz Field Recap Super Bowl XXXVI February 3, 2002 St. Louis Rams (N1) W 20–17 3–0 Louisiana Superdome Recap
Season summary Week 1: at Cincinnati Bengals
The season got off to a discouraging start as the Patriots visited Paul Brown Stadium and were beaten by the Bengals 23–17, surrendering 361 yards of offense, 104 of them on the ground by Corey Dillon. Drew Bledsoe failed to complete a pass in the game's final two minutes; he also failed earlier in the game on a quarterback sneak on fourth down.Felger, Michael, Boston Herald, September 10, 2001
Week 2: vs. New York Jets