After 20 seasons, the Patriots are facing an uncertain future. Tom Brady started 283 games at quarterback for the franchise and for the first time since his injury in 2008 and suspension in 2016, they have to look elsewhere.
This time, though, it’s for the long run. As longtime Patriots fans know, finding a great quarterback isn’t easy. Here’s a look at the 14 men who helmed the position for the 20 years before Brady came along.
Steve Grogan
Before there was Tom, there was Steve. Grogan played in the NFL for 16 seasons, all of them in a Patriots uniform. He started 135 games for the team over that time, throwing 182 touchdowns and … wait for it … 208 interceptions.
Matt Cavanaugh
Cavanaugh started 15 games for the Patriots between 1980 and 1982, throwing 19 touchdowns and 23 interceptions. He’d go on to win two Super Bowl rings — one with the 49ers and one with the Giants. He’s been a well-traveled coach in the league since 1992 and was a senior offensive assistant with Washington in 2019.
Tom Owen
Interestingly, three of the 14 quarterbacks who started in the 20 years before Brady were also named Tom. Owen started only one game —a loss in the 1981 season finale against the Baltimore Colts.
Tony Eason
Eason started 51 games between 1983 and 1989 and was the Patriots’ starting quarterback in the Super Bowl XX loss to the Chicago Bears.
Tom Ramsey
A 10th-round pick out of UCLA in the 1986 draft, Ramsey (left) had an abbreviated career. He started three games for the Patriots in 1987 and another in 1988 before finishing up his career with the 1989 Colts.
Ramsey was the last Patriots quarterback to wear No. 12 before Brady.
Bob Bleier
Bleier, the cousin of Steelers great Rocky Bleier, was the only quarterback left on the Patriots after the 1987 strike began. He started two games, throwing one touchdown and one interception, before being replaced by Doug Flutie.
Doug Flutie
Flutie crossed the picket line in 1987 in order to fulfill a dream to play for his hometown Patriots. He started 13 games over four seasons with New England, throwing 11 touchdowns and 14 interceptions.
Marc Wilson
A starter in Oakland for much of the ’80s, Wilson finished his career with two seasons in New England. He started a total of 10 games for the Patriots, going 0-6 for the 1-15 team in 1990.
Tom Hodson
Drafted out of LSU, Hodson started 12 games over three seasons for the Patriots. New England was 1-11 in those games.
Hugh Millen
Millen started a total of 20 games for the Patriots in 1991 and 1992, going 5-15 with 17 touchdowns and 28 interceptions.
Jeff Carlson
Carlson started one game for the 1991 Bucs and two games for the 1992 Patriots, going a combined 0-3 with two touchdowns and nine interceptions … but he still has something in common with the G.O.A.T.!
Scott Zolak
Zolak was a longtime Patriots backup who started seven games between 1992 and 1998. He is now a popular broadcaster in New England and a member of the Patriots Radio Network.
Scott Secules
Secules started four games for the 1993 Patriots, a stint so forgettable (two TDs, nine INTs) that we had trouble finding a picture of him in a Patriots uniform.
Drew Bledsoe
Bledsoe was good in his own right and a welcome savior after decades of subpar quarterback play in New England. He rewrote the Patriots’ record books for nine seasons before getting hurt in 2001 — an injury that opened the door for two decades of Tom Brady.
