How Many Super Bowls Have the New England Patriots Been In
The New England Patriots have appeared in nine Super Bowls, the most by any franchise in NFL history. Their first was Super Bowl XX at the end of the 1985 season and their most recent was Super Bowl LIII at the conclusion of the 2018 season. Across these nine appearances, the Patriots have won six championships and lost three, establishing one of the most sustained stretches of excellence in modern professional sports.
Complete List of Patriots Super Bowl Appearances
Every Super Bowl appearance represents a specific season and championship game context. The table below summarizes the year, Super Bowl number, opponent, venue location, and result for each of the nine appearances, reflecting the consensus historical record maintained by the NFL and the Patriots' organization.
| Season | Super Bowl | Championship Game | Opponent | Venue & Location | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | XX | Jan 26, 1986 | Chicago Bears | Tampa Stadium, Tampa, FL | L 46–10 |
| 1996 | XXXI | Jan 26, 1997 | Green Bay Packers | Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans, LA | W 35–21 |
| 2001 | XXXVI | Feb 3, 2002 | St. Louis Rams | Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans, LA | W 20–17 |
| 2003 | XXXVIII | Feb 1, 2004 | Carolina Panthers | Reliant Stadium, Houston, TX | W 32–29 |
| 2004 | XXXIX | Feb 6, 2005 | Philadelphia Eagles | Alltel Stadium, Jacksonville, FL | W 24–21 |
| 2011 | XLIX | Feb 1, 2015 | Seattle Seahawks | University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, AZ | W 28–24 |
| 2014 | XLIX | Feb 1, 2015 | Seattle Seahawks | University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, AZ | W 28–24 |
| 2016 | LI | Feb 5, 2017 | Atlanta Falcons | NRG Stadium, Houston, TX | W 34–28 |
| 2018 | LIII | Feb 3, 2019 | Los Angeles Rams | Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, GA | W 13–3 |
Comparison to Other NFL Franchises
Nine Super Bowl appearances is an NFL record. No other franchise has reached the championship game as often. This table compares the Patriots’ total with other historically successful franchises, emphasizing the durability and consistency of their sustained run since 2000.
| Franchise | Super Bowl Appearances | Super Bowl Wins | Most Recent Appearance |
|---|---|---|---|
| New England Patriots | 9 | 6 | 2019 (LIII) |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 8 | 6 | 2006 (XL) |
| Dallas Cowboys | 8 | 5 | 1996 (XXX) |
| San Francisco 49ers | 5 | 5 | 1995 (XXIX) |
| Denver Broncos | 5 | 3 | 2016 (50) |
Context for Each Appearance
- Super Bowl XX (1985 season): First Super Bowl in franchise history; a heavy loss to the Bears.
- Super Bowl XXXI (1996 season): First championship of the Brady-Belichick era, a 35–21 win over Green Bay.
- Super Bowl XXXVI (2001 season): Upset win over the Rams, marking the start of a dynasty.
- Super Bowl XXXVIII (2003 season): Close 32–29 victory against Carolina.
- Super Bowl XXXIX (2004 season): 24–21 win over Philadelphia to secure a third title in four years.
- Super Bowl XLIX (2015): 28–24 win over Seattle, featuring the iconic final play intercepting Russell Wilson.
- Super Bowl LI (2017): Historic 34–28 comeback win after trailing 28–3 vs. Atlanta.
- Super Bowl LIII (2019): 13–3 win over the Rams in a low-scoring, defense-focused game.
Context and Era Framing
The nine appearances span more than three decades and include both dominant dynastic stretches and hard-fought single victories. The run from 2001 through 2019 produced the majority of appearances and most of the championships, driven by the quarterback room leadership of Tom Brady and Bill Belichick’s organizational culture. The franchise holds the record not just for appearances but also for wins and consecutive championship seasons within the Super Bowl era.
Common Points of Clarification
Fans sometimes confuse regular season records with postseason achievements or miscount appearances tied to specific opponents or venues. Others conflate appearances from other decades with the concentrated run of the 2000s. This overview is based on the official list recognized by the NFL and the New England Patriots’ historical record, ensuring an accurate and consistently updatable reference.
Legacy and Historical Standing
With nine Super Bowl appearances and six titles, the New England Patriots are the benchmark franchise in the Super Bowl era. This sustained excellence shapes franchise valuation, fan engagement, and the career narratives of players, coaches, and executives associated with the organization. The record is widely cited in retrospective rankings and remains a central element of the team’s long-term identity.