In 1993, the New England Patriots discarded a big piece of their history in an effort to leave the past behind. Pat Patriot, the gnarled Revolutionary War figure front and center in the team’s branding, was cast aside in favor of a more ’90s feel. In his place came a new logo; one that was half shooting star and half Elvis parti.
It was a terrible sartorial decision and one that, somehow, led to success on the field. 10 of the franchise’s 11 Super Bowl appearances came with the streaking Elvis occupying prime real estate on the team’s helmets. Pat Patriot was reduced to a throwback logo. When the league mandated teams could only use one set of helmets in a given season, he was further relegated to hoodies and other kinda/sorta off-brand apparel.
The Patriots are in need of a 1993-level change of luck thanks to three straight seasons without a playoff win. And with the league relaxing its helmet rules, the opportunity for throwback uniforms is more wide open than ever before. If cornerback Jalen Mills’ Instagram story is to be believed, we’re about to see the triumphant return of Pat Patriot.
