The New England Patriots have grown from also-rans to a dominant franchise since 2001. Yet, the teams were not always as bad in their earlier years as portrayed by the media. Far from it, but they never reached the pinnacle either and won a Super Bowl until that glorious win over the Rams after the 2001 season.
They then proceeded under Bill Belichick and Tom Brady to dominate the NFL in the new “free agency” era like no team either before or since that era began. One aspect of the team, that garners probably less attention than almost any other usually is the most important unit on the field, the offensive line.
New England Patriots have a history of great offensive lineman
With this in mind, hopefully, it’s of interest to take look back at the five most influential offensive linemen in the team’s six-decade-long history. They are all Patriots Hall of Famers (save one who is a candidate this year).
There’s no surprise there. There may be differences of opinion on some of the players who should or shouldn’t be on the list.
But let’s take a flier on this anyway in ascending order, from the 5th best all the way to the best of them all.
New England Patriots all-time offensive lineman: No. 5 – Jon Morris
A guy who would likely earn a spot on any football historian’s list would probably have to include Jon Morris, the best center in New England Patriots franchise history.
Morris, from Holy Cross College was a fourth-round draft pick in 1964, and has the honor of being selected as the first Patriots who was a Pro Bowler.
Here’s what the Patriots Hall of Fame says about its member, Jon Morris,
"Jon Morris played 11 seasons for the Patriots, appearing in 130 games from 1964-74. He earned seven consecutive All-Star appearances with six AFL-All Star games (1964 through 1969) and was an AFC Pro Bowl center in 1970. His seven league All-Star selections rank second in Patriots history…"
Morris was a top center in the league along with stalwarts like Oakland’s legendary Jim Otto who helped the fledgling AFL to compete with and then ultimately merge with the NFL.
Jon Morris has to rate in the top five of any New England Patriots list of their best offensive linemen of all time.
New England Patriots all-time offensive lineman: No. 4 – Logan Mankins
The fourth on the top five list is a more recent vintage lineman from the era of Super Bowl-winning teams. That would be offensive guard, Logan Mankins.
Mankins was a rather controversial first-round draft pick in the 2005 NFL draft. Having played tackle at Fresno State, Mankins would go on to have a remarkable NFL career at guard.
Mankins played for the Patriots from 2005 until traded to Tampa Bay in 2014 (a trade that current Buc, Tom Brady, ironically was no fan of) and he played two years for the Bucs before retiring in 2016. Mankins was what they called “country strong” having been raised on a cattle ranch.
One thing about this player that demonstrates his toughness was his playing for most of the 2011 season with a torn ACL and he then subsequently tore his other ACL in a playoff game. He still played later in the Super Bowl loss that season to the New York Giants, the injuries notwithstanding. That’s cowboy tough.
Mankins played on some truly outstanding Patriots teams though he did not win a Super Bowl with the club. So he’ll have to contend himself with being a great player on some great teams. In addition, Mankins is a candidate in 2022 for the Patriots Hall of Fame. No doubt, he’ll garner a lot of support.
New England Patriots all-time offensive lineman: No. 3 – Leon Gray
Leon Gray is often linked with another lineman on this list (more on him later), and together they formed one of the best one-two punches offensive line punches in the history of the National Football League.
From the left tackle position, Gray, helped the New England Patriots reach the top status as arguably the best team in the NFL some years, though they never reached the Super Bowl during his tenure in Foxborough.
Here’s what the Patriots Hall of Fame has to say about their member and this terrific left tackle,
"Leon Gray joined the Patriots in 1973 after being released from the Dolphins before the start of the season. Gray spent six years with the Patriots and played a major role in leading the most prolific rushing attack in NFL history … Gray and the 1978 Patriots rushed for an NFL record 3,165 yards on the season – a number that has never been challenged. The 1978 club was also the first Patriots team to win the AFC Eastern Division title. In 1977, Gray was part of an offensive line that was also prolific in pass protection as Grogan was sacked only 14 times all season."
The Patriots certainly owed former legendary Hall-of-Fame Miami Dolphins Coach Don Shula a big “Thank you” for releasing Gray. As a member of the Patriots, he made them pay dearly for that rash decision.
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The 70’s Patriots teams were well-balanced and could easily have been Super Bowl Champs in two or three seasons that decade from 1976-1978. Gray manned the absolutely crucial left tackle position at 6’3″ tall and 256 pounds, the size of a big linebacker in today’s NFL. He did his part to open the holes for the running game that as noted above has never been surpassed in yards gained.
Si.com’s Ron Borges talks about Gray’s brilliant career,
"Gray was named first-team All-Pro three times, went to four Pro Bowls and was twice named the NFL’s Offensive Lineman of the Year (1979 and 1980) after leaving New England for Houston in a block buster trade …"
In his article, Borges made the case that Gray should be a Hall of Famer, Pro Football Hall of Famer, as well as being a current member of the Patriots Hall of Fame. Who’s to argue with that point? No one here.
New England Patriots all-time offensive lineman: No. 2 – Bruce Armstrong
New England Patriots tackle Bruce Armstrong was a fixture at left tackle for the team for over a decade.
A Louisville graduate and first-round draft pick in 1987, Armstrong manned the second most important post on the team from1987 through the 2000 season.
Here’s what the Patriots Hall of Fame has to say about its member,
"Bruce Armstrong holds the team record with 212 games played, starting in every one of them. A six-time Pro Bowl participant, Armstrong was only one of three players in league history to play with the same team in three different decades. Though somewhat undersized for his tackle position, Armstrong anchored the offensive line through the late 1980s and 1990s. He played the last eight games of the 1999 season with three torn ligaments in his right knee and was name an alternate to the Pro Bowl that season. His battles with Buffalo’s Hall of Fame defensive end Bruce Smith were legendary during the peak of both players’ careers. Armstrong was selected for the Patriots Hall of Fame in 2001. Inducted 2001."
Armstrong was not the biggest offensive left tackles at about 295 pounds and 6’4″ tall, but his athleticism for a man that size was off the charts. He is the best ever to man the position for the New England Patriots.
As noted in the Hall description, Armstrong engaged in titanic battles with Pro Football Hall of Famer, former Buffalo Bills great, Bruce Smith, one of the best defensive ends in league history.
The Pro Football Hall of Fame notes of Smith,
"A key member of the Bills teams that won six AFC Eastern Division championships and four AFC titles, many observers feel that 1990 was Smith’s finest season. That year he recorded 19 quarterback sacks and his dominant play frequently changed the complexion of the game."
These battles took place during the halcyon years of the Bills under their great coach, Marv Levy when the Bills reached four consecutive Super Bowls without winning one. Buffalo dominated the AFC East during much of that time. But with Armstrong at left tackle, the Patriots traveled to Super Bowl XXXI after the 1996 season, unfortunately losing to the Green Bay Packers.
Armstrong went to six pro Bowls and the question can certainly be asked whether he should be wearing the yellow jacket of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, as well as the red of the Patriots he now wears. The answer here would be a resounding “yes”.
New England Patriots all-time offensive lineman: No. 1 – John Hannah
If there is any doubt, the greatest New England Patriots offensive lineman of all time is John Hannah.
In fact, for this poor observer’s money, there has never been a better offensive lineman in the history of the game. The only other player who is even close, is the magnificent Anthony Munoz, Pro Football Hall of Fame tackle from the Cincinnati Bengals.
Hannah was in a class by himself as an offensive guard. It was clear during his time as an All-American at Alabama playing under legendary coach, Bear Bryant.
It continued immediately thereafter when he was drafted fourth overall in the 1973 NFL draft and throughout his illustrious career with the Patriots. The only missing accolade from his Curriculum Vitae would be Super Bowl winner. He played in one, but the team lost to the Chicago Bears.
Hannah epitomized everything that was required in an offensive lineman and specifically a guard. For his time in the league, he was a very big guard, checking at 6’2″ tall and weighing in at about 265 pounds when the norm was more likely about 15-20 pounds lighter.
He carried the nickname “hog” and his demeanor on the fields was every bit as tough as that. He was a road-grading guard who plowed the way for the best running game in league history. He also could handle any pass-blocking assignment. No one was stronger, had more talent, or could match his unrivaled tenacity, and desire top to play the game all-out on every play, and dominate.
Here’s part of what the Pro Football Hall of Fame has to say about John Hannah after his being drafted by the New England Patriots,
"In the next 12 years, Hannah became widely recognized as the premier guard of pro football. He was named All-Pro 10 straight years from 1976 through 1985. He won the NFL Players Association’s Offensive Lineman of the Year award four straight years from 1978 through 1981. Hannah was named to nine Pro Bowls but missed the game following the 1983 season because of an injury… In spite of the constant contact his body had to absorb, Hannah missed only five games because of injuries of a possible 191 in his 13-season career… During his career, New England enjoyed seven winning seasons and a 100-91-0 cumulative record. Hannah was given a large share of the credit when the Patriots rushed for a then-record 3,165 yards in 1978. John finished his career after the 1985 season on a high note. His final campaign had produced an AFC championship and Super Bowl XX appearance for the Patriots, and All-Pro honors and a Pro Bowl invitation for himself."
All-Pro 10 straight years pretty much sums up what John Hannah’s contributions to the Patriots offense were during his dozen years wearing the red, white, and blue. Hannah didn’t just dominate anyone he was matched against, he destroyed them.
That included even fellow All-Pros who had the distinct misfortune of lining up against him on any given Sunday during those 12 years. It didn’t matter who you were, or how good, if you played the Patriots on the right side of the defensive line you were in for a thrashing that game. And there wasn’t a thing you could do about it. He was that good, that dominant, that insuperable.