Businessman and sports franchise owner. Founding owner of the Boston Patriots of the American Football League, which later became the New England Patriots of the National Football League. His first foray into sports was as a writer, followed by periods as publicity director for Boston College, the University of Notre Dame, and the Boston Braves. In 1959, the NFL denied his request to establish a Boston franchise, but soon, he and a group of other businessmen used their money to secure the eighth and final charter franchise in the upstart American Football League, the Patriots. The competing NFL and AFL merged in 1970, with Sullivan continuing as owner of the Patriots. Under his stewardship, the Patriots were American Football Conference champions during the 1985 NFL season, losing to the Chicago Bears in Super Bowl XX. He sold the Patriots franchise in 1988 after 28 seasons. He stayed on as the team's president until 1992. He was posthumously inducted into the New England Patriots Hall of Fame in 2009, the first non-player to receive the honor.
Businessman and sports franchise owner. Founding owner of the Boston Patriots of the American Football League, which later became the New England Patriots of the National Football League. His first foray into sports was as a writer, followed by periods as publicity director for Boston College, the University of Notre Dame, and the Boston Braves. In 1959, the NFL denied his request to establish a Boston franchise, but soon, he and a group of other businessmen used their money to secure the eighth and final charter franchise in the upstart American Football League, the Patriots. The competing NFL and AFL merged in 1970, with Sullivan continuing as owner of the Patriots. Under his stewardship, the Patriots were American Football Conference champions during the 1985 NFL season, losing to the Chicago Bears in Super Bowl XX. He sold the Patriots franchise in 1988 after 28 seasons. He stayed on as the team's president until 1992. He was posthumously inducted into the New England Patriots Hall of Fame in 2009, the first non-player to receive the honor.
Bio by: Kurt's Historic Sites
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