New England Patriots | 61,482 followers on LinkedIn. The New England Patriots Gillette Stadium 1 Patriot Place Foxborough, MA 02035 www.patriots.com www.gillettestadium.com For job postings and more, follow us on Social Media: Kraft Group Jobs on Facebook (www.Facebook.com/KraftGroupJobs) @KraftGroupJobs on Twitter (www.twitter.com/KraftGroupJobs) The History Professional football arrived in New England on November 16, 1959, when a group of local businessmen, led by former public relations executive William H. "Billy"​ Sullivan, Jr. was awarded the eighth and final franchise in the new American Football League. One week later, Northwestern University running back Ron Burton was selected as the franchise's first draft choice and Syracuse running back Gerhardt Schwedes was selected as the team’s first territorial choice.