HARRY AGGANIS (BOSTON UNIVERSITY, 1949 1951-1952) … Born in Lynn, Massachusetts, Agganis was a star football player at Boston University, primarily at quarterback. After a sophomore season in 1949, when he set a school record by tossing fifteen touchdown passes, he entered the Marine Corps. Agganis played for the Camp Lejeune (N.C.) football and baseball teams. He received a dependency discharge from the Marines to support his mother and returned to college to play in 1951-52. Agganis became the school's first All-American in football. Agganis set another Boston University mark by passing for 1,402 yards (1,282 m) for the season and won the Bulger Lowe Award as New England's outstanding football player. Coach Paul Brown of the Cleveland Browns thought he could be the successor to Otto Graham and drafted the college junior in the first round of the 1952 NFL Draft, offering him a bonus of $25,000. Boston Red Sox owner Tom Yawkey outdid Brown, however, and signed Agganis to play Major League Baseball for the Red Sox as a first baseman for $35,000. In 1955, Agganis was off to a good start, but on June 2, he was hospitalized with pneumonia after complaining of severe fever and chest pains. Though he rejoined the Red Sox ten days later, he fell ill again in Kansas City on June 27 and was flown back to Cambridge, Massachusetts, where he died of a pulmonary embolism. Ten thousand mourners attended his wake. Agganis was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1974.

CHARLIE O'ROURKE (BOSTON COLLEGE, 1939-1941) … Long after "Chuckin' Charlie" O'Rourke had ended his career at Boston College, Eastern experts persisted in proclaiming him "the greatest football player" in the school's history. Skinny at 155 pounds over a 5-10 frame, O'Rourke was one of the most clever tailbacks the game has ever known, bringing a twinkle to the eyes of a young head coach named Frank Leahy, and leading Boston College to a 9-1 record in the 1939 regular season campaign, and the Eagles' first bowl invitation.  He used his senior season to catapult the Eagles to a 10-0-0 record and inspired the Eagles to a come-from-behind 19-13 victory over powerful Tennessee in the Sugar Bowl. However, O'Rourke's finest acclaim came earlier that season; in a classic battle with previously unbeaten Georgetown - a game that Grantland Rice heralded as "the greatest college football game I've ever seen."  At Boston College he played one year under Gil Dobie, two years under Frank Leahy, and made All-America in 1940. He had a pro football career with the Chicago Bears, Los Angeles Dons, and Baltimore Colts in 1942 and from 1946-49. He coached football at the University of Massachusetts 1952-59.

BABE PARILLI (BOSTON PATRIOTS, 1963-1967) … Vito “Babe” Parilli played quarterback for the Patriots from 1961-67 and threw for more than 20,000 yards during his career. Parilli was voted to three American Football League All-Star teams and was named the AFL Comeback Player of the Year in 1966 when he threw for 3,441 yards and 31 touchdowns. In addition to his skills as a quarterback, Parilli became known as an excellent kick holder and earned the nickname “Gold Finger.” The combination of holder/quarterback Parilli and kicker/wide receiver Gino Cappelletti came to be known as the “Grand Opera.” In 1993, Parilli was inducted into the Patriots Hall of Fame. In 1982, Parilli was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame for his collegiate career under Bear Bryant at the University of Kentucky. The Kentucky native lives his in home state.

JIM NANCE (BOSTON PATRIOTS, 1965-1968) … In the year that the franchise celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2009, Patriots fans had an opportunity to vote for one of three hall of fame finalists, each of whom were perennial American Football League (AFL) All-Stars for the then Boston Patriots. Fullback Jim Nance posthumously earned the honor of becoming the 14th player and the first running back to be inducted into the team’s Hall of Fame. Nance played seven season with the Patriots from 1965-1971 and was the AFL’s MVP in 1966 when he rushed for 1,458 yards and 11 touchdowns. He also was the first AFL back to eclipse the 1,000-yard rushing mark in consecutive seasons. His 104.1 rushing yards per game in 1966 remains a Patriots record. His 45 rushing TDs is tops in team history while his 5,323 rushing yards is second to Sam Cunningham. Nance was named to the Patriots All-Time Team in 2009.

CLIFF BATTLES (BOSTON REDSKINS, 1933-1936) … Cliff Battles, a sensational running back from West Virginia Wesleyan College won the National Football League rushing title in 1932 as a rookie with Boston Braves (Redskins). All-NFL choice, 1932, 1933, 1934, 1936, and 1937. In 1937 the now Washington Redskins, quickly added a sensational rookie passer, Sammy Baugh. For the 1937 season, Baugh and Battles combined their talents just as everyone had anticipated. On the season’s final day, Battles scored three touchdowns to power the Redskins to a 49-14 win over the New York Giants for the Eastern Division title. Against the Chicago Bears a week later, Battles scored the first touchdown in a 28-21 victory that gave the Redskins their first NFL championship.

GINO CAPPELLETTI (BOSTON PATRIOTS, 1963-1968) … Gino Cappelletti Gino Cappelletti is the “original Patriot” and perhaps the most recognized figure in franchise history. A versatile player, Cappelletti played wide receiver and kicker for the Patriots from 1960-70 and was the Patriots all-time leading scorer until 2005 when he was surpassed by Adam Vinatieri. He led the American Football League in scoring five times and holds two of the top five scoring seasons in league history – 147 points in 1961 and 155 points in 1964, a season in which he named the AFL’s Most Valuable Player. Cappelletti was voted an AFL All-Star five times and still holds the Patriots records for career field goals made. He also remains among the top 10 receivers in Patriots history. After his playing career ended, Cappelletti moved into the broadcast booth with his longtime partner Gil Santos. For the better part of the past quarter century, Santos and Cappelletti have been the voices of the Patriots for millions of New England football fans. In 1992, Cappelletti was inducted in the Patriots Hall of Fame. The Minnesota native makes his home in Massachusetts.

NICK BUONICONTI (BOSTON PATRIOTS, 1963-1968) … Nick Buoniconti played linebacker for the Patriots from 1962-68 and was voted an American Football League All-Star five times, including 1966 when he was the top vote getter. The Springfield, Mass., native took night classes during the season at Suffolk University and received his law degree in 1968. In 1970, Buoniconti was named to the All-AFL Team commemorating the best players in that league’s history. Hall of Fame quarterback Len Dawson said of Buoniconti, "If you are lucky enough to knock him down, you have to lay on him or he'll get right back into the play." In 1992, Buoniconti was inducted into the Patriots Hall of Fame and in 2001, he was named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Bouniconti was traded by the Patriots in 1969 to the Miami Dolphins where he excelled as part of Miami’s 1972 undefeated championship team. He still resides in South Florida.

TURK EDWARDS (BOSTON REDSKINS, 1933-1936) … Turk Edwards was huge for his time -- 6'2", 260 pounds -- and he used his size and strength to his advantage. Signing Edwards was a sensational move for the new team for Turk responded with nine superior seasons, winning All-NFL honors from major media outlets every year of his career except his last one. A 6-2, 255-pound tackle does not create unusual notice today, but in the 1930s, a player of that stature stood out like the Rock of Gibraltar. And that is the way Edwards played the game — typifying overwhelming strength and power and yet he possessed enough agility to do a superb job every minute of every game. But he was also surprisingly agile for a man his size, enabling him to patrol more than his share of the defensive line. An All-American at Washington State, when Edwards graduated in 1932, three NFL teams made him offers -- Boston, the Giants, and the Portsmouth Spartans. Boston was a new team just starting out, but Edwards liked their offer because it paid best -- $150 a game for 10 games. That wasn't bad money during the Depression. Edwards was named All-NFL in four of his first six seasons. Edwards was the captain and star tackle of the Boston Redskins. More important, he helped the Redskins move from also-ran status to a division title in 1936. The Boston Redskins, squared off against the three-time Eastern champion Giants that day. Taking matters into his own hands, Edwards blocked a punt, blocked a place kick, recovered two fumbles, made tackles all along the line, and opened gaping holes in the Giants' defense for Boston's backs to scurry through. The Skins beat the New York Giants 14-0 and advanced to their first NFL championship game.

HOUSTON ANTWINE (BOSTON PATRIOTS, 1963-1968) … A member of the Patriots' 50th Anniversary Team, Antwine played from 1961-71 with the franchise before spending the 1972 season with the Philadelphia Eagles. In 142 regular-season games for the Patriots, he had 39 sacks, leading the team in that category during the 1967, 1968, and 1969 seasons, although sacks were not an official statistic then At 6-foot, 270 pounds, he was drafted by the Houston Oilers in the eighth round (64th overall) in 1961, then traded to the Patriots before ever playing a game for the Oilers. Antwine became a defensive catalyst for the Patriots, making the all-star team from 1963-1968. In addition to making the Patriots 1960s All-Decade team, he was chosen to the all-time All-AFL team.

BOB DEE (BOSTON PATRIOTS, 1963-1967) … Bob Dee was the Ironman of the American Football League, never missing a game during his career. A local product, Dee was born in Quincy, Mass., and graduated from the College of Holy Cross. As a defensive lineman for the Patriots from 1960 to 1967, Dee started 112 consecutive games, wearing the same helmet nearly every game. He scored the first touchdown in AFL history when he dove onto a fumble in the end zone in a preseason contest vs. Buffalo. Dee was voted to five AFL All-Star teams and was enshrined in the Patriots Hall of Fame in 1993.

JIM LEE HUNT (BOSTON PATRIOTS, 1963-1967) … Jim Lee Hunt played for the Patriots from 1960-71. Nicknamed "Earthquake,” Hunt played in 141 games at defensive tackle. He was voted to four AFL All-Star games and named "best pass rushing tackle in the AFL" by AFL scouts in 1967. Hunt possessed great speed for a man of his size, once intercepting a pass and out-running two running backs for a 79-yard touchdown return. An award for the best Patriots lineman was named in his honor and John Hannah won it in 1981. In 1993, Hunt was inducted into the Patriots Hall of Fame.

JON MORRIS (BOSTON PATRIOTS, 1964-1967) … Jon Morris was a  Holy Cross Varsity Club Athlete of the Year and Lineman of the Year in 1963. He was selected All-East and All-America in his senior year, played in the College All-Star Game and captained the Senior Bowl.  He was inducted into the Holy Cross Hall of Fame in 1973. The Green Bay Packers, coached by Vince Lombardi, picked Morris as their number two draft choice, however Morris chose to go with the Boston Patriots instead and he was signed on as their third pick. Morris was the Patriots' team Rookie of the Year in 1964, and their "Unsung Hero" in 1965. He was an AFL All-Star six times, 1964 through 1969, and was an AFC Pro Bowl Center in 1970; he was the first Patriots player to be selected for the AFC Pro Bowl. He is 2nd to John Hannah for the most appearances by a Patriot player in a League All Star Game or Pro Bowl Game. Morris was named to the second team, All-Time All-AFL, and to the fan-selected Boston Patriots All-1960s Team. He played 128 games for the Patriots, the eighth best individual record in club history. Morris recovered several fumbles during his career. The first was a fumble by running back Ron Burton in the Boston Patriots' 24-7 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs at Fenway Park on October 23, 1964. In 1966, he recovered a fumble by running back Larry Garron in the Patriots' 27-27 tie with the Kansas City Chiefs at Municipal Stadium on November 20. He also recovered a fumble by fullback Jim Nance in the Patriots' 16-0 loss to the Houston Oilers at Fenway Park on October 13, 1968.  After his playing career, Morris worked as the color commentator on Patriots radio broadcasts from 1979 to 1987, followed by color analysis of NFL games for NBC television.  In 2011, Jon Morris was selected by a senior selection committee as a member of the Patriots Hall of Fame.