1960-1967

Tom Addison was one of the original members of the Boston Patriots from 1960-1967. He was born on April 12, 1936 in Lancaster, SC and attended Lancaster High School. 

After a standout career at the University of South Carolina, he was drafted in 1958 by the Baltimore Colts in the 12th round, and was also drafted by Ottawa Roughriders of the Canadian Football League, but eventually signed with the Boston franchise of the newly formed American Football League in 1960.

He earned All-AFL honors in 1960 (before an All-Star game was formed), followed by four consecutive trips to the AFL All-Star game (1961-64), and  was also a Sporting News All-League player in 1963 and 1964.

He was a key player on the 1963 Patriots' squad which played in the 1963 AFL Championship Game. In 106 regular season games, he recorded 16 interceptions for 103 yards.

Tom played his entire career with the Patriots and played in every game from 1961 to 1964 (84 games), but what proved to be a career-ending knee injury. In June 1968, he was released by the Patriots after team doctors stated that he would risk further damage by playing after having undergone two knee operations. 

He was elected the first president of the AFL Players Association. With a players association in place, players newly drafted by American Football League teams in the "war between the leagues" could be assured that they would have representation and protection in the AFL that was the equal of that in the older league. His work was an important element in the survival of the league, and helped the AFL to be able to compete for top talent, and to establish itself as the future of the NFL.