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In 1960, a contest to decide the name of the new Boston NFL team resulted in the world-famous New England Patriots.
In the days following the announcement, Phil Bissell, a Boston Globe cartoonist, designed what he thought captured a true “Patriot.”
Pat Patriot caught the eye of team owner Billy Sullivan, and he paid Bissell $100 to acquire the image for the team. Then, in 1961, the cartoon became the official mascot logo for the team.
While the Patriots team has since moved on to the Flying Elvis, Pat is a favorite on team gear, worn often by the infamous Tom Brady.
– Margot Calmar, The 100 Companies