The New England Patriots are officially 89 days away from kicking off their 2019 season. New England is one of the most storied franchises in the league, and their recent success makes it easy to overlook some of the earliest legends in the franchise. One of the original Boston Patriots, Bob Dee was one of the best and most durable defensive lineman in the American Football League
Bob Dee – 89 Days to Kickoff
Before the Patriots
While Dee would go on to become a New England legend, he had always called Massachusetts home. Born in Quincy in 1933, Dee spent his college years at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester. Dee was one of the better athletes to go through Holy Cross, and was a three-sport letterman while in college.
Interestingly enough, Dee didn’t start his professional career with the Patriots. The defensive lineman was selected in the 19th round of the 1955 draft by the Washington Redskins and spent two seasons in the National Football League. However, after two seasons in Washington, Dee decided to return to his alma mater to serve as a tutor for the teams defensive linemen.
1960-1967: The Ironman Legend
Dee returned to the professional world in 1960, signing with the newly-formed Boston Patriots. He was one of the first signings the team ever made, and immediately established himself as one of the most important players in the young franchise.
Dee is best known for his incredible durability. Dee was a true ironman in every sense of the phrase, playing in 112 consecutive games from 1960-1967. The lineman notoriously wore the same helmet in almost every game he played. According to varies sources, Dee wore his original helmet in 106 of a possible 112 games, despite increases in helmet safety throughout his career.
It wasn’t just his consecutive games streak that made his career so impressive, but rather how he played in those games. Dee was one of the most dominant linemen in the league from his very first game. The Boston Patriots played in the first game in AFL History, and Dee of all people recorded the leagues’ first points. The D-lineman recovered a fumbled by Buffalo Bills quarterback Tommy O’Connell in the endzone for the league’s first touchdown.
His career would only improve from there. Dee established himself as one of the most physical and punishing defensive linemen in the league, racking up 33 sacks in his eight years in the league. Dee’s play earned him five AFL All-Star nominations to go along with four Second-team All-AFL honors.
One of Dee’s more memorable games came in the 1963 Eastern Divisional Playoff Game against the rival Bills. Dee recorded two interceptions in that game, and famously played one sneaker and one shoe with spikes, supposedly to help his grip in the snow. The method might have been unconventional, but the result worked. The Patriots won, 26-8, in large part thanks to his efforts.
Life After Football
Despite being one of the better forces in the AFL, Dee decided to call it a career after the 1967 season. Despite still being a solid starter, Dee said he had a business offer that was too good to refuse. Dee opened Jet Line Services, Inc., and spent the rest of his life in the hazardous waste cleanup business.
Dee tragically passed away on April 18th, 1979. While on a business trip in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, Dee suffered a heart attack and did not survive. Dee was only 45 at his passing, and he left behind three sons and a daughter
Bob Dee was posthumously inducted into the New England Patriots Hall of Fame in August of 1993 and was just the fourth player ever inducted. The organization also retired his jersey number, 89, and his famous helmet currently resides in The Hall at Patriot Place.
Main photo:
Embed from Getty Images
