The Patriots and Going a Decade Between Championships

Last week, I wrote about the fact that Tom Brady could become the second player in NFL history to win Super Bowls 13 years apart (Ted Hendricks is the other).

Won Super Bowls 10+ Years Apart

Yrs	Player	From	To	Tm	Super Bowl Wins
13	Ted Hendricks	1970	1983	BAL-RAI	1970, 1976, 1980, 1983
12	Ray Lewis	2000	2012	BAL	2000, 2012
11	Matt Bahr	1979	1990	PIT-NYG	1979, 1990
10	Bill Romanowski	1988	1998	SF-DEN	1988, 1997, 1998

Vince Wilfork could join this list as well, as he could have a 10-year span with his title in 2004.

While last week's piece focused on the possible 13-year run by Brady and Belichick and where it stacks up against those in other sports, this week's will look at the fact that Brady, Wilfork and Belichick could win a championship ten years after their last.

Brady and Wilfork can be the third and fourth players to win Super Bowls a decade apart without any in between:

Yrs	Player	From	To	Tm
12	Ray Lewis	2000	2012	BAL
11	Matt Bahr	1979	1990	PIT-NYG
10	Tom Brady	2004	2014*	NE
10	Vince Wilfork	2004	2014*	NE

*If Patriots win

The longest drought between Super Bowl wins for a coach is Tom Landry's six years. Belichick would beat that by plenty and would have the longest stretch since the pre-Super Bowl era of the 1960s.

NFL Coaches, Most Seasons Between Championships

Yrs	Coach	From	To	Tm
19	Jimmy Conzelman	1928	1947	PRV-CRD
17	George Halas	1946	1963	CHI
12	George Halas	1921	1933	CHI
10	Bill Belichick	2004	2014*	NE

*If Patriots win

Conzelman's first title even predates the NFL Championship Game, which began in 1933. 19 years after his Providence Steam Rollers did just that for the '28 crown, he led the Chicago Cardinals past the Eagles in the title game. Halas has two different streaks on this list from his 40-year career. As player-coach, he guided the Chicago Staleys to the 1921 pennant before winning the first Championship Game in '33. His Bears then went 17 years between titles from 1946-1963.


Let's look at the other major American pro sports. In baseball, there have been 24 players to play for the winning side in the World Series, then win another a decade or more later.

MLB

MLB Players, Most Seasons Between World Series Championships

Yrs	Player	From	To	Tm
16	Babe Adams	1909	1925	PIT
14	Dolf Luque	1919	1933	CIN-NYG
13	Steve Carlton	1967	1980	STL-PHI
13	Jim Palmer	1970	1983	BAL
13	Edgar Renteria	1997	2010	FLA-SF
12	Joe Sewell	1920	1932	CLE-NYY
12	Murry Dickson	1946	1958	STL-NYY
11	Goose Goslin	1924	1935	WAS-DET
11	Nippy Jones	1946	1957	STL-MLN
11	Del Rice	1946	1957	STL-MLN
11	Red Schoendienst	1946	1957	STL-MLN
11	Eddie Mathews	1957	1968	MLN-DET
11	Don McMahon	1957	1968	MLN-DET
11	Roberto Clemente	1960	1971	PIT
11	Bill Mazeroski	1960	1971	PIT
11	Jose Canseco	1989	2000	OAK-NYY
11	Mike Timlin	1993	2004	TOR-BOS
11	John Lackey	2002	2013	ANA-BOS
10	Tommy Bridges	1935	1945	DET
10	Hank Greenberg	1935	1945	DET
10	Enos Slaughter	1946	1956	STL-NYY
10	George Hendrick	1972	1982	OAK-STL
10	Dave Parker	1979	1989	PIT-OAK
10	Darryl Strawberry	1986	1996	NYM-NYY

Pirates swingman Babe Adams won all three of his starts against Ty Cobb's Tigers in the 1909 World Series, including a shutout in Game Seven. 16 years later, a 43-year-old Adams was clearly at the end of the line (5.42 ERA). But he did get an inning of mop-up work to finish a Game Four loss in the 1925 Series. That loss put Pittsburgh in a 3-1 hole, but the Bucs won three straight to become the first team to make that comeback in the Fall Classic.

MLB Managers, Most Seasons Between World Series Championships

Yrs	Manager	From	To	Tm
23	Bucky Harris	1924	1947	WAS-NYY
17	Tony La Russa	1989	2006	OAK-STL
16	John McGraw	1905	1921	NYG
16	Connie Mack	1913	1929	PHA
15	Bill McKechnie	1925	1940	PIT-CIN
11	Danny Murtaugh	1960	1971	PIT

Harris was the second baseman/player-manager for the '24 Senators in their thrilling seven-game World Series win over the Giants. After retiring as a player, he bounced between gigs in Detroit, Boston and back in D.C. before landing with the Yankees in 1947. He won a title in his first season in the Bronx, but after a third-place finish in '48, he was let go and replaced by Casey Stengel.


NBA

The only player in NBA history to have play ten seasons between titles is Earl Cureton (11). The center backed up Moses Malone on the 1983 76ers. After spending most of the next decade playing in minor leagues and in Europe, Cureton was back in the NBA with the Rockets late in the 1994 season. He played two regular season games and 10 games in the postseason, including two minutes in Game Seven of the NBA Finals against the Knicks.

As for coaches, there have been four that have gone seven or more seasons between championships, with one lapping the field.

NBA Coaches, Most Seasons Between Championships

Yrs	Coach	From	To	Tm
18	Pat Riley	1988	2006	LAL-MIA
9	Alex Hannum	1958	1967	STL-PHI
7	Phil Jackson	2002	2009	LAL
7	Gregg Popovich	2007	2014	SA

As Heat general manager in 2006, Riley fired head coach Stan Van Gundy and took over the job himself, winning a fifth championship. Miami's star, Dwyane Wade, was only six years old when Riley won his first title with the Lakers in 1988.


NHL

NHL Players, Most Seasons Between Stanley Cups

Yrs	Player	From	To	Tm
16	Chris Chelios	1986	2002	MON-DET
15	Mark Recchi	1991	2006	PIT-CAR
14	Bill Guerin	1995	2009	NJ-PIT
13	Craig Ludwig	1986	1999	MON-DAL
13	Brian Skrudland	1986	1999	MON-DAL
12	Marcel Pronovost	1955	1967	DET-TOR
12	Terry Sawchuk	1955	1967	DET-TOR
11	Greg Gilbert	1983	1994	NYI-NYR
10	Dit Clapper	1929	1939	BOS
10	Eddie Shore	1929	1939	BOS
10	Cooney Weiland	1929	1939	BOS
10	Bob Goldham	1942	1952	TOR-DET
10	Tod Sloan	1951	1961	TOR-CHI
10	Joe Nieuwendyk	1989	1999	CGY-DAL
10	Chris Osgood	1998	2008	DET

15 players have lifted the Stanley Cup after a decade-long drought. The 16 years between championships for Chelios ties him with Babe Adams for the longest stretch on any of these lists. He won another with the Red Wings six years later at 46 years old, which inspired this note from my piece last week:

"Chris Chelios won his first Stanley Cup in 1986 with the Canadiens when I was not yet born. Chris Chelios won his last Stanley Cup in 2008 with the Red Wings 18 days after I graduated from the University of Rhode Island."

Two coaches have done what Belichick aims to do Sunday. Dick Irvin piloted the Maple Leafs to the 1932 Cup and won the first of three with the Canadiens in 1944. Scotty Bowman won nine championships, including a four-peat with Montreal from 1976-79. 13 years later he won another, this time with the Penguins in 1992 before adding three more with Detroit from 1997-2002.

Tom Brady, Bill Belichick and Long Championship Spans

On February 3, 2002 in New Orleans, Bill Belichick and his unheralded sixth-round draft pick quarterback Tom Brady led the underdog New England Patriots to an upset of the St. Louis Rams in Super Bowl XXXVI.

Next Sunday, Brady will join Mike Lodish as the second player to participate in six Super Bowls while Belichick will join Don Shula as the second coach to pilot a team to six. 13 years after that first one, the Belichick-Brady Pats are reviled by nearly everyone south of Interstate-84, so we've certainly come a long way. 

Belichick's 13-year span between Super Bowls is the third-longest for an NFL coach, trailing Dick Vermeil and Shula.

Most years between first and last Super Bowls for NFL coach

Yrs	Coach	From	To	Tm	SB Rec	Super Bowls (Wins in Bold)
19	Dick Vermeil	1980	1999	PHI-STL	1-1	1980, 1999
16	Don Shula	1968	1984	BAL-MIA	2-4	1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1982, 1984
13	Bill Belichick	2001	2014	NE	3-2	2001, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2011, **2014**
12	Dan Reeves	1986	1998	DEN-ATL	0-4	1986, 1987, 1989, 1998
10	Bill Parcells	1986	1996	NYG-NE	2-1	1986, 1990, 1996
10	Bill Cowher	1995	2005	PIT	1-1	1995, 2005
10	John Fox	2003	2013	CAR-DEN	0-2	2003, 2013

If the Patriots beat the Seahawks, the 13-year span of Super Bowl victories would give Belichick the new record, passing Joe Gibbs.

Most years between first and last Super Bowl wins for NFL coach

Yrs	Coach	From	To	Tm	SB Rec	Super Bowls (Wins in Bold)
9	Joe Gibbs	1982	1991	WAS	3-1	1982, 1983, 1987, 1991
7	Bill Walsh	1981	1988	SF	3-0	1981, 1984, 1988
6	Tom Landry	1971	1977	DAL	2-3	1970, 1971, 1975, 1977, 1978
5	Chuck Noll	1974	1979	PIT	4-0	1974, 1975, 1978, 1979
5	George Seifert	1989	1994	SF	2-0	1989, 1994

The 10-year drought between titles would become the longest, passing the six years by Landry and the five by Gibbs and Seifert.


Moving on to his quarterback, Brady will be only the seventh player to take part in Super Bowls 13 years apart. Vince Wilfork will also become the 18th player with multiple appearances in the ultimate game over a span of at least ten years.

Most years between first and last Super Bowl appearances

Yrs	Player	From	To	Tm	SB Rec	Super Bowls (Wins in Bold)
14	Jerry Rice	1988	2002	SF-OAK	3-1	1988, 1989, 1994, 2002
14	Bill Romanowski	1988	2002	SF-DEN-OAK	3-1	1988, 1997, 1998, 2002
13	Tom Brady	2001	2014	NE	3-2	2001, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2011, **2014**
13	Junior Seau	1994	2007	SD-NE	0-2	1994, 2007
13	Mike Horan	1986	1999	DEN-STL	1-3	1986, 1987, 1989, 1999
13	Ted Hendricks	1970	1983	BAL-RAI	4-0	1970, 1976, 1980, 1983
13	Gene Upshaw	1967	1980	OAK	2-1	1967, 1976, 1980
12	Ray Lewis	2000	2012	BAL	2-0	2000, 2012
12	John Elway	1986	1998	DEN	2-3	1986, 1987, 1989, 1997, 1998
11	Tedy Bruschi	1996	2007	NE	3-5	1996, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2007
11	Matt Bahr	1979	1990	PIT-NYG	2-0	1979, 1990
11	Bob Kuechenberg	1971	1982	MIA	2-2	1971, 1972, 1973, 1982
10	Vince Wilfork	2004	2014	NE	1-2	2004, 2007, 2011, **2014**
10	Matt Light	2001	2011	NE	3-2	2001, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2011
10	Charles Johnson	2001	2011	NE	1-1	2001, 2011
10	Adam Vinatieri	1996	2006	NE-IND	4-1	1996, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2006
10	Howard Cross	1990	2000	NYG	1-1	1990, 2000
10	Preston Pearson	1968	1978	BAL-PIT-DAL	2-3	1968, 1974, 1975, 1977, 1978

With a win, Brady and Wilfork would become the fifth and sixth players to win multiple Super Bowls over a ten-year stretch. Brady's 13 years would tie the record held by "the Mad Stork" as Hendricks also won titles 13 years apart. Lewis is next with 12, followed by Bahr with 11, then Romanowski (and possibly Wilfork) with 10.


We'll see if Brady joins Hendricks as the only players to win Super Bowls 13 years apart, but let's take a look at other sports...

There are 14 players that have played in and won a World Series 13 years apart, and it's fitting to see one George Herman Ruth at the top of the list.

Most years between first and last World Series championships

Yrs	Player	From	To	Tm	WS Titles
17	Babe Ruth	1915	1932	BOS-NYY	1915, 1916, 1918, 1923, 1927, 1928, 1932
17 16	Jim Palmer Babe Adams	1966 1909	1983 1925	BAL PIT	1966, 1970, 1983 1909, 1925
16	Enos Slaughter	1942	1958	STL-NYY	1942, 1946, 1956, 1958
15	Joe DiMaggio	1936	1951	NYY	1936, 1937, 1938, 1939, 1941, 1947, 1949, 1950, 1951
15	Yogi Berra	1947	1962	NYY	1947, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1956, 1958, 1961, 1962
15	Mike Timlin	1992	2007	TOR-BOS	1992, 1993, 2004, 2007
14	Stuffy McInnis	1911	1925	PHA-BOS-PIT	1911, 1913, 1918, 1925
14	Dolf Luque	1919	1933	CIN-NYG	1919, 1933
13	Frankie Frisch	1921	1934	NYG-STL	1921, 1922, 1931, 1934
13	Steve Carlton	1967	1980	STL-PHI	1967, 1980
13	Darryl Strawberry	1986	1999	NYM-NYY	1986, 1996, 1999
13	Derek Jeter	1996	2009	NYY	1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2009
13	Andy Pettitte	1996	2009	NYY	1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2009
13 13	Mariano Rivera Edgar Renteria	1996 1997	2009 2010	NYY FLA-SF	1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2009 1997, 2010

As we would expect, the list is quite Yankee-centric, half winning a title in pinstripes. Brady's Patriots hope to follow in the footsteps of Jeter's Yankees and snap a nine-year championship drought*.


* Tangent Alert: I grew up in New York loving the Yankees and disliking all Boston teams. So this may seem odd (and to the New England fans who are the other way around) but I've always thought there were similarities to the Patriots and Yankees dynasties. The origin stories are parallel, with the handsome young star at the center of a controversial play in the early rounds of their first title run (Jeter hitting the Jeffrey Maier-aided home run in the 1996 ALCS and Brady being saved from a game-ending fumble thanks to the Tuck Rule against the Raiders). Both players went on to help their teams slay the defending champions en route to becoming the face of both their franchise and their sport. Both teams hit their pinnacle in year three, with the Yankees winning 125 games including the postseason in 1998 and the Patriots starting a record 21-game winning streak during their 2003 Super Bowl run. And when the game was on the line, opponents knew they were doomed when their fate rested in the right hand of the indomitable Mariano, or on the right foot of a football closer of sorts, Vinatieri. With a handful of championship rings in the bag (four in five years for New York, three in four for the Pats), both hit a relative rough patch filled with early postseason exits. Jeter and Brady both had their postseason disappointments, but winning early in their careers made them Teflon. The team's biggest flops came at the hands of their rival city. The Yankees blew a 3-0 ALCS lead in 2004 to the miraculous eventual champion Red Sox. New York got a bit of revenge three years later when the Giants used an even bigger miracle, David Tyree's helmet catch, to spoil New England's perfect season. Nine years after their previous title (the horror!), the 35-year-old captain and his Yankees made one last push, knocking off the defending champion Phillies. Now it's the Patriots who have gone ten long years (an eternity, right Browns and Lions fans?) without hoisting the trophy. The 37-year-old Brady leads his team into a Super Bowl against the defending champions, the Seahawks...


OK, moving right along to hoops. There are six players that have played for the winning side in the NBA Finals 13 years apart, with one of the all-time greats joining the club this past June.

Most years between first and last NBA Finals series victories

Yrs	Player	From	To	Tm	NBA Titles
17	Kareem Abdul-Jabbar	1971	1988	MIL-LAL	1971, 1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1988
15	Tim Duncan	1999	2014	SA	1999, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2014
14	Sam Cassell	1994	2008	HOU-BOS	1994, 1995, 2008
13	John Havlicek	1963	1976	BOS	1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969, 1974, 1976
13	A.C. Green	1987	2000	LAL	1987, 1988, 2000
13	Robert Horry	1994	2007	HOU-LAL-SA	1994, 1995, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2007

Now to the ice, where 19 players have lifted the Stanley Cup 13 or more years apart.

Most years between first and last Stanley Cup championships

Yrs	Player	From	To	Tm	Cups Won
22 20	Chris Chelios Mark Recchi	1986 1991	2008 2011	MON-DET PIT-CAR-BOS	3 3
17	Red Kelly	1950	1967	DET-TOR	8
17	Marcel Pronovost	1950	1967	DET-TOR	5
17	Henri Richard	1956	1973	MON	11
16	Maurice Richard	1944	1960	MON	8
15	Terry Sawchuk	1952	1967	DET-TOR	4
15	Jean Beliveau	1956	1971	MON	10
15	Patrick Roy	1986	2001	MON-COL	4
14	Claude Lemieux	1986	2000	MON-NJ-COL	4
14	Joe Nieuwendyk	1989	2003	CGY-DAL-NJ	3
14	Bill Guerin	1995	2009	NJ-PIT	2
13	Bob Goldham	1942	1955	TOR-DET	4
13	Ken Mosdell	1946	1959	MON	4
13	Claude Provost	1956	1969	MON	9
13	Yvan Cournoyer	1965	1978	MON	8
13	Larry Robinson	1973	1986	MON	6
13	Guy Carbonneau	1986	1999	MON-DAL	3
13	Craig Ludwig	1986	1999	MON-DAL	2
13	Brian Skrudland	1986	1999	MON-DAL	2

Chris Chelios won his first Stanley Cup in 1986 with the Canadiens when I was not yet born. Chris Chelios won his last Stanley Cup in 2008 with the Red Wings 18 days after I graduated from the University of Rhode Island.