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What if Donald Trump bought the New England Patriots in 1988?
In 1988, the New England Patriots were owned by Billy Sullivan, who was forced to sell the NFL team after a series of poor investments, including the $22 million 1984 Victory Tour by The Jacksons. On February 17, 1988, the New York Times reported that future President Donald Trump was negotiating with the Sullivan family to buy the Patriots.
”Donald Trump is interested in the New England Patriots,” Joel Kozol, attorney for the Sullivan family, confirmed. ‘He’s made an absolute commitment that the team would stay in New England, and that would be a part of any deal that is made.”
According to a Washington Post report retelling the story in 2015, President Trump had a real interest in buying the Patriots. Sullivan gave Trump “exclusive negotiating rights” for 13 days before he eventually “lost interest.” One version of events claims that Trump walked away after he was told by his financial advisors that the Patriots and their stadium were $104 million in debt.
At the time, the Patriots and their stadium were $104 million in debt. This was apparently too much for Donald Trump to handle, but CBS Sports reported in 2015 that the real reason why Trump didn’t buy the Patriots was due to the “dim prospect of NFL approval.”
GettyPresident Trump’s involvement with the USFL in the 1980s cost him the chance to buy the Patriots.
Why Didn’t Donald Trump Buy the New England Patriots?
Boston.com reported in 2016 that Donald Trump didn’t “walk away” from the deal. NFL owners blocked him from buying the Patriots because of his ties to the USFL and aggressive behavior.
In 1983, Trump purchased the New Jersey Generals for $8 million. He also signed 1984 Heisman Trophy winner Doug Flutie to a six-year, $8.25 million contract to play in the USFL and not the NFL. This was a part of Trump’s “ill-advised push” to compete with the NFL head-on. One of the most significant reasons why the USFL collapsed in 1985 after only three seasons of football.
Most NFL owners “loathed” Donald Trump, who needed their approval to buy the Patriots. At the time, they saw Trump as the antagonist behind the 1986 antitrust case against the NFL, where the USFL sued and won $3. Trump never made an offer to buy the New England Patriots. Even if there had been a deal in place, he did not have the league’s approval to buy the team.
Art Modell, then owner of the Cleveland Browns, had a different take on Trump. “As far as past animosity, we can get over those things. We had no more bitter enemies than some of the old A.F.L. owners in the 1960s. Some of them are some of our best friends now.”
If a few conversations had gone differently, NFL history would be completely different.
GettyWould Donald Trump have won six Super Bowls with Tom Brady and Bill Belichick?
Trump Tried to Buy the Bills and Cowboys, too?
Billy Sullivan sold the New England Patriots to Victor Kiam, CEO of Remington Products, in 1988 for $84 million. However, Kiam’s tenure lasted for six seasons before Robert Kraft bought the Patriots for $172 million in 1994.
Over the years, Donald Trump has tried to buy a few NFL teams. He attempted to buy the Buffalo Bills for $1 billion in 2014. Terry and Kim Pegula outbid him. Trump claimed he was blocked “unfairly” and criticized the NFL during his 2016 presidential campaign. He also discussed the possibility of buying the Dallas Cowboys for $40 million in the early 1980s.
NFL history is full of thousands of “what-if” stories. But over 40 years later, NFL critics and fans can’t help wondering what if Donald Trump were the owner of the New England Patriots?
Will McCormick Will McCormick covers the NFL, NBA, WNBA and MLB for Heavy.com with a focus on the New England Patriots, Baltimore Ravens, and Carolina Panthers. McCormick has produced thousands of articles and interviewed more than 500 C-suite executives and military leaders in government contracting. More about Will McCormick
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