The New England Patriots honored Tom Brady by inducting him into their Hall of Fame on Wednesday. The team had a few surprises for the legendary quarterback.
Owner Robert Kraft announced that the Patriots are retiring Brady’s iconic No. 12 jersey and are planning to install a 12-foot bronze statue of Brady outside the Hall of Fame during the 2024 season.
“The statue will be a symbol of his greatness, not just in the franchise, but in all of NFL history,” Kraft stated.
Over 60,000 fans gathered at the Patriots’ stadium in Foxborough, Mass., to witness the three-hour ceremony. Former teammates, including coach Bill Belichick, made appearances. This marked Belichick’s return to the stadium since leaving at the end of last season.
In his speech, Brady expressed his gratitude to everyone, saying, “I am eternally grateful. I am Tom Brady. And I am a Patriot.”
He also praised Belichick, saying, “There is no coach in the world I would rather play for than Bill Belichick.”
Brady spent 20 years with the Patriots, winning six Super Bowl championships before adding another with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Belichick thanked Brady for his contributions, saying, “Thank you for all you’ve done for us. Thank you for all you’ve done for me. And thank you for the example and motto you’ve been for all of us on a daily basis for 20 years.”
Peyton Manning, one of Brady’s top rivals, was also present at the ceremony. Manning acknowledged Brady’s greatness, saying, “You knew when you were playing against a Tom Brady team, you better be at your best, cause if you weren’t, Tom Brady was going to beat you every time.”
Brady reflected on Manning’s influence on his career, calling him the “gold standard” for quarterback play.
Brady, at 46, is a three-time NFL Most Valuable Player and holds multiple league records for passing.
–Field Level Media
