Patriots Owner Robert Kraft Reveals Plans to Honor Tom Brady at Home Opener
FOXBORO — The New England Patriots ‘prodigal son’ is about to find his way home.
Just hours before the 2023 NFL schedule is made official Thursday night, Patriots owner Robert Kraft announced that legendary quarterback Tom Brady will be in attendance for the Patriots’ 2023 home opener. Brady will be honored - retired No. 12?, statue?, etc.? - during the team's home opener at Gillette Stadium.
Various reports have the Patriots playing at home in Weeks 1 and 2, and possibly against the Miami Dolphins on Sunday Night Football for one of the games. It has since been reported that the Patriots will open the season in Week 1's "Thank You Tom" game against the defending NFC Champion Philadelphia Eagles … in what is already being billed as rematch of Super Bowl LII on home turf
During a Thursday morning appearance on Good Morning Football, Kraft confirmed what many believed to be a foregone conclusion to commemorate Brady’s 23-year career, 20 of which he spent under coach Bill Belichick with New England.
“I invited him back to be with us at the opening game and let the fans in New England thank him,” Kraft said. ‘It will be the beginning of many celebrations to honor Tom Brady.”
While speculation surrounding quarterback Aaron Rodgers and the New York Jets being the Pats potential home-opener opponent, NFL insider Jordan Schultz reported that New England could instead host the Dolphins — a team to which Brady has been connected through rumor and innuendo.
Brady entered the NFL as the 199th overall selection by the Patriots in the 2000 NFL Draft. The Michigan product ascended to the starting position in his second year with the team, in the aftermath of a devastating injury to then-starter Drew Bledsoe. In his first year as a starter, Brady led the Patriots to their first ever championship. He would go on to win five additional titles in New England, with his last coming as a member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2020.
Brady’s place among the top of the pantheon of NFL greats has been firmly established. As such, he finishes his career with regular season totals of 12,050 pass attempts for 7,753 completions (64.3 percent), 89,214 passing yards, 649 touchdowns and 212 interceptions.
And that’s just the regular season.
Brady also dominated the postseason, where he has compiled a record of 35-13, as well as a quarterback rating of 89.8. He completed 62.5 percent of his postseason passes for 13,400 yards, 88 passing touchdowns and 40 interceptions. Brady won seven of the ten Super Bowls in which he played, earning the big game’s MVP five times.
Despite being engulfed by a sea of envy in most of the country, he is still largely adored in New England; firmly entrenched among the immortal beloveds of New England sports. In fact, he might be the most admired sports figure in the history of a city that has been the home to such icons as Ted Williams, Bobby Orr, Larry Bird, and Bill Russell.
Visions of game-winning drives, improbable comebacks and championship parades are forever a part of the region’s generational memory bank. Prior to his taking the reins as the Patriots starting quarterback in 2001, New England knew little but defeat. Since that time, they have enjoyed unparalleled success.
Though he may have temporarily taken his talents to Tampa Bay, Tom Brady will forever be a Patriot in the eyes of many. Accordingly, the Patriots and Brady appear set for a reunion, which will bring New England’s favorite son back into the Foxboro fold.
Meanwhile, the 2023 iteration of the Patriots will learn of their schedule this evening, when each team’s season slate is revealed by the NFL.
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