Patriots Robert Kraft Hints at ‘Special’ Honor for Tom Brady
FOXBORO — New England Patriots owner and CEO Robert Kraft is looking forward to welcoming legendary quarterback Tom Brady back to Gillette Stadium in a “special” way.
In addition to hosting the Philadelphia Eagles for their Week 1 matchup on Sunday, the Patriots organization is set to honor Brady with both pregame and halftime ceremonies — commemorating the 20 successful seasons Brady spent wearing Patriot blue.
Just moments after presiding over a ribbon-cutting gathering, which unveiled a nearly $250 million refurbishment of the Stadium and its surrounding grounds, Kraft revealed that extra measures are being taken to make Brady’s homecoming even more memorable.
"He's really excited and I'm excited, because our fans never really got a chance to say goodbye in a proper way,” Kraft told reporters on Thursday — just moments after presiding over a ribbon-cutting gathering “We're going to do something special and unique with him."
Kraft originally announced plans to pay tribute to the esteemed ex Patriot in May. Since that time, speculation has run rampant that Brady’s celebration may include a retirement of his famed No. 12, plans to induct Brady into the Patriots Hall of Fame, or perhaps a statue to be placed at the Stadium’s entrance?
Regardless, both he and Brady — as well as coach Bill Belichick — have been effusive in their mutual praise for each other. As such, the Patriots ‘prodigal son’ will be welcomed back to the Foxboro fold by legions of admiring fans … including a select few which are near and dear to his heart.
"He has 20 members of his family coming -- all his nephews, nieces, his sisters, his parents … so we're honored to be hosting all of them," Kraft added. “When you think about it, the NFL is 103 years old and we were privileged to have the greatest player in the history of the game for 20 percent of those years right here. I think it's kind of cool we can say 'thank you' to him."
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.
Though Kraft’s excitement was clearly evident as he spoke glowingly of his former franchise quarterback Brady has been equally enthusiastically to return to the ‘home’ which his success helped build.
“I have so many memories from my time there, and memories with people there, and I'm creating a new memory with the people there," Brady said Monday on his “Let’s Go” podcast. "To go back to that stadium and bring my kids and my family in a different way, I've not been to that stadium in this way ever. I went there as a player, I went there once as a competitor and now I'm going to go there as really a fan ...
"I love the sport and I love the Patriots, so going up there to see a lot of my friends and family is going to be really a great experience.”
Meanwhile, the 2023 iteration of the Patriots will attempt to take a page out of Brady’s book by earning a victory over the defending NFC Champions on Sunday — a goal which was not lost on the team’s owner.
“In the end, we want to win," Kraft said.
Perhaps a victory over the Eagles may be the best way for the Patriots to honor the franchise’s greatest winner.
