Tom Brady brought the New England Patriots endless memories and six Super Bowl trophies during his two-decade tenure with the team.
The Patriots made sure his induction into the franchise’s Hall of Fame would be a celebration like never before.
Dozens of Brady’s former teammates and coaches from various eras of the Patriots’ history joined thousands of fans and celebrities including Jay-Z and Bon Jovi on Wednesday night to salute Brady as the 35th person to be inducted into the team’s hall.
“Patriot Nation, it feels good to be home,” Brady said.
Before Brady spoke, team owner Robert Kraft moved Brady to tears by announcing that his No. 12 jersey would never be worn by another Patriots player.
“The No. 12 is now officially retired,” Kraft said.
Kraft also announced that a 12-foot-tall bronze statue of Brady is being constructed and will be placed outside the Patriots Hall of Fame later this year.
On a night that felt like a Patriots family reunion, the biggest moment came before Brady’s speech when he was reunited with former Patriots coach Bill Belichick. That included an extended ovation for Belichick, who parts ways with the team after the 2023 season.
“It was a huge honor to draft Tom and coach Tom for 20 years,” Belichick told the crowd. “It was a real honor to be a part of what he brought to the team.”
Brady reflected on the never-ending debate over whether he or Belichick was most responsible for the Patriots’ success during their time together.
“It wasn’t me. It wasn’t you. It was us,” Brady said. “Let me make this clear. There’s no other coach I would rather play for than Bill Belichick.”
The evening began on the red carpet with a gathering of legends who played 20 seasons with Brady’s Patriots, including Ty Law, Willie McGinest, Randy Moss, Vince Wilfork, Drew Bledsoe and Rob Gronkowski. Also in attendance were Brady’s parents, Tom Sr. and Galynn Brady.
The official ceremony inside Gillette Stadium began with a blistering performance of rapper Jay-Z’s 2003 hit “Public Service Announcement,” which Brady used as his entrance music when he ran onto the field to warm up before the game.
On this night, at the end of Jay-Z’s performance, Brady walked past the stage and through the section reserved for the night’s special guests to take a seat on stage himself.
There they watched video tributes from their rivals, including Ray Lewis and Ed Reed, Charles Woodson and Jason Taylor. There were also videos of former New York Giants Michael Strahan and Eli Manning, who were booed by fans who hadn’t forgotten how the Giants spoiled the Patriots’ bid for a perfect season with their upset in the 2007 Super Bowl. They beat Brady and company again in the 2011 Super Bowl.
Other video cameos included some of Boston’s most famous celebrities, such as Red Sox greats David Ortiz and Matt Damon.
Brady, selected No. 199 in the 2000 draft, got the starting job in his second season in New England when Bledsoe, the former No. 1 overall pick, was injured and led the Patriots to a Super Bowl championship that year. He won five more titles over the next two decades.
Speaking again with Brady, Bledsoe joked that Brady didn’t follow the No. 1 rule as his backup.
“You were the worst backup quarterback in NFL history,” Bledsoe said. “You never learned that when I got healthy, you should have sat back.”
There were some emotional moments, too. Like when some of Brady’s top playmakers — Moss, Gronkowski, Julian Edelman and Wes Welker — joined Brady on stage.
Moss became emotional as the crowd honored him with a two-minute ovation. Moss recalled that when he came to New England in 2007 he knew he had to be close to Brady.
“Put my locker next to Tom Brady’s locker and the rest will take care of itself,” Moss said.
In addition, there were some surprise guests, such as Pro Football Hall of Famer Peyton Manning, who sat down with Brady and show host Mike Tirico to discuss the on-field struggles quarterbacks have had over the years.
Manning revealed that his team never considered the Patriots out when they faced Brady, especially when Brady had a chance to win late in the game.
“I was praying on the sidelines,” Manning said. “I never pray on the sidelines.”
Brady also praised Manning and called him his best friend. He also talked about how he has followed Manning as a young quarterback since high school.
“There’s nobody like Peyton Manning right now,” Brady said.
Manning also told some of his textbook jokes, drawing applause from the often hostile New England crowd when he lamented, “They like me here because I always lose here.”
In front of a crowd wearing his No. 12 jersey, Brady said his family and the Patriots will always be connected.
“I think we’re still a family that’s trying to love each other,” Brady said. “We’re adopted New Englanders.”
At one point, Brady reeled off a list of towns he lived in in New England during his time with the Patriots, ranging from Franklin to Quincy, Chestnut Hill to Brookline.
Brady ended his speech with tears.
He said, “I’m Tom Brady. And I’m a patriot.”
