There was no game Wednesday night at Gillette Stadium. However, more than 60,000 people were in the stands. They attended the celebration of the career of Tom Brady, who was officially inducted into the Patriots Hall of Fame.
During the ceremony, Robert Kraft announced that no one will ever wear number 12 in New England again.
A 12-foot-tall (approximately 3.65m) statue was also announced. It should be presented during the 2024 season.
The festivities lasted three hours! »A monumental moment“, according to Brady.
“I am forever grateful. I'm Tom Brady. And I am a Patriot,” said the seven-time champion during his speech.
Tom Brady and Bill Belichick united for life
More than 100 former teammates of Tom Brady were in attendance. Bill Belichick was also there.
“Thank you for your inexhaustible commitment to helping me progress and pushing me to be the best I can be. It wasn’t me, it wasn’t you, it was us,” Brady said to Belichick. “I want to be very clear: There is no other coach in the world I would rather play for than Bill Belichick. »
The coach returned the favor.
“Thank you for everything you have done for us. Thank you for everything you have done for me. And thank you for the example and the model that you have been for all of us, every day, for 20 years. You’re amazing,” Belichick said into the microphone.
The emotional peak of a party evening for which Peyton Manning, but also Jay-Z had also made the trip.
If the end of the collaboration between Tom Brady and Bill Belichick seemed to take place under tension, the two men had already sent numerous signals of reconciliation since. The quarterback and the coach have notably exchanged compliments in the press in recent months.
“The worst backup quarterback in history”
The humor of the evening went to Drew Bledsoe. In 2001, Bledsoe was injured, Brady replaced him… and never gave him his job back.
“There are a lot of great things about Tom: great teammate, best quarterback ever… But you were the worst backup quarterback in NFL history. You never understood that when I recovered from my injury, you were supposed to return to the bench. »
