Current:Home > NewsTom Brady's No. 12 'is now officially retired' by New England Patriots -LondonCapital
Tom Brady's No. 12 'is now officially retired' by New England Patriots
View
Date:2025-04-27 15:51:17
Tom Brady was inducted into the New England Patriots' Hall of Fame on Wednesday night, but that wasn't the only honor he received in the ceremony at Gillette Stadium.
Patriots owner Robert Kraft revealed that Brady's No. 12 "is now officially retired."
"There is only one iconic number that will always represent Tom Brady, and tonight, I promise it will never be worn again," Kraft said.
Brady appeared to be moved to tears by the announcement as fans cheered.
Kraft also promised that a statue of Brady would be unveiled at the stadium later this year, per reporters covering the event. Appropriately, it is slated to be 12 feet tall.
All things Patriots: Latest New England Patriots news, schedule, roster, stats, injury updates and more.
The celebration of Brady's legendary 20-year run with the Patriots — he won six Super Bowl championships in Foxborough, in case you forgot — brought a number of football luminaries to the stadium. Peyton Manning was there, as was Hall of Fame receiver Randy Moss, who was brought to tears by the standing ovation he received in a moving moment.
Longtime coach Bill Belichick and former teammate Drew Bledsoe, who both took part in Brady's Netflix roast, were also among those in attendance. Bledsoe produced some laughs when he called Brady "the worst backup quarterback in the history of the NFL."
"You never understood that when I got healthy, you're supposed to sit the hell down," Bledsoe cracked.
Belichick thanked Brady for everything he did for the coach, the team and for "the example and model that you've been for all of us on a daily basis for 20 years.
"You're unbelievable. Congratulations."
Brady, who told fans "it feels good to be home," also had high praise for Belichick and the historic partnership they forged together.
"It wasn't me. It wasn't you. It was us," Brady said, according to reporters.
"Let me make this crystal clear — there is no coach in the world I would rather play for."
Brady left the Patriots after the 2019 season and Belichick — who never won a playoff game in New England without Brady — parted ways with the organization earlier this year. But at least Wednesday night, any bad blood that lingered between Brady, Belichick and Kraft over the demise of the Patriots' dynasty appeared to be cast aside in a night of celebration of the greatest football run we've ever seen.
veryGood! (31)
Related
- Where will Elmo go? HBO moves away from 'Sesame Street'
- California governor sacks effort to limit tackle football for kids
- 87-year-old scores tickets to Super Bowl from Verizon keeping attendance streak unbroken
- Why is Ravens TE Mark Andrews out vs. Texans? Latest on three-time Pro Bowler's injury status
- Meta releases AI model to enhance Metaverse experience
- Ohio State lands Caleb Downs, the top-ranked player in transfer portal who left Alabama
- More searching planned at a Florida Air Force base where 121 potential Black grave sites were found
- Opinion: George Carlin wasn't predictable, unlike AI
- US appeals court rejects Nasdaq’s diversity rules for company boards
- Jaafar Jackson shows off iconic Michael Jackson dance move as he prepares to film biopic
Ranking
- What to watch: O Jolie night
- Palestinian death toll soars past 25,000 in Gaza with no end in sight to Israel-Hamas war
- Real Housewives of New Jersey Star Melissa Gorga Shares Cozy Essentials To Warm Up Your Winter
- Pawn Stars Cast Member Rick Harrison's Son Adam Harrison Dead at 39
- Working Well: When holidays present rude customers, taking breaks and the high road preserve peace
- How Patrick Mahomes Scored the Perfect Teammate in Wife Brittany Mahomes
- Palestinian death toll soars past 25,000 in Gaza with no end in sight to Israel-Hamas war
- Trump’s attorney renews call for mistrial in defamation case brought by writer in sex-abuse case
Recommendation
NHL in ASL returns, delivering American Sign Language analysis for Deaf community at Winter Classic
'1980s middle school slow dance songs' was the playlist I didn't know I needed
California officials warn people to not eat raw oysters from Mexico which may be linked to norovirus
Hey Now, These Lizzie McGuire Secrets Are What Dreams Are Made Of
The FBI should have done more to collect intelligence before the Capitol riot, watchdog finds
Heat retire Udonis Haslem's No. 40 jersey. He's the 6th Miami player to receive the honor
Buffalo is perfect site for Chiefs' Patrick Mahomes to play his first road playoff game
In between shoveling, we asked folks from hot spots about their first time seeing snow