Tom Brady has been inducted into the New England Patriots Hall of Fame three years after leaving the team he led to six Super Bowl triumphs. He becomes the 35^th member of an elite group recognised with an iconic red jacket by the Patriots franchise.

In front of a sell-out crowd at Gillette Stadium, Brady was joined by former team-mates, coachs and rivals as he received an accolade usually only issued four years after a player’s retirement. Having only called time on a career spanning more than 20 years in 2023, Brady would have had to wait some time before being inducted had team owner Robert Kraft not decided to waive the entry requirement.

“Tonight’s a celebration of everyone who’s ever cared about this organisation,” Brady noted in his address to the crowd. “Everyone who has worked, cheered, and sacrificed for it: past, present, and future. I promise this isn’t like the last time I was on stage with RKK and Coach Belichick and Jules and Gronk and Randy in L.A. a month ago. Those were the hardest hits I’ve ever taken in my life. But nobody here is taking any hits tonight. I have so much love and respect for you all.”

Jay-Z performed live for the 60,000 strong audience, as did comedian Bill Burr and country music star Kenny Chesney. Video tributes from notable opponents were screened high above the stage especially constructed for the occasion, while the likes of Peyton Manning and some of Brady’s favourite targets — among them Rob Gronkowski, Julian Edelman, Randy Moss, Wes Welker and Danny Amendola — were among the many on hand to offer well-wishes in person. Former Patriots OC Josh McDaniels was in attendance, as was Bill Belichick, with whom — once a Brady-led standing ovation had finally died down — mutual admiration statements were shared by the Hall of Fame-bound QB.

“To Coach Belichick: Thank you for your tireless commitment to develop and push me to my best,” Brady said. “It wasn’t me. It wasn’t you. It was us. Our hard work, our love of the game and the way we worked for one another — that’s what it was all about. Let me make something crystal clear: There is no coach in the world I would rather play for than Bill Belichick.”

Prior to putting the red jacket on Brady’s shoulders, Kraft announced that the quarterback’s #12 jersey would be officially retired, and a 12-foot statue commissioned in his honour to stand in the plaza outside the team’s Hall of Fame building.

“It is the honour of my life to take my place among these other Patriot Hall of Famers, and to be officially enshrined into the winning legacy of this amazing organisation,” Brady concluded. “You humble me, you make me proud, and I am eternally grateful. I am Tom Brady, and I am a Patriot.

Jun 12

Just days removed from his controversial roast, Tom Brady returned to the more friendly embrace of his former team to enter its Hall of Fame.

Tom Brady has been inducted into the New England Patriots Hall of Fame three years after leaving the team he led to six Super Bowl triumphs. He becomes the 35^th member of an elite group recognised with an iconic red jacket by the Patriots franchise.

In front of a sell-out crowd at Gillette Stadium, Brady was joined by former team-mates, coachs and rivals as he received an accolade usually only issued four years after a player’s retirement. Having only called time on a career spanning more than 20 years in 2023, Brady would have had to wait some time before being inducted had team owner Robert Kraft not decided to waive the entry requirement.

“Tonight’s a celebration of everyone who’s ever cared about this organisation,” Brady noted in his address to the crowd. “Everyone who has worked, cheered, and sacrificed for it: past, present, and future. I promise this isn’t like the last time I was on stage with RKK and Coach Belichick and Jules and Gronk and Randy in L.A. a month ago. Those were the hardest hits I’ve ever taken in my life. But nobody here is taking any hits tonight. I have so much love and respect for you all.”

Jay-Z performed live for the 60,000 strong audience, as did comedian Bill Burr and country music star Kenny Chesney. Video tributes from notable opponents were screened high above the stage especially constructed for the occasion, while the likes of Peyton Manning and some of Brady’s favourite targets — among them Rob Gronkowski, Julian Edelman, Randy Moss, Wes Welker and Danny Amendola — were among the many on hand to offer well-wishes in person. Former Patriots OC Josh McDaniels was in attendance, as was Bill Belichick, with whom — once a Brady-led standing ovation had finally died down — mutual admiration statements were shared by the Hall of Fame-bound QB.

“To Coach Belichick: Thank you for your tireless commitment to develop and push me to my best,” Brady said. “It wasn’t me. It wasn’t you. It was us. Our hard work, our love of the game and the way we worked for one another — that’s what it was all about. Let me make something crystal clear: There is no coach in the world I would rather play for than Bill Belichick.”

Prior to putting the red jacket on Brady’s shoulders, Kraft announced that the quarterback’s #12 jersey would be officially retired, and a 12-foot statue commissioned in his honour to stand in the plaza outside the team’s Hall of Fame building.

“It is the honour of my life to take my place among these other Patriot Hall of Famers, and to be officially enshrined into the winning legacy of this amazing organisation,” Brady concluded. “You humble me, you make me proud, and I am eternally grateful. I am Tom Brady, and I am a Patriot.