‘He’s really excited’: Patriots owner Robert Kraft reveals new details about Tom Brady celebration
Robert Goulston,Frank O'Laughlin
·3 min read
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The illustrious career of longtime New England Patriots superstar Tom Brady will be celebrated Sunday at Gillette Stadium as his former team hosts the defending NFC champion Philadelphia Eagles in their season-opening game.
Brady, New England’s favorite son, left a permanent imprint on Patriots fans far and wide, quarterbacking the franchise to six Super Bowl victories, nine conference championships, and 16 division titles in 20 seasons in Foxboro. To say the least, it was a thrilling ride many hoped would never end.
Now, those Hall of Fame-worthy achievements will be honored during a special halftime ceremony during this weekend’s 4:25 p.m. game, team chairman and CEO Robert Kraft said. Patriots fans will be given an opportunity to appropriately thank Brady for the success he brought to the region and listen to him deliver a speech, seven months after “retiring for good” from the NFL.
At a ribbon-cutting event for upgrades at Gillette on Thursday, Kraft said the team wants to give Brady and his family a proper sendoff.
“I talked to him recently. He’s really excited and I’m excited,” Kraft told reporters. “Our fans never really got a chance to say goodbye in a proper way, and we’re going to do something special and unique with him.”
Kraft also confirmed that Brady will have 20 family members on hand as the hometown faithful remembers his legacy.
“All of his nephews, nieces, his sisters, his parents. We’re honored to be hosting all of them,” Kraft said. “The NFL is 103 years old I believe. 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 to say thank you to him.”
Patriots coach Bill Belichick added, “He certainly deserves it.”
On his “Let’s Go Podcast” with Jim Gray, Brady talked about the special reunion and how he remembers his time with the Patriots.
“A lot of gratitude,” Brady said. “I had two decades of incredible life-changing, altering experiences. I have so many memories from my time there. Memories with people there. I’m creating a new memory with people there. 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 really as a fan and then I’m going to be there in the future as a broadcaster.”
“I think Tom Brady’s the greatest quarterback to ever play in the NFL. So, to follow up on him, it’s just trying to chase the standard that he set, every day,” Jones said. “Honestly, we’re definitely two different players, and that’s the only advice I’d have. Just continue to grow and be yourself, right? That’s all you can do, is put your best foot forward and compete. But yeah, it’s definitely big shoes to fill.”
FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - NOVEMBER 24: Head coach Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots talks with Tom Brady #12 before the game against the Dallas Cowboys at Gillette Stadium on November 24, 2019 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Kathryn Riley/Getty Images)
FILE PHOTO: PARIS, FRANCE: Tom Brady watches on from the crowd alongside Jelena Djokovic during the Men's Singles Final match between Novak Djokovic of Serbia and Casper Ruud of Norway at the 2023 French Open at Roland Garros on June 11, 2023 in Paris, France.
FILE - New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady gestures during a promotional event, June 22, 2017, in Tokyo. Brady is putting on a Delta Air Lines uniform, at least figuratively. Delta said Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2023, that it has agreed to bring the former star quarterback on board as a long-term strategic adviser. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko, File)
BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - AUGUST 12: Tom Brady, Former NFL Quarterback looks on prior to the Sky Bet Championship match between Birmingham City and Leeds United at St Andrews (stadium) on August 12, 2023 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Cameron Smith/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 31: Tom Brady attends the Los Angeles Premiere Screening of Paramount Pictures'
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MARCH 04: Tom Brady attends the UFC 285 event at T-Mobile Arena on March 04, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
Tom Brady bought a minority stake in the WNBA's Las Vegas Aces.
Tom Brady delivering keynote remarks at eMerge Americas 2023 in the Miami Beach Convention Center on April 20, 2023. (Jose A. Iglesias/Miami Herald/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick (L) congratulates Patriots quarterback Tom Brady after the Patriots defeated the San Diego Chargers during their AFC Divisional NFL playoff football game in San Diego, January 14, 2007. REUTERS/Robert Galbraith (UNITED STATES) - GM1DUJTNTZAA
Tom Brady poses at the premiere of the film
Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots celebrates with team owner Robert Kraft at University of Phoenix Stadium after winning Super Bowl XLIX on Feb. 1, 2015 in Glendale, Arizona.
FOXBOROUGH, MA - JANUARY 21: Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots celebrates with owner Robert Kraft after winning the AFC Championship Game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Gillette Stadium on January 21, 2018 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)
FOXBOROUGH, MA - DECEMBER 29: Tom Brady #12 shakes the hand of owner Robert Kraft of the New England Patriots before a game against the Miami Dolphins at Gillette Stadium on December 29, 2019 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)
FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - OCTOBER 27: Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots looks on before the game between the New England Patriots and the Cleveland Browns at Gillette Stadium on October 27, 2019 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Omar Rawlings/Getty Images)
(FILES) In this file photo taken on February 05, 2017, Tom Brady, #12 of the New England Patriots, holds the Vince Lombardi Trophy after defeating the Atlanta Falcons in overtime during Super Bowl 51 at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas. - Seven-time Super Bowl champion quarterback Tom Brady will retire after 22 NFL seasons, according to multiple US media reports on January 29, 2022. (Photo by Timothy A. CLARY / AFP) (Photo by TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP via Getty Images)
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - JANUARY 20: Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots celebrates with nn32#2 after defeating the Kansas City Chiefs in overtime during the AFC Championship Game at Arrowhead Stadium on January 20, 2019 in Kansas City, Missouri. The Patriots defeated the Chiefs 37-31. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
TEMPE, AZ - JANUARY 29: Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots warms up with teammates Rob Gronkowski #87 and Julian Edelman #11 during the New England Patriots Super Bowl XLIX Practice on January 29, 2015 at the Arizona Cardinals Practice Facility in Tempe, Arizona. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
FILE - In this Feb. 5, 2017, file photo, New England Patriots' Tom Brady holds the Vince Lombardi Trophy beside coach Bill Belichick, right, after the Patriots defeated the Atlanta Falcons 34-28 in overtime at the NFL Super Bowl 51 football game in Houston. A new book and a movie are in the works about Brady and the suspension he overcame to earn an unprecedented fifth Super Bowl ring. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings, File)
Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots celebrates with the Vince Lombardi Trophy after defeating the Atlanta Falcons during Super Bowl 51 at NRG Stadium on February 5, 2017 in Houston, Texas. The Patriots defeated the Falcons 34-28.
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady leaves the field after losing an NFL wild-card playoff football game to the Tennessee Titans, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2020, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Jan 21, 2018; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (right) and wide receiver Danny Amendola (80) celebrate as confetti flies after the AFC Championship Game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports - 10557977
GLENDALE, AZ - FEBRUARY 01: Rob Gronkowski #87 (L) and Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots celebrate while holding up the Vince Lombardi Trophy after defeating the Seattle Seahawks during Super Bowl XLIX at University of Phoenix Stadium on February 1, 2015 in Glendale, Arizona. The Patriots defeated the Seahawks 28-24. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - APRIL 3: Rob Gronkowski #87 of the New England Patriots is tackled by Tom Brady #12 after stealing his jersey before the opening day game between the Boston Red Sox and the Pittsburgh Pirates at Fenway Park on April 3, 2017 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
FOXBOROUGH, MA - SEPTEMBER 8: New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and Pittsburg Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger shake hands after the Patriots defeated the Steelers 33-3 at Gillette Stadium. The New England Patriots host the Pittsburgh Steelers in the season opener at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, MA on Sept. 8, 2019. (Photo by Matthew J. Lee/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots talks with Aaron Rodgers #12 of the Green Bay Packers after the Patriots defeated the Packers 31-17 at Gillette Stadium on November 4, 2018 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
Football: New England Patriots QB Tom Brady (12) and Rob Gronkowski (87) victorious after scoring touchdown during game vs Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium. Indianapolis, IN 11/16/2014 CREDIT: David E. Klutho (Photo by David E. Klutho /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images) (Set Number: X158945 TK1 )
TOPSHOT - Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots holds the Vince Lombardi Trophy after defeating the Atlanta Falcons 34-28 in overtime during Super Bowl 51 at NRG Stadium on February 5, 2017 in Houston, Texas. The Patriots defeated the Falcons 34-28 after overtime. / AFP PHOTO / Timothy A. CLARY (Photo credit should read TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP via Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, UNITED STATES: New England Patriots' quarterback Tom Brady celebrates with head coach Bill Belichick (R) after their win over the St. Louis Rams 03 February, 2002 in Super Bowl XXXVI in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Patriots defeated the Rams 20-17 for the NFL championship. AFP PHOTO/Jeff HAYNES (Photo credit should read JEFF HAYNES/AFP via Getty Images)
FOXBORO, UNITED STATES: New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (C) takes a hit from Charles Woodson (R) of the Oakland Raiders on a pass attempt in the last two minutes of the game in their AFC playoff 19 January 2002 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. The Patriots won 16-13 in overtime. AFP PHOTO/Matt CAMPBELL (Photo credit should read MATT CAMPBELL/AFP via Getty Images)
FILE - In this Jan. 14, 2012, file photo, New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady celebrates his 19-yard touchdown pass to Rob Gronkowski during the first half of an NFL divisional playoff football game against the Denver Broncos in Foxborough, Mass. Brady had one of his most prolific playoff games at home on Jan. 14, 2012, when he and the Patriots ended Tebow Mania. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola, File)
FILE - In this Jan. 10, 2015, file photo, New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski (87) celebrates his touchdown catch from Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) in the second half of an NFL divisional playoff football game against the Baltimore Ravens in Foxborough, Mass. Brady has engineered nine fourth-quarter comebacks in the playoffs but just four of those came at home. Perhaps the most memorable of those New England comebacks outside of the Tuck Rule game, game on Jan. 10, 2015, against Baltimore. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola, File)
(Foxboro, MA, 01/30/17) Patriots QB Tom Brady uses his phone to record screaming fans during a rally at Gillette Stadium before the team travels to Houston for the Super Bowl on Monday, January 30, 2017 Staff photo by Matt Stone (Photo by Matt Stone/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald via Getty Images)
If you want to see the GOAT’s goodbye in person, the price of admission will cost a pretty penny. Week 1 tickets for the Patriots-Eagles are the hottest in the NFL, selling at an average price of $702, according to Vivid Seats. That’s +663% more in demand than Peyton Manning’s retirement ceremony in 2017, data shows.
But if you are unable to make the game in person, the team announced the ceremony will also be streamed live on Patriots.com and the Patriots official Facebook, X, and YouTube pages.
Brady last appeared in Gillette Stadium in October 2021 as a member of the Tampa Buccaneers, winning 19-17 over the Patriots.
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