On Wednesday night, the Patriots honored Tom Brady by inducting him into their Hall of Fame in front of a crowd of 60,000 at Gillette Stadium. The biggest surprise of the night came when owner Robert Kraft announced that the team would be retiring the No. 12 jersey that Brady wore for 20 seasons with the team.
As the 35th inductee into the Patriots’ Hall of Fame, Brady will now have a red Hall of Fame jacket to wear instead of his jersey. Owner Robert Kraft stated, “There’s only one iconic number that will represent Tom Brady. And tonight, I promise that it will never be worn again. The number 12 is now officially retired.”
In addition to retiring his jersey, the Patriots also plan to erect a 12-foot bronze statue of Brady in the plaza outside the team’s Hall of Fame and Pro Shop. Brady had an illustrious career with the Patriots, winning six Super Bowls before leaving and winning a seventh in his first season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He concluded his speech by declaring, “I am Tom Brady, and I’m a Patriot.”
The night was filled with surprises and emotional moments as the Patriots honored one of the greatest players in franchise history. The patriotic atmosphere was electrifying as fans paid tribute to their beloved quarterback who led them to numerous victories over the years.
