Tom Brady Makes An Emotional Return

On Sunday, Tom Brady made an emotional comeback to New England and vowed to remain a “Patriot for life.”

After three seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Brady announced his retirement from the game earlier this year. However, the three-time NFL MVP will always be remembered for his time with the Patriots in New England.

Brady was able to bring six Super Bowl victories to New England while playing for the Patriots, transforming the team into a footballing powerhouse.

“When Tom Brady announced his retirement from the NFL after 23 seasons, there was only one place I wanted him to be on opening day—right here at Gillette Stadium with 65,000 fans,” Patriots owner Robert Kraft said as he welcomed Brady to the crowded stadium for a special half-time ceremony honoring Brady during the game against the Philadelphia Eagles.

Nearly 27,000 players have played in games during the course of the NFL’s 103-year history, and we all agree that Tom Brady is the greatest player to ever do so.

Brady was able to address the audience after the cheers and applause eventually subsided.

The New England crowd erupted in cheers as Brady entered the field. “That run out today was a little longer than it used to be – I’m not quite in game shape, but it’s impossible for me to be in this stadium, full of you amazing fans, with some of the best teammates, with my family and all my friends, and not run out like I did for 20 years,” Brady said.

“I was extremely fortunate to be selected here in the draft 23 years ago, when I didn’t even know where New England was located on the map. Not that we put it on the map, but I think a lot more people in the US know where the New England Patriots play,” said the player who was selected.

Brady led the Patriots to 17 division titles and 219 victories throughout the regular season while setting nearly every imaginable franchise passing record.

“All of our lives take us on different journeys, to different places, and bring different people into our lives, but one thing I am certain of, and that will never change, is that I am a Patriot for life,” Brady stated.

Brady will be formally enshrined at Gillette Stadium in a first-of-its-kind event next year after Kraft waived the four-year waiting requirement for the Patriots Hall of Fame.

“I love you guys so much, and I’ll see you next summer,” Brady said in closing.

The Patriots haven’t won a Super Bowl since Brady left, and they lost their first NFL game of the 2023–2024 season when the Philadelphia Eagles triumphed 25–20 at Gillette Stadium.

By intercepting Mac Jones’ attempted throw, Darius Slay gave the Eagles a quick lead. The 70-yard interception was returned for a touchdown by the cornerback for Philadelphia.

Philadelphia built a 16-0 lead after the first 15 minutes as DeVonta Smith added a touchdown late in the first quarter on a Jalen Hurts pass.

With a second quarter score of 14, the Patriots recovered. Hunter Henry and Kendrick Bourne both scored touchdowns off of Jones throws to pull the Patriots to within two points of the Eagles and a possible comeback.

But after the interval, Eagles kicker Jake Elliott added nine more points to the score, bringing the Eagles’ total to 25, giving Philadelphia the lead for good.

The Eagles held on to a crucial opening game victory despite the Patriots still having a chance to score another touchdown on another Jones pass.