Longtime Patriots head coach Bill Belichick, who won six Super Bowls with Brady, was on hand for ceremony

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. —
New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft announced Wednesday night that the team is retiring No. 12 in honor of Tom Brady, as the legendary quarterback was inducted into the team’s Hall of Fame.

Kraft also announced that a 12-foot-tall bronze statue of Brady will be put in Enel Plaza, in front of the Patriots Hall of Fame near the north entrance to Gillette Stadium. The statue will be unveiled during the 2024 NFL season, according to Kraft.

Dozens of Brady’s former teammates were at Gillette Stadium to watch him be inducted into the Patriots Hall of Fame, as well as thousands of New England football fans.

“You humble me. You make me proud, and I am eternally grateful,” Brady said after receiving his red Hall of Fame jacket. “I am Tom Brady and I am a Patriot.”

Former Patriots head coach Bill Belichick, who won six Super Bowls with Brady during the player’s 20 seasons in New England, was among the guest speakers at the event.

“It was a tremendous honor for me to draft Tom and coach Tom for 20 years,” Belichick told the crowd. “Everything he brought to the team, it was really an honor for me to be involved with that.”

“It wasn’t me. It wasn’t you. It was us,” Brady said. “Let me make it clear. There is no other coach I’d rather play for than Bill Belichick.”

The Patriots chose to honor Brady on June 12 — the 12th day of the sixth month of the year — as a tribute to the legendary quarterback’s jersey number, 12, and the six Super Bowl championships he won with New England.

Brady is the 35th person to be inducted into the Patriots Hall of Fame, and for the first time, an induction ceremony was held inside Gillette Stadium in order to accommodate as many fans as possible.

“It is great to be back and it means a lot. I’m a Patriot for life, there’s no doubt about that, but it’s not about me. It’s about Tom Brady here tonight,” said Rob Gronkowski, who won three Super Bowls with the Patriots and a fourth with Brady. “It’s about all the fans, all the amazing fans, the best fans in the world here in the best sports city in the world — the city of Boston and the whole New England area.

“Tom Brady deserves every recognition that he receives and he’s going to deserve everything that he receives tonight and everything that’s said about him, it’s all true and it’s all meaningful,” Gronkowski added. “Hats off to Tom. He made me a better person and a better player throughout my life”

New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft announced Wednesday night that the team is retiring No. 12 in honor of Tom Brady, as the legendary quarterback was inducted into the team’s Hall of Fame.

Kraft also announced that a 12-foot-tall bronze statue of Brady will be put in Enel Plaza, in front of the Patriots Hall of Fame near the north entrance to Gillette Stadium. The statue will be unveiled during the 2024 NFL season, according to Kraft.

Dozens of Brady’s former teammates were at Gillette Stadium to watch him be inducted into the Patriots Hall of Fame, as well as thousands of New England football fans.

“You humble me. You make me proud, and I am eternally grateful,” Brady said after receiving his red Hall of Fame jacket. “I am Tom Brady and I am a Patriot.”

Former Patriots head coach Bill Belichick, who won six Super Bowls with Brady during the player’s 20 seasons in New England, was among the guest speakers at the event.

“It was a tremendous honor for me to draft Tom and coach Tom for 20 years,” Belichick told the crowd. “Everything he brought to the team, it was really an honor for me to be involved with that.”

“It wasn’t me. It wasn’t you. It was us,” Brady said. “Let me make it clear. There is no other coach I’d rather play for than Bill Belichick.”Former New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick with Tom Brady during Brady’s induction into the New England Patriots Hall of Fame on June 12, 2024 at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
The Patriots chose to honor Brady on June 12 — the 12th day of the sixth month of the year — as a tribute to the legendary quarterback’s jersey number, 12, and the six Super Bowl championships he won with New England.

Brady is the 35th person to be inducted into the Patriots Hall of Fame, and for the first time, an induction ceremony was held inside Gillette Stadium in order to accommodate as many fans as possible.

“It is great to be back and it means a lot. I’m a Patriot for life, there’s no doubt about that, but it’s not about me. It’s about Tom Brady here tonight,” said Rob Gronkowski, who won three Super Bowls with the Patriots and a fourth with Brady. “It’s about all the fans, all the amazing fans, the best fans in the world here in the best sports city in the world — the city of Boston and the whole New England area.

“Tom Brady deserves every recognition that he receives and he’s going to deserve everything that he receives tonight and everything that’s said about him, it’s all true and it’s all meaningful,” Gronkowski added. “Hats off to Tom. He made me a better person and a better player throughout my life.”

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Former Patriots offensive lineman Marcus Cannon, a three-time Super Bowl champion, was among the first to arrive for the red carpet event before the ceremony.

“I was like: ‘I’m not going to miss this,’ and I made sure I was going to be here,” Cannon said

Doug Flutie, who played one season with Brady, was also spotted on the red carpet. The Natick, Massachusetts, native won the 1984 Heisman Trophy with Boston College and played three seasons with the Patriots (1987-89) before rejoining New England for his final season of professional football in 2005.

“I only got to play one year with Tom as a teammate, but I got to know him a little bit before and after that, as well, and he’s just special,” Flutie said. “He’s special to everyone. He’s a treasure. I think we’re going to be looking back on this fondly.”

“It just feels good to see former teammates,” said Hall of Fame wide receiver Randy Moss, who set the single-season touchdown reception record (23) with Brady and the Patriots in 2007. “We’re here to celebrate the greatest quarterback of all time. Will there ever be another one? I doubt it.”

Jon Bon Jovi, the front man for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame band Bon Jovi, was also among those who were on the red carpet.

“I’ve watched him his whole career. It was an amazing moment in time,” said Jon Bon Jovi. “He, Coach Belichick and Mr. Kraft, I think, created the greatest dynasty in pro football and I was not going to miss this for anything.”

Mike Tirico of NBC Sports hosted the ceremony and was joined on stage by a number of special guests, including Boston-born comedian and life-long Patriots fan Bill Burr.

Hundreds who have played for the Patriots were in attendance and many of Brady’s former teammates made on-stage appearances.

Below is a list of players who were at the ceremony, which includes the seasons they played with Brady on the Patriots:

Rob Gronkowski, tight end (2010-2018)
Julian Edelman, wide receiver (2009-2019)
Wes Welker, wide receiver (2007-12)
Randy Moss, wide receiver (2007-10)
James White, running back (2014-19)
Deion Branch, wide receiver (2002-05, 2010-12)
Kevin Faulk, running back (2000-2011)
Danny Amendola, wide receiver (2013-2017)
Troy Brown, wide receiver (2000-07)
Drew Bledsoe, quarterback (2000-01)
Matthew Slater, wide receiver/special teams (2008-19)
Vince Wilfork, defensive tackle (2004-14)
Ty Law, cornerback (2000-04)
Willie McGinest, edge rusher (2000-05)
Devin McCourty, defensive back (2010-19)
Brian Hoyer, quarterback (2009-11, 2017-18)
Matt Cassel, quarterback (2005-08)
Jerod Mayo, linebacker (2008-15)
Rob Ninkovich, edge rusher (2009-16)
Matt Light, offensive tackle (2001-11)
David Andrews, center (2015-19)
Logan Mankins, guard (2005-13)
Dan Koppen, center (2003-11)
Patrick Chung, safety (2009-12, 2014-2019)
Brady’s longtime rival, Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning, made a surprise appearance at Gillette Stadium.

Grammy Award-winning rapper Jay-Z kicked off the festivities by performing his song “Public Service Announcement,” which Brady would enter the field to when he warmed up before games at Gillette Stadium.

Kenny Chesney made a surprise appearance to perform “The Boys of Fall,” his country chart-topping song about football.

Stars who sent in video messages that were played during the ceremony included Oscar winner Matt Damon, a Massachusetts native, and a quartet of Boston sports stars: David Ortiz, Patrice Bergeron, Paul Pierce and Taylor Twellman.