"I am a Patriot for life."
Gillette Stadium came alive at halftime of the Patriots' season opener against the Eagles, as the team honored legendary quarterback Tom Brady with a ceremony at the intermission on Sunday.
It marked the first time Brady was returning to Foxboro since officially retiring from football in the spring. The future Pro Football Hall of Famer brought six Super Bowl titles to New England during his time with the Patriots, leading the most successful era in franchise history.
Thank you, @TomBrady. pic.twitter.com/mBkQsItIOR
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) September 10, 2023
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Tom Brady halftime ceremony speech
With a plethora of former teammates, coaches and fans in attendance, the Patriots brought Brady out to the field to give a speech, with the six Lombardi Trophies he won sitting behind him at the podium.
Brady discussed his entire tenure in New England, starting with his draft day and not knowing where New England was, to then crediting his teammates and coaches for the success he enjoyed with the organization.
"It's one of my core beliefs - there's nothing significant in life that can be accomplished as an individual," Brady said. "It's all about the team."
The 46-year-old ended his speech with an emphatic statement that he is "a Patriot for life."
.@TomBrady halftime ceremony from @GilletteStadium.#PHIvsNE on @NFLonCBS pic.twitter.com/DcX6ZnznEY
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) September 10, 2023
Brady gave the fans flashbacks of better times, storming out onto the field with his No. 12 New England jersey, and ending his run out onto the field with his signature fist pump and "Let's go!" scream.
Press box view: Tom Brady in the Patriots jersey with his trademark fist pump as halftime ceremony gets underway. pic.twitter.com/JQ8fBHoRPj
— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) September 10, 2023
Tom Brady says it would have been “impossible” for him to “be in this stadium and not run out like I did for 20 years. pic.twitter.com/pAdSwB1Bf9
— Alex Barth (@RealAlexBarth) September 10, 2023
During the festivities, team owner Robert Kraft announced that Brady would be inducted into the Patriots Hall of Fame next year. Kraft is waiving the four-year waiting period for the GOAT, who will be honored at a ceremony on June 12, 2024.
Why that specific date? There are numerical reasons behind it.
Patriots owner Robert Kraft announces he's waiving the four-year waiting period to put Tom Brady in the Patriots HOF.
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) September 10, 2023
Induction is set for 6/12/24 in honor of 6⃣ rings for No. 1⃣2⃣
🐐 pic.twitter.com/5dauJ9GQSH
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With another event scheduled for Brady less than a year out, it means that Sunday's showing won't be the latest big hoorah for the legend at Gillette Stadium. However, Sunday's halftime ceremony marked the first time that Patriots fans got to properly thank Brady in person for his two decades of dominance — and Brady was able to return the favor as well:
"Thank you all for making it another day in this stadium I'll never forget."
