Tom Brady Honored With 17-Foot Statue Outside Patriots Stadium

Tom Brady now stands in bronze outside Gillette Stadium — all 17 feet of him, perched on a six-sided granite base representing each of the New England Patriots’ six Super Bowl titles. The statue, weighing six tons, immortalizes the quarterback once considered too slow and unathletic to be picked higher than 199th in the 2000 NFL Draft.

“When I was drafted, I just hoped to make the team. I never dreamed I’d be standing here two and a half decades later, made of bronze and frozen in time,” Brady told the crowd at Friday night’s unveiling before the Patriots’ preseason game against the Washington Commanders. Then, in classic Brady fashion, he added: “Feels pretty appropriate given my 40-yard dash time.”

A three-time NFL MVP, five-time Super Bowl MVP, and seven-time champion — including one title with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers — Brady retired in 2023 as the NFL’s most decorated player, holding records for wins, passing yards, and touchdowns in both the regular season and playoffs. The Patriots retired his No. 12 and inducted him into their Hall of Fame last year, skipping the traditional four-year wait.

Owner Robert Kraft announced that Brady would be the first Patriot to receive a statue outside the stadium. Created by sculptor Jeff Buccacio, the piece features a 12-foot figure of Brady — a nod to his jersey number — atop the granite base, with the total height of 17 feet marking the team’s 17 AFC East titles during his 19 seasons.

During his speech, Brady joked that former coach Bill Belichick had already critiqued the statue: “He said there’s still room for improvement. I know that feeling.”

The event drew Brady’s parents, children, former teammates, current coach Mike Vrabel, and even members of the Commanders organization. Fans packed the plaza and balconies, chanting his name. Brady, in turn, joked he didn’t think a statue was appropriate until he was “really old” — like Vrabel — and ended with a playful jab at the rival New York Jets.