New England Patriots retire Tom Brady's number 12 Jersey

The New England Patriots honored Tom Brady by inducting him into their Hall of Fame on Wednesday, surprising the legendary quarterback with a few special announcements.

Team owner Robert Kraft shared that the Patriots would retire Brady's No. 12 jersey and are planning to unveil a 12-foot-tall bronze statue of Brady during the 2024 season.

Kraft stated, "The statue will be placed in the plaza outside the Hall of Fame to represent his status, not just as the best in franchise history, but as the best in NFL history."

The ceremony attracted a crowd of 60,000 at the Patriots' home stadium in Foxborough, Mass. The event featured appearances by many of Brady's former teammates and former Patriots head coach Bill Belichick, who made his first return to Foxborough since resigning last season.

Expressing his gratitude, Brady said, "I am forever thankful. I am Tom Brady. And I am a Patriot."

Regarding Belichick, Brady mentioned, "It wasn't just me. It wasn't just you. It was us... Let me be clear: There is no coach in the world I would rather have played for than Bill Belichick."

During his 20-year tenure with the Patriots under Belichick, Brady led the team to six Super Bowl victories. He later secured another championship with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Belichick, warmly welcomed by Patriots fans, thanked Brady, saying, "Thank you for everything you've done for us. Thank you for everything you've done for me. And thank you for the example and inspiration you've provided to all of us over the past 20 years. Congratulations."

Peyton Manning, one of Brady's top rivals, was also present at the ceremony, engaging in a conversation with Brady alongside host Mike Tirico.

Manning remarked, "When you faced a Tom Brady-led team, you knew you had to bring your A-game, because if you didn't, Tom Brady would defeat you every time."

Brady stated, "I believe that I would not have reached the level of player that I did without having someone like Peyton to look up to. I always saw him as the benchmark for quarterback performance, and I continue to do so. Currently, there is no one comparable to Peyton Manning."

Version 1: Brady mentioned, "I feel that I wouldn't have achieved the same level of play without someone like Peyton to emulate. I always viewed him as the standard for quarterback excellence, and I still do. There is no one like Peyton Manning in the league today."