The GOAT will live on forever in Foxboro.
A statue honoring Patriots legendary quarterback Tom Brady has come out of retirement, or storage that is, and will be unveiled ahead of Friday night’s preseason opener vs. Washington.
A large black box covered he 12-foot statue after a truck brought it in front of Gillette Stadium, in Patriot Place, early Thursday morning. The ceremony, kicking off at 6 p.m. Friday, has been more than a year in the making.
On the night Brady was inducted into the Patriots Hall of Fame in June 2024, team Chairman and CEO Robert Kraft announced that a statue would be constructed in the 7-time Super Bowl champion’s honor.
Kraft said last week that the organization wanted to unveil the statue last year, but Brady’s busy broadcasting schedule with Fox Sports prevented that from happening. The legend is set to appear at Gillette on Friday evening.
“How lucky are we to have the 199th pick [in the 2000 NFL Draft] be the greatest player to ever play in the over 100-year history of the NFL?” Kraft said. “He played for us, and he’s just a great human being. We are excited to honor him.”
Kraft is set to host a ceremony that the Patriots say will last about 15 to 20 minutes, unveiling the “larger-than-life, 12-foot statue.” Brady is also slated to “provide his reaction and address the gathered guests.”
Parking lots will open at 3:30 p.m., with stadium gates opening early at 5:00 to accommodate ticketed fans attending both the game and the ceremony.
“While ticketed fans are allowed in the plaza for the ceremony,” the team said in a release on Thursday, “early entry into the stadium will be allowed to ensure optimal viewing of the ceremony on Gillette Stadium’s video boards.”
For fans not attending the game, the ceremony will also be streamed on Patriots.com, the team’s official social media channels, and broadcast locally on WBZ-TV.
Brady spent 20 years in New England, leading the Patriots to six Super Bowl titles and 17 division championships in 18 seasons as a starter.
“Renowned for his clutch performances, relentless drive, and exceptional leadership, Brady transformed the Patriots into perennial contenders,” the team said in a release. “His tenure in Foxborough remains one of the most dominant and decorated runs in NFL history.
“The statue preserves his placement as a ‘Patriot for life’ and enshrines his legacy as the greatest of all time.”
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