Patriots' 2023 Season Opener To Honor Tom Brady

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Wild Card Round - Tennessee Titans v New England Patriots
FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - JANUARY 04: Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots runs towards the bench before the AFC Wild Card Playoff game against the Tennessee Titans at Gillette Stadium on January 04, 2020 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
Brady is set to reunite with the team where he made his name.

Tom Brady is literally the greatest player to ever don a New England Patriots jersey. Selected in the 6th round of the 2000 NFL Draft, he went on to dominate pro football. Much of that dominance happened in New England, where he won six Super Bowl titles. It is also the place where he set many league and franchise records. However, Brady finished his career in Tampa Bay, finally retiring in 2023.

Despite leaving the Patriots, he is still held in high regard by the organization and many fans. However, there are those who may never forgive Brady for leaving. Furthermore, the organization is ready to honor the man who played 20 success-filled seasons for the team when the 2023 season gets underway. It comes on the same day that the NFL will announce the schedules for 2023.

Tom Brady Will Be Honored At First Gillette Stadium Game of 2023

Tom Brady at the premiere of "80 For Brady" held at Regency Village Theatre on January 31, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images)

Patriots owner Robert Kraft announced ahead of the NFL schedule reveal that the first Patriots home game of the 2023 season will honor Tom Brady. "I invited him back to be with us at the opening game and let the fans in New England thank him … it will be the beginning of many celebrations to honor Tom Brady," Kraft said. Kraft has owned the Patriots since 1994, and saw the brand's success explode exponentially with Brady at the helm. Kraft, nor the team, will likely never find a player as franchise-defining as Brady again.

"He's very excited to come back and see our fans. It will be a great, great celebration," Kraft said of Brady. However, a few things remain unknown. First, it's unclear when this will take place. The full NFL schedule will be announced at 8pm EDT on May 11. The only thing that has so far been revealed about the Patriots' schedule is that they will play a November 12 game in Frankfurt against the Colts. Furthermore, it's unknown what "honoring" Brady will entail. It could mean the Patriots retire his jersey. The Patriots have retired seven jersey numbers, the last one being that of Bruce Armstrong in 2000. What would you like to see the Patriots to do honor Brady? Let us know in the comments below.

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About The Author
Ben Mock
Benjamin Mock (they/them) is a sports and culture writer working out of Philadelphia. Previously writing for the likes of Fixture, Dexerto, Fragster, and Jaxon, Ben has dedicated themselves to engaging and accessible articles about sports, esports, and internet culture. With a love for the weirder stories, you never quite know what to expect from their work.
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