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5 things to know about new Patriots QB Tommy DeVito
The former Giants backup was (and remains) a fan favorite in his native New Jersey.
The Patriots claimed one of the NFL’s more notable backup quarterbacks off of waivers on Wednesday to help fill out the depth chart behind Drake Maye.
Tommy DeVito, formerly of the Giants, was added by New England to backup Maye and second-stringer Joshua Dobbs.
The 27-year-old DeVito had previously spent the entirety of his two-year NFL career in New York. But, after being ruled the odd man out of the Giants’ crowded quarterback room, he now heads north to Foxborough.
Here are a few things to know about one of the newest Patriots:
He had a lengthy college career at multiple schools
DeVito attended Don Bosco Preparatory High School in his native New Jersey, playing in the Under Armour All-American Game. Initially, he committed to play college football at Syracuse.
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After redshirting, he became the starting QB for the Orange in 2019, throwing 19 touchdowns with just five interceptions (totaling 2,360 yards passing). But after he was injured four games into the 2020 season, DeVito lost his seat atop the depth chart, eventually transferring to Illinois.
In 2022, in his sixth year of college, he went 8-5 as the Illini starter. DeVito completed 69.6 percent of his passes, with 2,650 yards through the air (15 touchdowns, four interceptions).
Though he applied for an additional year of NCAA eligibility, it was denied by the NCAA.
He started for the Giants briefly in 2023, beating the Patriots
Amid a difficult season for the Giants in 2023 — multiple quarterbacks, including starter Daniel Jones, were injured — DeVito got his first chance to play as an undrafted rookie.
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After entering parts of games in Weeks 8 and 9, DeVito eventually got to start six games in a row. He went 3-3 as a starter, but the run included a three-game winning streak.
Among the wins that season was a 10-7 victory in November over the struggling Patriots. DeVito’s second quarter touchdown pass to Isaiah Hodgins proved to be enough to defeat the combined New England efforts of Mac Jones and Bailey Zappe.
DeVito became a local celebrity given his New Jersey roots
During his tenure as the Giants’ starter — especially during the three-game winning streak in 2023 — DeVito became a local phenomenon. Since he grew up in Cedar Grove, New Jersey, fans embraced him as one of their own.
Because of his Italian-American heritage and preference for chicken cutlets, he earned the nickname “Tommy Cutlets.” This was even featured on the team’s social media alongside food influencer Danny Mondello:
Early in his time with the Giants, DeVito also acknowledged that he was still living with his parents.
“It was a no-brainer for me,” DeVito told ESPN’s Jordan Raanan in 2023. “Everything that I need is there at the house. The decision was made since this level of football is stressful for a rookie, especially from the quarterback position. There is a lot going on, a lot of meetings. So everything outside of football is handled by my family.
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“I don’t have to worry about laundry, what I’m eating for dinner, chicken cutlets and all that is waiting for me when I get there. My mom still makes my bed. Everything is handled for me. Honestly, I don’t even know if I could find a place closer to here than where I live. It takes me 12 minutes to get here.”
His parents tailgated Giants games in 2023 with — predictably — hundreds of chicken cutlets:
His distinctive agent is from Massachusetts
DeVito’s agent is Sean Stellato, who grew up in Salem. He came to prominence during DeVito’s brief period as the Giants’ starter, even drawing some humorous comments from Peyton and Eli Manning.
Stellato, who wrote a book about his time playing high school in Salem, was known for his distinctive appearance (and for celebrating his client’s success alongside DeVito’s family).
“Definitely hurt the heart,” Stellato recently told The New York Post about DeVito being cut by the Giants. “This game teaches you perseverance.”
In his final appearance for the Giants, DeVito defeated the Patriots
In the recent Patriots-Giants preseason matchup, DeVito played a majority of the snaps for New York.
Though he was on the lower end of the Giants’ depth chart, DeVito played well during the matchup (albeit against New England backups), completing 17 of 20 passes for 198 yards and three touchdowns in a 42-10 win.
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Calling himself “just a kid from Jersey” in the postgame press conference, DeVito credited Giants fans for their support in what proved to be his final game prior to being cut.
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