How was Tom Brady's jersey stolen? Revisiting former Patriots legend's infamous Super Bowl LI saga

After the New England Patriots' 34-28 victory over the Atlanta Falcons in Super Bowl LI, Tom Brady quickly realized his jersey had been taken from a bag he had put in the team locker room.

A week later, on the Fox Business Network, Patriots owner Robert Kraft compared taking the Brady jersey to "taking a great Chagall or Picasso." Furthermore, Houston police classified the alleged theft of Brady's Super Bowl LI jersey as a first-degree felony.

The jersey was stolen by an individual who gained access to the New England Patriots' locker room without being noticed by a security operative. This individual then snatched Brady's jersey from a bag at his locker. Interestingly, the jersey swiper was kept out of the locker room and stadium after the theft.

Who stole Tom Brady's Super Bowl LI jersey?

Tom Brady's Super Bowl LI game-worn jersey was stolen by Martin Ortega, a lifelong New England Patriots fan who took his adulation of the GOAT to a whole new level. Ortega has since expressed contrition and apologized for his nefarious actions. While Ortega has refused to reveal exactly how he pulled off such a heist, he has said the theft was not planned.

During Super Bowl LI, Ortega was an accredited journalist as the director of a tabloid called La Prensa, which likely explains why he wasn't intercepted when he was in and around the New England Patriots locker room. Notably, Ortega could have possibly gotten away with his actions had he not emailed photos of his jersey stash to an associate, who ultimately forwarded the pictures to help identify Martin Ortega, once the search for Brady's missing SB LI jersey began.

While Ortega admitted to taking Brady's jersey, he offered no explanation for Brady's Super Bowl XLIX jersey, nor did he offer one for Denver Broncos linebacker Von Miller's Super Bowl 50 helmet, which was also found in his residence. All items have since been returned to their rightful owners. Furthermore, Tom Brady opted against pressing criminal charges against Ortega.

Has any other Tom Brady Jersey been stolen?

Yes, and pretty unfortunate at that. Another of Tom Brady's jerseys has indeed been stolen, though it was not a game-worn jersey. Brady's jersey was taken from the New England Patriots Hall of Fame in 2019, but this time the suspects were apprehended almost instantly.

Police were called to the Hall of Fame and Pro Shop in Foxborough, Massachusetts, by members of staff and security, who reported that the jersey was taken from a simulated locker room exhibit there. The suspect was later caught on camera, according to a police report.

The suspect was later identified as Zanini Cineus, who stuffed the precious item in his brown bag. He was subsequently charged with larceny, pleaded not guilty, and was subsequently released on personal recognizance.