Robert Kraft announces 12-foot Tom Brady's bronze statue to be unveiled at Gillette Stadium during Patriots 2024 NFL season

Robert Kraft took to the stage during Tom Brady's induction into the Patriots Hall of Fame to announce that the legendary quarterback, who won six Super Bowl rings in New England, will be honored with a 12-foot statue before the 2024 NFL season is over. Patriots fans were in attendance to honor the man who brought dynastic glory to New England and couldn't have been more thrilled.

The 12-foot statue is in honor of the number Tom Brady wore during his career. As an aside, Robert Kraft also announced that the jersey number will be retired in perpetuity, meaning all quarterbacks from Drake Maye onwards will have to settle on another number. It is a fitting tribute to the greatest ever to play the game.

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With Robert Kraft's declaration, Tom Brady joins an illustrious list of players with statues honoring them

By virtue of his records, Tom Brady is already immortal. However, having a statue only burnishes those credentials and claims to perpetual remembrance. Many players before, and one assumes many players since, will have their likeness stand outside the grounds on which they established their legend.

Peyton Manning, who was there to surprise the New England legend at his induction into the Patriots Hall of Fame, has a statue of his own in Indianapolis. Displayed outside the Lucas Oil Stadium, also known as "The House Manning Built", it depicts the quarterback in a passing pose with the ball in his hand.

Much like Brady, Manning also won championships with two different organizations but is honored with a statue by the franchise where he first made his name.

There are other statues too for many legendary quarterbacks. Dan Marino has one outside the Miami Dolphins' stadium. Joe Montana, Brady's childhood idol, also has one from the San Francisco 49ers honoring him.

Johnny Unitas, even though he played for the Colts, is honored in Baltimore, where the franchise was originally located. They also have Ray Lewis, the defensive figurehead of the Ravens, in his signature entry dance posture.

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Tom Brady becomes first Patriots quarterback to have his jersey retired

Tom Brady holds every possible franchise record for a quarterback for New England, and he has now added one more to the list. He is the first Patriots quarterback to have his jersey retired. He is just the eighth player overall to earn the distinction.

Brady also becomes the first player since 2001 to earn that honor, following offensive tackle Bruce Armstrong. For context, that is the year that Brady began creating the dynasty for which he is being honored.