11 May 2023 , 16:48
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New England Patriots chief Robert Kraft has confirmed that they plan to honour Tom Brady in their opening game of the new season.
Brady is widely regarded as the best player in NFL history, after he helped the Patriots win six Super Bowl championships across a near-20-year career at the Gillette Stadium. He left the Patriots in 2019 to join the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and won his seventh Super Bowl ring in his first season, before retiring earlier this year.
With the NFL schedule making headlines, Kraft has revealed that the Patriots plan to honour Brady at the home opener of next season. At the time of the interview, which he gave on Good Morning Football, Kraft did not know who the Patriots would be facing in Week One.
“Since today is schedule day, I’d like to make one little announcement that I think may have some news for real football fans, and it actually relates to our schedule,” said Kraft.
“I know our opening day should be (against) a very competitive team, they (NFL) haven’t shared with us who that is exactly. But I’d like to know that, and it all relates to this blue square (badge).
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“Because I’ve had a lot of people like Bon Jovi and Meek Mill, Mike Imperioli and a guy by the name of Tom Brady, all wear this and spread it. I’m thinking that the NFL is over a century old, and 20 percent of those years of the NFL, the greatest player in the history of the game played right here at Foxborough.
Tom Brady announced his retirement from the NFL at the end of last season (Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic)“I’m happy to tell you and your audience that I invited him back to come here and be with us at the opening game, and let the fans in New England thank him for the great services he gave us over 20 years. And it will be the beginning of many celebrations to honour Tom Brady and say thank you for what he did for us, those 20 years playing for the New England Patriots.”
The NFL has announced several games for the 2023 regular season including the International Series in London and Germany. Other games have also been announced, including a Black Friday schedule for the first time in NFL history, ahead of the full schedule release.
The Patriots have already been confirmed to be one of the teams taking part in the NFL International series in 2023. They will travel to Frankfurt, Germany, to play the Indianapolis Colts at the Deutsche Bank Park on November 12.