Tom Brady honored by New England Patriots, rings lighthouse bell ahead of Eagles game

The New England Patriots have started a new tradition at Gillette Stadium, and Tom Brady was the first to partake. The seven-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback rang in a new NFL season on Sunday … quite literally.

New England announced they would honor Brady for the season-opener against the Philadelphia Eagles. To start things off, Brady became the first “Keeper of the Light” at the newly-added lighthouse, which overlooks the stadium.

Below is the clip of Brady ringing in a new season just prior to kickoff:

The first Keeper of the Light in @GilletteStadium history is… @TomBrady. pic.twitter.com/k3WZqgzQpO

— New England Patriots (@Patriots) September 10, 2023

It’s only fitting that Brady be the first “Keeper of the Light” in New England’s history. He helped lead the franchise to six Super Bowl victories and three additional appearances. It’s also his first game not in uniform since stepping into the league in 2000.

Brady spent a bulk of his career with the Patriots, playing in New England from 2000-19. In addition to the Super Bowl victories, he also earned 14 Pro Bowl appearances, won four Super Bowl MVP awards and was a three-time NFL MVP while in New England.

From 2020-22, Brady played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, adding another Super Bowl to his legacy. He retired at the conclusion of the 2022 season.

The lighthouse at Gillette Stadium is part of a $250 million renovation project at the north end of the venue. It is the most expensive investment in stadium improvement since it opened in 2002.

Patriots team owner Robert Kraft was excited to be honoring Brady during Sunday’s opener.

“He’s really excited and I’m excited, because our fans never really got a chance to say goodbye in a proper way. And we’re going to do something special and unique with him,” Kraft said, per ESPN.

“He has 20 members of his family coming — all his nephews, nieces, his sisters, his parents. So we’re honored to be hosting all of them.”

Brady also commented on Sunday’s honor during his Let’s Go! podcast.

“I have so many memories from my time there, and memories with people there, and I’m creating a new memory with the people there [Sunday],” he said. “To go back to that stadium and bring my kids and my family in a different way, I’ve not been to that stadium in this way ever. I went there as a player, I went there once as a competitor and now I’m going to go there as really a fan. …

“I love the sport and I love the Patriots, so going up there to see a lot of my friends and family is going to be really a great experience.”