5 things to know about new Patriots QB Tommy DeVito

The Patriots claimed one of many NFL’s extra notable backup quarterbacks off of waivers on Wednesday to assist fill out the depth chart behind Drake Maye.

Tommy DeVito, previously of the Giants, was added by New England to backup Maye and second-stringer Joshua Dobbs.

The 27-year-old DeVito had beforehand spent everything of his two-year NFL profession in New York. However, after being dominated the odd man out of the Giants’ crowded quarterback room, he now heads north to Foxborough.

Right here are some things to find out about one of many latest Patriots:

He had a prolonged school profession at a number of colleges

DeVito attended Don Bosco Preparatory Excessive Faculty in his native New Jersey, enjoying within the Underneath Armour All-American Recreation. Initially, he dedicated to play school soccer at Syracuse.

After redshirting, he turned the beginning QB for the Orange in 2019, throwing 19 touchdowns with simply 5 interceptions (totaling 2,360 yards passing). However after he was injured 4 video games into the 2020 season, DeVito misplaced his seat atop the depth chart, ultimately transferring to Illinois.

In 2022, in his sixth 12 months of faculty, he went 8-5 because the Illini starter. DeVito accomplished 69.6 % of his passes, with 2,650 yards via the air (15 touchdowns, 4 interceptions).

Although he applied for a further 12 months of NCAA eligibility, it was denied by the NCAA.

He began for the Giants briefly in 2023, beating the Patriots

Amid a troublesome season for the Giants in 2023 — a number of quarterbacks, together with starter Daniel Jones, have been injured — DeVito obtained his first probability to play as an undrafted rookie.

After coming into elements of video games in Weeks 8 and 9, DeVito ultimately obtained to begin six video games in a row. He went 3-3 as a starter, however the run included a three-game successful streak.

Among the many wins that season was a 10-7 victory in November over the struggling Patriots. DeVito’s second quarter landing move to Isaiah Hodgins proved to be sufficient to defeat the mixed New England efforts of Mac Jones and Bailey Zappe.

DeVito turned a neighborhood movie star given his New Jersey roots

Throughout his tenure because the Giants’ starter — particularly in the course of the three-game successful streak in 2023 — DeVito turned a neighborhood phenomenon. Since he grew up in Cedar Grove, New Jersey, followers embraced him as one in every of their very own.

Due to his Italian-American heritage and desire for hen cutlets, he earned the nickname “Tommy Cutlets.” This was even featured on the group’s social media alongside meals influencer Danny Mondello:

Early in his time with the Giants, DeVito additionally acknowledged that he was nonetheless dwelling along with his mother and father.

“It was a no brainer for me,” DeVito told ESPN’s Jordan Raanan in 2023. “All the things that I want is there on the home. The choice was made since this degree of soccer is disturbing for a rookie, particularly from the quarterback place. There’s a lot happening, loads of conferences. So every little thing exterior of soccer is dealt with by my household.

“I don’t have to fret about laundry, what I’m consuming for dinner, hen cutlets and all that’s ready for me once I get there. My mother nonetheless makes my mattress. All the things is dealt with for me. Truthfully, I don’t even know if I might discover a place nearer to right here than the place I dwell. It takes me 12 minutes to get right here.”

His mother and father tailgated Giants video games in 2023 with — predictably — lots of of hen cutlets:

His distinctive agent is from Massachusetts

DeVito’s agent is Sean Stellato, who grew up in Salem. He got here to prominence throughout DeVito’s temporary interval because 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 identified for his distinctive look (and for celebrating his consumer’s success alongside DeVito’s household).

“Positively damage the center,” Stellato lately told The New York Publish about DeVito being minimize by the Giants. “This recreation teaches you perseverance.”

In his remaining look for the Giants, DeVito defeated the Patriots

Within the latest Patriots-Giants preseason matchup, DeVito performed a majority of the snaps for New York.

Although he was on the decrease finish of the Giants’ depth chart, DeVito performed properly in the course of the matchup (albeit in opposition to New England backups), finishing 17 of 20 passes for 198 yards and three touchdowns in a 42-10 win.

Calling himself “just a kid from Jersey” within the postgame press convention, DeVito credited Giants followers for his or her assist in what proved to be his remaining recreation previous to being minimize.