Tom Brady Gives Emotional Reflection on Career With Patriots During Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony

Tom Brady came "home" to Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts on Wednesday, June 12, fittingly, to be inducted into the New England Patriots Hall of Fame. And in his induction speech, the 46-year-old reflected on his 20 seasons with the team, which earned him six out of seven of his career Super Bowl championships.

He also thanked his family, teammates, coaches, and perhaps, most importantly, the fans who cheered him along all the way.

"Patriot Nation, it feels good to be home. This evening marks a monumental moment in my life," Brady started off his speech, to thunderous cheering and applause. "It’s a celebration of 20 years here in New England, playing for the Patriots, playing for you, the greatest fans in the NFL."

"I’m overwhelmed with gratitude and a deep sense of honor. So let me say thank you for all that you’ve done to help me, to help us achieve our lifelong dreams," he reminisced. "You guys are amazing. What other fans in the world would spend hours on Route One every Sunday to get to a stadium in the middle of the woods?"

"We’ve even got four guys who went to jail for me sitting right here as [Patriots owner Robert Kraft's] special guests," Brady quipped, referring to Barstool Sports' Dave Portnoy, John Feitelberg, Hank Lockwood, and Paul Gulczynski, who famously were arrested for protesting Brady's four-gameDeflateGate suspension in 2015.

"So, how do I sum up two decades in New England in one short speech? The answer is simple. You can’t," he confessed. "It’s hard for me to properly express my gratitude and my appreciation for how my time here has added to my life. There are too many lessons learned, too many stories to be told, too many incredible moments and achievements we all experienced together. It would take me 30 days to get through it all, not 30 minutes."

Brady then thanked his family, including his mom, dad, and sisters, for being his foundation and helping instill a sense of "mental toughness" that would help guide his career.

“To my kids, Jack, Benny, Vivi, your dad loves you more than anything in this world. Your smiles outshine the morning sun," he then said, shouting out his three children. "And where I live now, that’s a pretty brilliant sun. There’s no greater joy than watching the three of you grow and teach me things on your way to becoming incredible young adults."

"To the communities in San Mateo and Ann Arbor, the countless teammates, neighbors, coaches, teachers that formed me into the man that I am today," Brady added. "Thank you. You always believed in me."

Brady likewise heaped praise onto the Kraft family, Head Coach Bill Belichick, and 20 years worth of teammates for helping him grow and thrive within the Patriots organization.

"If you look at all my teammates here tonight, it would be impossible to find better examples of men who embody that work ethic, integrity, purpose, determination, and discipline that it takes to be a champion in life," he continued. "We led by example. Nothing in life of significance is ever accomplished alone. That’s the Patriot way. Here in New England, we were the first team ever to take the field in the Super Bowl, not as individuals, but as a single unit. That’s us. We did that, and we were the best in the world, and history will never forget that.

"It is the honor of my life to take my place among these other Patriot Hall of Famers and to be officially enshrined into the winning legacy of this amazing organization," Brady effused.

“You humble me. You make me proud, and I am eternally grateful," he added. "I am Tom Brady, and I am a Patriot."

With his induction, Brady became the 35th person to be enshrined at the Patriots Hall of Fame. Next, Brady is expected to be inducted in the prestigious NFL Hall of Fame in 2028, as a player must be inactive for five consecutive seasons to earn eligibility. That is, as long as he doesn't come out of retirement again, anyway.

But with a new career ahead of him as the lead color commentator for NFL on Fox this upcoming season, it seems as though Brady is officially headed for greener pastures.