The New England Patriots are planning another tribute to honor legendary quarterback Tom Brady this summer. A 12-foot bronze statue of the six-time Super Bowl champion will be unveiled outside the Patriots Hall of Fame at Patriot Place. But the timing of the ceremony has left many fans outraged.
Fans Slam Patriots’ Decision to Unveil Tom Brady’s Statue Before Preseason Game
The Patriots announced on June 12 — celebrated by the franchise as “Tom Brady Day”—that the statue will be unveiled on Aug. 8.
A legacy etched in bronze forever. @TomBrady’s statue will be unveiled on 8/8 prior to Patriots vs. Commanders. pic.twitter.com/mRfKkbqC7i
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) June 12, 2025
The event is scheduled to take place just before the team’s preseason opener against the Washington Commanders at Gillette Stadium.
The backlash isn’t about the statue itself, but about when it’s being unveiled. Fans flooded social media with strong reactions.
The fact they have the “GOAT’s” statue being unveiled before a pre season game is so disrespectful https://t.co/ycBEHEKK4g
— MRW 🔜 GOML (@MRW_SSB) June 12, 2025
One frustrated supporter wrote, “The fact they have the ‘GOAT’s’ statue being unveiled before a preseason game is so disrespectful.” Others echoed that sentiment, with one adding the comment, “Doing this in the preseason proves the Patriots think they’re not going to be good this year. UNDER.”
Doing this in the preseason proves the Patriots think they’re not going to be good this year. UNDER https://t.co/r0C1YHpYrd
— Matt Ford (@mmford10) June 12, 2025
The ceremony was originally intended to happen last season after Brady’s emotional induction into the Patriots Hall of Fame in June 2024. More than 60,000 fans packed Gillette Stadium for that event, which featured tributes from former teammates and even Bill Belichick. That night, the Patriots retired Brady’s No. 12 and announced plans for the statue.
However, Brady’s broadcasting duties kept him away from New England throughout 2024, which delayed the statue’s unveiling.
Now that Brady is available, the franchise is moving forward—but many fans believe the moment deserved a grander stage. One fan’s tweet simply read, “IN THE PRESEASON??????” Another asked, “During a preseason game?” The theme across social media was disappointment that the tribute wasn’t saved for a more significant occasion.
Honoring the GOAT before a preseason game…???
— Caymien (@caymiendavis) June 12, 2025
For many, placing that moment before a preseason game undermines the legacy it’s meant to celebrate. One tweet summed it up: “Honoring the GOAT before a preseason game…???”
Despite the criticism, the statue unveiling is another chapter in Brady’s iconic run with the Patriots. The former sixth-round pick famously replaced Drew Bledsoe in 2001 and won three Super Bowls in four years, changing the team’s trajectory.
Brady added three more titles and three NFL MVP awards in New England before earning one final ring with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
He retired after the 2022 season, and the Patriots waived their usual four-year waiting period to induct him into their Hall of Fame in 2024. His statue, now finally set for installation, will stand as a permanent reminder of his legacy.