Parents discuss Giants QB Tommy DeVito becoming local sensation

The parents of New York Giants undrafted rookie quarterback Tommy DeVito opened up about the native of Cedar Grove, N.J., becoming a fan favorite ahead of the "Monday Night Football" game between the 4-8 Giants and 6-6 Green Bay Packers at MetLife Stadium. 

"It's unimaginable," Tom DeVito, Tommy's father and a New Jersey plumber, said about his son's rise during a chat with ESPN's Jordan Raanan. "You can't even wrap your head around it. ... You can't even dream this up, let alone have it. I keep asking my friends, 'Am I dead? Are you not telling me that I'm dead?' Because I can't wrap my head around this support, the outpour of love. I've never seen anything like it."

Tommy DeVito went from the practice squad to QB1 on New York's depth chart when both starter Daniel Jones and primary backup Tyrod Taylor were sidelined with injuries. Jones suffered a season-ending torn ACL on Nov. 5, and Giants head coach Brian Daboll revealed last week coming off the bye that DeVito will start over a medically cleared Taylor (rib cage injury) against Green Bay. 

Steve Serby of the New York Post noted how New Jersey delis are honoring the 25-year-old signal-caller with food specials that feature the chicken cutlets DeVito enjoys while living at home with his parents. As Lanette Espy of News 12 New Jersey mentioned, the DeVito clan took in a late November event at Primo Hoagies in Wayne, N.J., which included the first-year pro meeting with Giants fans happy to see a local kid thriving with the club. 

"We're on cloud nine," Lexy, Tommy's mother, told Raanan at the meet-and-greet. "Just to have that love ... look at the line. It's about 800 people here. It's amazing. We pulled in the parking lot and I was crying. He's like, 'Stop. Your makeup.' I know, but it's so much love for my kid, who is just a rookie. He's humble. He loves to play ball. He's a good boy. It just couldn't have happened to someone better."

Heading into Monday's contest, Tommy DeVito completed 66-of-105 passes (62.9%) for 697 yards with seven touchdowns and three interceptions across five games this season. He also rushed for 83 yards and a score on 21 carries. 

As of Monday afternoon, the ESPN Football Power Index gave the Giants a 0.2% chance to make the playoffs. Tommy suggested to Raanan that he's already thinking about a role with the franchise beyond Week 18 even though Jones is working toward being cleared by training camp. 

"It's more people saying it than me, like, 'You've solidified yourself for a little while in this league,'" Tommy DeVito explained. "But [I'm] trying to solidify myself for a long while in this league."

For now, Giants fans hope to see plenty of Tommy's signature celebration across the club's final five games of what's been a disappointing season for the organization.