Aug 8, 2025; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; Retired New England Patriot Hall of Famer Tom Brady speaks during a statue unveiling before a game against the Washington Commanders at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Paul Rutherford-Imagn Images Paul Rutherford-Imagn Images

Commanders front office attends Tom Brady's statue unveiling

Originally posted on Washington Commanders on SI
By Caleb Skinner | Last updated Aug 9, 2025 1:33 PM ET

Foxborough -- The preseason matchup between the Washington Commanders and the New England Patriots paled in comparison to the pregame festivities as legendary quarterback Tom Brady had his bronze statue unveiled outside of Gillette Stadium.

Part of the Commanders' staff, including offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury, special teams coordinator Larry Izzo, and personnel analyst Wes Welker, along with players including Deebo Samuel and Mike Sainristil, made their way to the ceremony to celebrate and show respect to the greatest to ever do it.

Kingsbury, Welker and Izzo went to go watch the Brady statue unveiling. What a cool night for those guys to be here with someone they know so well. pic.twitter.com/6hi1fzG9Nj
— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) August 8, 2025

Deebo Samuel and Mikey Sainristil went out to watch the Tom Brady statue unveiling. That’s respect. So cool. pic.twitter.com/NPcyRgMYv8
— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) August 8, 2025

Commanders Lose Big Following Tom Brady Statue Unveiling

The Commanders' staff that made their way over to the event have close ties with Brady from their playing days together in New England.

Kingsbury was drafted by the Pats in 2003, spending time as Brady's backup.

Welker was one of Brady's favorite targets and one of the most productive wide receivers in Brady's career. Welker and Brady set multiple NFL records, including Welker's then-record 123 receptions in a single season (2009).

Izzo was a core special teamer for the Patriots from 2001 to 2008, showcasing his leadership alongside Brady as they won three Super Bowls together.

It was a cool event for not only the coaches, but the players as well. Seeing current Commanders players show respect to the greatest to ever put on an NFL uniform is a pretty cool thing.

Unfortunately, the good vibes that began the evening didn't carry over to the first preseason game of the season for Washington. They held out 30 players from the match, including all starters, which ultimately led to them dropping the matchup 48-18.

The Commanders are hoping that they can achieve what Brady has so many times before them, a Super Bowl championship. They believe they have the makings of a true Super Bowl contender in 2025, but they will have to show resilience through a grinding regular season.