Patriots' Tommy DeVito explains end of 'Tommy Cutlets' era

Back in February, New England Patriots backup quarterback Tommy DeVito acknowledged that he was glad to be "looked at as Tommy DeVito the football player and not 'Tommy Cutlets'" with his current employer. 

It sounds like the "Tommy Cutlets" era is truly over. 

Patriots have eliminated Tommy DeVito's "Tommy Cutlets" nickname for this

As Matt Ehalt of the New York Post explained, Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel spoke with reporters on Tuesday and referred to DeVito as "Two Chains." It seems that nickname has now stuck. 

"Originally, he was calling me 'Cutlets,'" DeVito said about Vrabel. "And then he saw me wearing two gold chains that I always have on, I never take them off, and that turned into 'Two Chains.' That’s how it is throughout the building now."

A New Jersey native, DeVito temporarily became a cult hero among New York Giants fans during the 2023 season when he went 3-1 across his first four starts as an undrafted free agent. Restaurants in the New Jersey/New York area began selling "Tommy Cutlets" sandwiches during the DeVito run that ended almost as quickly as it began. 

The Giants parted ways with DeVito last summer, and he ultimately ended up on the Patriots roster. The 28-year-old took no regular-season snaps with New England during the 2025 campaign, but he nevertheless signed a two-year deal to stay with the reigning AFC champions back in March. 

Tommy DeVito in "a different world" with Patriots this summer

"It’s a different world," DeVito said of his comfort level with the Patriots compared to where he was last September. "It’s one thing to be in the classroom and be in it and learn everything, but it’s another thing to get reps in it. Last year, I didn’t get any reps in the offense. My first rep was during (organized team activities). ...To grow from where I was in OTAs to where I am now, it’s a tremendous amount of growth, and that’s a testament to the coaches, the players around me pushing me and ultimately getting reps in it." 

DeVito seemingly is on track to enter the upcoming season as New England's QB2. That said, he shouldn't see any meaningful playing time during the campaign unless disaster strikes the Patriots regarding the health of starter and 2025 Most Valuable Player Award finalist Drake Maye.