Patriots waive waiting period, will induct Tom Brady into team Hall of Fame on 6/12/24

The move is a gracious gesture to Brady, who brought 20 years of joy in a career that may never be replicated again.

Brady was drafted as the 199th pick in the 2000 NFL Draft by New England with little to no expectation. But, after an injury to star QB Drew Bledsoe, Brady took over as the starter and quickly excelled. Just two years after being drafted, in 2002, Brady led the team to their first Super Bowl win in a thriller against the St. Louis Rams. 

Brady would go on to hoist five more Lombardi's, winning three MVP awards along the way. His time in New England came to an end when he signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the 2020 offseason. Brady's passing yardage (74,571), touchdown passes (541) and completions (6,377) with New England are all franchise records.

A significant reason for New England's success was not only Brady's talents, but his selflessness in signing contracts. According to Business Insider, Brady gave up nearly $60 million in his time with the Patriots to help New England build a stronger roster around him. 

Because of his off-field and on-field actions, Brady is widely accepted as the greatest player in NFL history.

Kraft said he would be inducting Brady on 6/12 next year to honor the six Lombardi's No. 12 hoisted during his unforgettable time in New England.