Patriots forced to put Tom Brady's return on hold until the 2025 season

After being formally honored by the New England Patriots this summer with a special retirement ceremony, Tom Brady was expected to return to Gillette Stadium at some point during the 2024 season. Because he was finally heading into the FOX Sports broadcast booth, he was expected to be on hand for at least one game this year.

That was expected to be the Patriots Week 2 game against the Seahawks; at least, that's what the organization believed would be the case, only for Brady to be assigned to a different game. Three weeks later, the former quarterback was scheduled to be calling their game against the Dolphins, but Tua Tagovailoa's injury changed plans yet again.

While that was disappointing for Patriots fans, it was more so for Robert Kraft and Co., who were planning to unveil the 12-foot-tall statue of Brady that the owner spoke about during the retirement ceremony this summer with him in attendance this season.

Because plans changed, so will the reveal of the statue at the stadium. ESPN's Mike Reiss revealed in his Sunday notes piece that the organization is now planning to hold off until the 2025 season in hopes that Brady will be in the booth for a game then.

"So, given that Brady is not expected to be in Foxboro this season, according to a source familiar with Brady's schedule, plans have now shifted to find a date in 2025 that best fits to properly honor him."

It's a bit risky to hold off since they won't know for quite some time if FOX will have the A-Team calling a Patriots game, especially since they aren't expected to be a dramatically better team next year, warranting the best broadcasting duo. However, not having Brady there for the unveiling wouldn't make a lot of sense, either, so waiting it is.

Hopefully, it will happen sooner rather than later. Patriots fans are eager to see what the statue will look like.

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