Tommy DeVito Bio
Thomas Nathan DeVito, known professionally as Tommy DeVito, is an American professional football quarterback for the New England Patriots of the National Football League (NFL). Born and raised in New Jersey, DeVito became a fan favorite during his time with the New York Giants thanks to his Italian heritage, quick rise from undrafted free agent to starter, and a memorable rookie season that earned him national recognition.
After playing five seasons of college football for the Syracuse Orange and one season with the Illinois Fighting Illini, DeVito signed with the New York Giants as an undrafted free agent in 2023. He currently serves as a depth quarterback for the New England Patriots, with the 2025 NFL season underway.
Early Life and Background
Thomas Nathan DeVito was born on August 7, 1998, in Livingston, New Jersey. He grew up in nearby Cedar Grove and attended Don Bosco Preparatory High School, a powerhouse program located in Ramsey, New Jersey. From an early age, DeVito showed promise as a quarterback and quickly became one of the most talked-about high school prospects in the state.
During his junior year at Don Bosco Prep, DeVito passed for 1,800 yards and 18 touchdowns, earning first team All-State honors from MSG and second team All-Metro recognition. His Ironmen went 9-3 and won the Non-Public 4 state championship that year. Following his junior season, DeVito competed in the prestigious Elite 11 quarterback showcase and was named a finalist, further cementing his status as a top national recruit.
As a senior, DeVito passed for 2,005 yards, 16 touchdowns, and five interceptions while playing in the Under Armour All-American Game. At the end of his junior year, he committed to play college football at Syracuse University, bringing his high school career to a close as one of the most decorated quarterbacks in Don Bosco Prep history.
Path to American Football
DeVito arrived at Syracuse University and redshirted his true freshman season, developing behind veteran starter Eric Dungey. As a redshirt freshman, he appeared in eight games in a backup role, completing 44 of 87 passes for 525 yards and four touchdowns while learning the Orange offensive system. His first significant action came on September 15, 2018, against the Florida State Seminoles, when he entered the game after an injury to Dungey and threw for 144 yards and a touchdown while also rushing for a score in a 30-7 Syracuse win.
By his redshirt sophomore season, DeVito had emerged as a productive passer, throwing for 2,360 yards and 19 touchdowns while adding 122 rushing yards and two scores on the ground. He passed for a career-high 330 yards against the Maryland Terrapins. In 2020, he started the season strong with 593 passing yards and four touchdowns through the first four games before suffering a season-ending leg injury against Duke.
Entering his fifth year at Syracuse, DeVito served as the starter to begin the 2021 season, but head coach Dino Babers also planned to give meaningful playing time to dual-threat transfer Garrett Shrader. Six weeks into the season, DeVito entered the NCAA transfer portal and ultimately landed at the University of Illinois, where he was named the Fighting Illini’s starting quarterback. In 2022, he passed for 2,650 yards, 15 touchdowns, and four interceptions while rushing for six scores, highlighted by three rushing touchdowns in a 34-10 victory over Wisconsin. An NCAA waiver request for an additional year of eligibility was denied, ending his college career.
Tommy DeVito Career
Early Career (2023)
Following the 2023 NFL Draft, Tommy DeVito was signed by the New York Giants as an undrafted free agent on April 29, 2023. He was waived on August 29 but re-signed to the practice squad the following day, keeping his professional dream alive. The Giants promoted him back to the active roster on October 31, after an injury to Tyrod Taylor thrust him into the backup role behind starter Daniel Jones.
DeVito made his NFL debut in Week 8 against the New York Jets, completing 2 of 7 passes and scoring a six-yard rushing touchdown. The following week, he entered the game against the Las Vegas Raiders in relief of an injured Jones and threw for 175 yards and his first career NFL passing touchdown. With Jones suffering a torn ACL, head coach Brian Daboll named DeVito the starting quarterback in Week 10 against the Dallas Cowboys, where he threw for 86 yards and two touchdowns in a 49-17 loss.
New York Giants Breakthrough (2023-2024)
DeVito’s breakout came in Week 11 against the Washington Commanders, when he completed 18 of 26 passes for 246 yards and three touchdowns while being sacked nine times. The Giants won 31-19, making DeVito the first winning quarterback to be sacked nine or more times in a single game since 1992. He followed that with a 10-7 victory over the New England Patriots in Week 12, completing 17 of 25 passes for 191 yards and a touchdown.
After a bye week, DeVito led the Giants to a thrilling 24-22 comeback win over the Green Bay Packers, going 17-for-21 for 158 passing yards and a touchdown while rushing for 71 yards on 10 carries. He drove the team down the field in the final two minutes to set up the game-winning field goal by Randy Bullock as time expired, earning NFC Offensive Player of the Week honors. He led New York to a third straight win the following week.
By the end of his rookie year, DeVito had become a cultural phenomenon, embraced by fans for his proud Italian heritage and known for his chicken cutlet comments. The nickname “Tommy Cutlets” stuck, and he won the Bud Light Celebration of the Year award at the 13th NFL Honors. In 2024, after a 2-8 start, the Giants benched Daniel Jones and reinstalled DeVito as the starter, but a forearm injury and concussion limited his action before he was eventually replaced by Tyrod Taylor.
New England Patriots Era (2025-Present)
On August 26, 2025, DeVito was waived by the New York Giants, ending his two-year tenure with the team. The very next day, on August 27, 2025, the New England Patriots claimed him off waivers, adding him as the third-string quarterback behind starter Drake Maye and veteran Joshua Dobbs. The move gave DeVito a fresh start in a new organization with an established young franchise quarterback ahead of him.
DeVito signed a two-year, $7.4 million extension with the Patriots on March 6, 2026, signaling the team’s confidence in retaining him as a key depth piece. Through his first games in New England, DeVito has served in a reserve role, providing experience and preparation in practice while learning the offensive system.
Driving Style and Strengths
DeVito is known for his poise in the pocket, mobility to escape pressure, and ability to extend plays with his legs, as evidenced by his 71 rushing yards against the Packers in 2023. He displays a quick release and confidence in high-pressure situations, demonstrated by his game-winning drive in Green Bay. His football IQ and Italian-accented charisma also made him a unique locker-room presence, building chemistry quickly with teammates and coaches.
Notable Events and Milestones
DeVito’s most memorable professional moment came in his first start against the Washington Commanders, when he set an NFL record by being the first winning quarterback since 1992 to be sacked nine times. He also earned the Bud Light Celebration of the Year award in 2024, a fan-driven honor that reflected his cultural impact during his rookie season. The 24-22 comeback win over the Packers in Week 13 of 2023 stands as the defining early signature performance of his career.
Tommy DeVito Career Wins
During his NFL career, Tommy DeVito has earned multiple victories as a starting quarterback, including wins over the Washington Commanders, New England Patriots, and Green Bay Packers during the 2023 season.
New York Giants Highlights
DeVito’s most celebrated stretch came in November and December of 2023, when he led the Giants to three consecutive victories. His first NFL win came against the Washington Commanders, and he added wins over the New England Patriots and Green Bay Packers. The Packers victory was his most dramatic, capped by a last-minute drive that set up a game-winning field goal as time expired.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond his NFL starts, DeVito recorded notable college victories, including a 30-7 upset of Florida State in 2018 and a 34-10 win over Wisconsin in 2022 while at Illinois. His 2022 season at Illinois produced his most productive college year statistically, with 2,650 passing yards and 15 touchdowns.
Tommy DeVito Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
DeVito grew up in a tight-knit Italian-American household in Cedar Grove, New Jersey, near his parents’ home in Livingston. He has a younger brother, Max, who played wide receiver at Salve Regina University.
Personal Life
DeVito resided with his parents during his 2023 rookie season with the Giants, a choice that contributed to his popular “Tommy Cutlets” nickname. By the 2024 season, endorsement deals, including a Super Bowl commercial, allowed him to move into his own residence. He continues to honor his Italian heritage publicly, a trait that helped shape his public image early in his NFL career.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 NFL season began with uncertainty for Tommy DeVito after the New York Giants waived him in late August, ending his two-year run with the team. Claimed the very next day by the New England Patriots, DeVito joined a quarterback room led by Drake Maye, positioning himself as a valuable veteran reserve with starting experience.
In his new role with the Patriots, DeVito has continued to develop within the team’s offensive scheme, learning behind Maye and Joshua Dobbs. While serving primarily in a depth capacity, his two-year contract extension signed in March 2026 reflects the Patriots’ confidence in his long-term fit with the franchise.
Looking ahead, DeVito is expected to remain a key part of New England’s quarterback depth chart while competing for a larger role if injuries or performance issues arise. His mix of experience, mobility, and familiarity with the offensive system makes him a strong candidate for future starting opportunities, whether in New England or elsewhere.
