In front of an enthusiastic crowd at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, Tom Brady was formally inducted into the New England Patriots Hall of Fame on Wednesday.

Patriots owner Robert Kraft stated that Brady’s No. 12 jersey will be retired and a 12-foot statue of the iconic quarterback will be revealed during the 2018 NFL season. Brady will also be inducted as the 35th player into the team’s Hall of Fame.

“Patriot Nation, it feels good to be home,” the 46-year-old said to a cheering audience of more than 60,000 people after accepting his red jacket.

“This evening marks a monumental moment in my life,” he continued. This is a celebration of 20 years spent in New England, where I play for the Patriots and for you, the NFL’s most devoted supporters.

“It’s always about we, and us, not me or mine,” Brady said, glancing up at the six Super Bowl banners that are hung up at the stadium.

“Since shared experiences are the foundation of relationships, my connections are the most meaningful aspects of my existence.

“I sincerely wish I had more time to devote to all of you. So how do I condense twenty years in New England into a little speech? It’s easy to answer: You can’t.

At the stadium that Brady spent 20 seasons calling home and where he won three MVP awards and six Super Bowls, it was an event filled with celebrities.

Among those in attendance were his former head coach Bill Belichick and former players Drew Bledsoe, Julian Edelman, and Randy Moss.

It “would be impossible to find better examples of men who embody that work ethic, integrity, purpose, determination, and discipline that it takes to be a champion in life,” Brady continued, thanking his coaches and teammates.

“We set the example,” Brady continued. “You never do anything significant in life by yourself. The Patriot Way is that. We were the first squad in New England history to play in the Super Bowl as a cohesive team rather than as individual players.

That’s who we are. History will never forget that we accomplished that and proved to be the greatest nation on Earth. It is the greatest honor of my life to be formally inducted into the victorious tradition of this incredible institution and to stand alongside these outstanding Patriot Hall of Famers.

“You make me feel small. You inspire me, and for that, I will always be grateful.

With the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Brady would win his seventh Super Bowl championship in 2021. He would go on to retire in 2023, having set nearly every passing record, including the regular season high for passing yards (89,214) and touchdowns (649). Moreover, he has the greatest number of victories (251) of any player in NFL history.

In closing his remarks, a moved Tom Brady declared, “I am Tom Brady, and I am a Patriot.”