Tommy DeVito must have made quite an impression on the New England Patriots in last week’s preseason finale.
The Patriots claimed DeVito off of waivers Wednesday, a day after the fan-favorite quarterback was cut by the Giants.
DeVito is expected to serve as Patriots’ third-string quarterback, behind Drake Maye and backup Joshua Dobbs.
“Strengthening our roster, certainly, at a premium position,” Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel said Wednesday.
New England’s claim officially ends DeVito’s time with the Giants, with whom he spent his first two NFL seasons.
DeVito did not make the Giants’ initial 53-man roster this year after their offseason additions of quarterbacks Russell Wilson, Jameis Winston and rookie Jaxson Dart. DeVito could have returned to the Giants’ practice squad had he cleared waivers.
“We’ve got three on the active roster, so it can be difficult sometimes, depending how the roster shapes up, where you have some needs, where you decide to go deep at certain positions,” Giants general manager Joe Schoen said Wednesday.
“It just worked out that [way]. We’re happy for Tommy. He was claimed by New England. I’m not sure how many teams put in claims. … We would have loved to have him back, but he was claimed, and we wish him nothing but the best.”
DeVito, who hails from Cedar Grove, N.J., became a revelation in 2023 when he was forced into starting duty as an undrafted rookie and led the Giants on a three-game winning streak.
He earned the nickname “Tommy Cutlets” due to his Italian heritage and affinity for his mother’s chicken cutlets.
DeVito, 27, ultimately started eight games over his two seasons with the Giants, going 3-5. He totaled 1,358 passing yards with eight touchdowns against three interceptions in 12 appearances.
Wednesday’s move came six days after DeVito played the entire second half in the Giants’ 42-10 preseason win over the Patriots, completing 17-of-20 passes for 198 yards and three touchdowns without a turnover.
“Any time you go on the field, no matter where you are, especially being undrafted, you’re performing for all 31 other organizations as well,” DeVito said afterward.
“It’s important to do that, but as well as [to] be where your feet are. Right now, this is where I am, so that’s what I’m going to do each day in, day out, and then I’ll let my agent and everything else handle itself if that time were to come.”
The Giants are set to face the Patriots in Foxborough, Mass., in Week 13 of the regular season.
https://www.courant.com/2025/08/27/patriots-claim-tommy-devito-after-he-was-cut-by-the-giants/
