The New York Giants had great expectations going into the 2023 NFL season. After making their first postseason trip in six years, they believed they would advance further in the NFC standings.
The football gods, however, had other ideas. After suffering multiple long-term injuries, including to their starting quarterbacks, Daniel Jones and Tyrod Taylor, the squad went back to their previous practices.
That brought attention to an odd local hero. An undrafted local free agent named Tommy DeVito, who attended Syracuse and Illinois for his college football, intervened and started a mini-hysteria similar to what Jeremy Lin caused with the Knicks a few years prior.
This season, DeVito had nine appearances for the Giants, starting six of them. As a starter, he had a 3-3 record. For an unknown, he performed admirably, and his performance in the Giants’ 24-22 Week 14 Monday night triumph over the Green Bay Packers earned him the title of NFC Offensive Player of the Week.
The colorful tale of DeVito is infused with Jersey regional flair and draws from his family’s Italian-American ancestry.
It’s true that he still resides at his parents’ home, where his mother still prepares his meals and washes his clothes. He attributes a large portion of his rapid climb to popularity to others in his immediate vicinity.
DeVit said to FOX, “It was good, but it was good because I have a small circle.”
My teammates, friends, and family were a huge help in getting me through it all. It goes without saying that I have never witnessed anything as bizarre as what happened, especially considering how quickly it did so. Agents and the marketing team handled a lot of that really well.
Living at home was a major factor, particularly for me at the moment. They were genuinely able to relieve me of a lot of my burdens, which allowed me to concentrate on football and relish the moment rather than feeling overburdened in any kind.
Without a doubt, the young guy who would soon earn the nickname “Tommy Cutlets” in honor of his favorite sandwich will return to the Giants for the upcoming season. Though he experienced his moment of glory, he still views himself as a rising talent and will continue to strive for improvement.
