Tom Brady to Be Honored by Patriots Before 2023 Home Opener Following NFL Retirement

New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft announced the team plans to honor legendary quarterback Tom Brady ahead of their 2023 home opener, which will reportedly be against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 1, according to Andrew Callahan of the Boston Herald.

"I invited him back to come here and be with us in the opening game," Kraft said Thursday on Good Morning Football. "The first of many celebrations."

Callahan reported the Patriots will host the Eagles in a Super Bowl 52 rematch before the Miami Dolphins come to town in Week 2.

Once he retired—for good this time—a return to Gillette Stadium was inevitable for Brady.

The 45-year-old didn't seem to leave New England on the best of terms.

ESPN's Seth Wickersham published detailed reports about the increasingly fraught dynamic between Brady, Kraft and head coach Bill Belichick. Once the 2020 offseason rolled around, it looked like all parties involved were ready to move on.

In this case, time healed the wounds. In February, Kraft was emphatic about his desire to properly recognize Brady's contributions to the Patriots during his 20-year run.

"We will do everything in our power to bring him back, have him sign off as a Patriot and find ways to honor him for many years to come," he told CNN's Jill Martin one day after Brady retired for a second time.

Kraft also indicated he wanted to sign Brady to a ceremonial one-day contract that would allow him to officially retire with the franchise.

Brady's name is all over New England's record books, and it'll be a long time before anybody overtakes him. He left having thrown for 74,571 yards and 541 touchdowns, and with the former being more than two times as the next closest quarterback and the latter being more than three times as the runner-up.

Then there are the six Super Bowl titles Brady helped to deliver. The Patriots' relative lack of success following his departure should only deepen the appreciation for their dynastic run.

As yet, it's unclear how specifically Kraft intends to honor the surefire Hall of Famer. Surely New England will retire his No. 12 jersey at some point, and a statue outside of Gillette Stadium could follow.