New England Patriots to honor Tom Brady at 2023 home opener

FOXBORO -- When the Patriots open their 2023 season at Gillette Stadium, there will be a special ceremony for the most important player in franchise history: Tom Brady.

The Patriots will face the Philadelphia Eagles in the home opener on September 10 at 4:25 p.m. 

Brady retired in February (for real this time, we think) after his 23-year career in the NFL. He spent the first two decades of his career in a New England uniform, winning six of his seven Super Bowls with the Patriots. 

READ: Full Patriots 2023 schedule

Patriots owner Robert Kraft announced on NFL Network's "Good Morning, Football" Thursday morning that he has invited Brady back to Gillette for this year's home opener, and the team will honor him for everything he accomplished during his 20 years as a Patriot.

Brady, of course, accepted the invite.

"The greatest player in the history of the game played right here in Foxboro, and I'm happy to tell you and your audience that I invited him back to come here and be with us at the opening game and let the fans in New England thank him for the great service he gave us for over 20 years," Kraft said Thursday. 

Fans predict the reaction at Gillette Stadium will be a mixed bag when he returns for the home opener. 

"I think people will be pretty mellow about it. I mean they've kind of gotten through the anger/denial/acceptance of him leaving," said Wilber Kim from Arlington. 

"You'll hear a couple boos. Couple disappointed, sad people in the stands," said Jordan Kelley from Melrose. 

"I think it'll be interesting to see how people react," said Deborah Carter from Lunenburg. She said she'll be cheering for him because of his countless accomplishments wearing a Patriots Jersey. "You can't deny that. You can't just dismiss that," she said. 

This will not be the only time that the Patriots honor Brady in the near future.

"It will be the beginning of many celebrations to honor Tom Brady and say thank you for what he did for us," added Kraft.