Tom Brady's Missing Super Bowl Jersey Found By FBI, NFL Security
BOSTON (CBS) -- Tom Brady's game-worn jersey went missing after his historic performance in Super Bowl LI. Locating that lost piece of memorabilia required the NFL to call in some big guns in the FBI.
And the big guns came through.
The NFL announced Monday morning that "through the cooperation of the NFL and New England Patriots' security teams, the FBI and other law enforcement authorities, the Super Bowl LI jersey worn last month by MVP Tom Brady has been recovered."
There's more to the story, too, as the NFL stated that Brady's Super Bowl XLIX jersey from the Patriots' win over the Seahawks was also missing and was also recovered in the search for the Super Bowl LI jersey.
"Also retrieved during the ongoing investigation was the jersey Brady wore in the Patriots' victory in Super Bowl XLIX against the Seattle Seahawks in 2015," the NFL announced. "The items were found in the possession of a credentialed member of the international media. Due to the ongoing investigation, we would refer any additional questions to the FBI."
Fox Sports' Jay Glazer was first to report the news, noting that the NFL and FBI were "in [the] process of returning to Patriots." Glazer later reported on FS1 that the jerseys "will be returned to the Patriots and Brady some time this week."
The jerseys are currently in the hands of the NFL and FBI in Boston as they work towards authenticating them, the Houston PD announced on Monday afternoon.
Tom Brady thanked the law enforcement agencies involved in the investigation. "I know they worked hard on this case – and it is very much appreciated," Brady said in a statement. "Hopefully when I get the jerseys back I can make something very positive come from this experience."
Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo said solving the case of a missing jersey obviously wasn't their top priority, but they're happy the situation has been resolved.
"It's like the Texas bravado," he said. "You came to the wrong state."
Glazer noted that the FBI became involved because the jersey was found on "foreign soil." Glazer said that the "NFL believes the jersey was stolen by someone posing as international media member."
CSNNE's Tom E. Curran said the Super Bowl XLIX jersey "apparently was taken by the same individual [as the Super Bowl LI jersey] and pawned outside the U.S."
Later on Monday, Glazer reported that the same culprit is also believed to have stolen Von Miller's cleats and helmet after the Broncos' victory in Super Bowl 50.
The missing jersey became a major story after the Patriots' overtime win over the Falcons. The Texas Rangers were called in to help the Houston Police Department.
The jersey was valued at $500,000.
Brady had joked a bit about the search, posting on Facebook a suspect board that pointed the finger at Julian Edelman, among other suspicious figures. Yet given the personal and professional significance of that fifth Super Bowl victory, it was clear that the jersey did mean a lot to the 39-year-old Brady.
