“More like Randall Cunningham”: Internet in frenzy as Patriots unveil Tom Brady statue 

The New England Patriots honored Tom Brady with a 12-foot bronze statue outside Gillette Stadium on August 8, 2025. The event took place before a preseason game and drew a large crowd of fans and former teammates. Patriots owner Robert Kraft praised Brady’s career and his impact on the team and the region.

Brady, who won six Super Bowls with the Patriots over two decades, spoke to the crowd with humility and humor. He joked about his slow 40-yard dash time and the rarity of having a statue made during one’s lifetime. Fans frequently chanted his name during the ceremony.

The statue, created by sculptor Jeff Buccacio, is the first in Patriots history dedicated to a player. It was designed with details linked to Brady’s career, such as its height, base design, and symbolic numbers.

After photos and videos of the statue appeared online, social media erupted with mixed reactions. Many fans noted that the statue’s face did not closely resemble Brady.

"Am I the only one who thinks this looks more like Randall Cunningham than Tom Brady?," said a fan

"Whoever designed that statue should be fired," said another fan.

"Looks nothing like him this is bad all around guys please re-do," commented a netizen.

"Who approved that statue lmao," commented another netizen.

"It doesn't look like him," said a netizen.

"The Pats really fumbled this one. Tom deserve a sculpture that scream GOAT. What a shame," remarked a netizen.

---

Symbolism behind Tom Brady's statue

The statue’s design holds several references to Tom Brady’s career with the Patriots. Standing at 12 feet tall, it reflects his jersey number. Including its base, the statue reaches 17 feet, representing the 17 AFC East titles Brady helped win.

Its six-sided base stands for his six Super Bowl wins with the Patriots. The Buccaneers win in 2021 was not included in the design. Sculptor Jeff Buccacio, a lifelong Patriots fan, worked to combine both scale and symbolism in the piece.

The statue’s unveiling marked the first time the franchise honored a player in this way. It was placed in Patriots Plaza, where fans can visit year-round.

Read More: Sarah Paulson boards Baby Doe as executive producer, unveiling chilling cold case

---

Ceremony details and speeches

This ceremony was done prior to the preseason of the Patriots. The fans were not the only group celebrating the moment because other teammates as well as coaches and staff who used to be with him were there as well to join them in the joy.

The reason was that the event was set up to honor and to gather.

Robert Kraft was the first presenter and he tried to emphasize the significance of Tom Brady to the franchise as well as the New England region. He described the success of the quarterback as one that took the team in a new direction.

Even the speech of Tom Brady interwove gratitude and humor. He accepted the award with humor making fun of himself and his combine 40-yard-dash time and joking about becoming an icon in bronze.

Read More: ‘God speed you on this next voyage’: Tom Hanks remembers late astronaut Jim Lovell

---

The statue of Tom Brady was both a proud moment to the Patriots fans as well as a trend on the internet. Although the tribute was made to commemorate one of the greatest quarterbacks in the history of NFL, the internet took humor in its facial likeness.