The Italian flag emojis have mostly disappeared from the local Twitter timelines. If you walk into a deli in North Jersey today, you’re more likely to hear a debate about Jaxson Dart’s ceiling than a breakdown of a third-stringer’s favorite breading recipe.
Honestly, the NY Giants Tommy DeVito era feels like a fever dream we all shared during a particularly cold winter.
One minute, he’s the "Passing Paisano," kissing his agent Sean Stellato on the sidelines while wearing a black turtleneck that looked like it was lifted straight from a Sopranos wardrobe truck. The next? He’s a footnote in the New England Patriots’ depth chart, sitting behind Drake Maye and Joshua Dobbs as an emergency QB3.
It's wild how fast the NFL moves. You’re the king of the world on Monday Night Football, and eighteen months later, you’re just a guy trying to stick on a roster 200 miles away.
The Rise and Fall of the Cutlet Empire
Let’s be real: Tommy DeVito shouldn't have been there in the first place. He was an undrafted free agent out of Illinois. He was living in his parents' house in Cedar Grove, New Jersey. He literally told reporters he liked living at home because his mom still made his bed and cooked him chicken cutlets.
That was the hook. It wasn't just football; it was a vibe.
When Daniel Jones went down with the ACL tear in 2023, the Giants were a mess. Tyrod Taylor got hurt, too. Suddenly, this kid with the heavy accent and the pinched-finger hand gesture was starting against the Dallas Cowboys. He got smoked in that first start—86 yards and a loss. But then, something clicked.
He went on a three-game winning streak. He beat the Commanders. He beat the Patriots. Then came the peak: a 24-22 win over the Green Bay Packers on national television.
He was named NFC Offensive Player of the Week. He was the first undrafted rookie to have three straight games with a passer rating over 100 since the merger. For a few weeks, he wasn't just a backup; he was the most famous person in New York.
Why the Magic Faded
The league is cruel. It’s basically a giant film-study machine designed to find out exactly what you can’t do.
By the time the Giants played the Saints and the Eagles late in 2023, the book was out on DeVito. Defensive coordinators realized if you pressured him, he’d take the sack rather than throw it away. In that Commanders win, he was sacked nine times. Nine! He won anyway, which is a statistical anomaly that shouldn't even be possible in the modern NFL.
Eventually, the novelty wore off. Brian Daboll benched him for Tyrod Taylor during the Christmas Day game against Philly. The "Tommy Cutlets" mania hit a wall.
Then came the 2025 offseason. The Giants didn't just move on; they scorched the earth. They signed Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston. They drafted Jaxson Dart in the first round.
DeVito actually stayed around longer than people think. He re-signed as an exclusive rights free agent in March 2025. He even played well in the 2025 preseason—going 17-of-20 for 198 yards and three scores in the finale.
But you can't carry four quarterbacks. You just can't. On August 26, 2025, the Giants officially waived him.
Where is Tommy DeVito Now?
If you're looking for him on Sundays in 2026, you’re going to have to look at the New England Patriots’ inactive list.
After being cut by Big Blue, he was claimed off waivers by the Pats. It was a bit of a "revenge" move in the eyes of some fans, especially after he reportedly told people he hoped New England would "blow them out" when the two teams met in late 2025.
As of January 2026, his stats have stayed frozen.
- 1,358 passing yards
- 8 touchdowns
- 3 interceptions
- 3-5 record as a starter
He hasn't taken a regular-season snap for New England. He’s the "Emergency QB." Basically, he’s there in case the world ends.
It’s a sobering reminder of the gap between a "cultural phenomenon" and a "franchise cornerstone." Jaxson Dart is currently the future in New York. He’s the guy making vows about the 2026 season and leading the team in the locker room. DeVito is the guy who provided a spark when the house was already on fire.
What Most People Get Wrong About the NY Giants Tommy DeVito Story
There’s this narrative that he was just a meme. A joke. A marketing gimmick for chicken parm.
That’s actually not fair to him.
DeVito actually played some decent ball. He completed 65.3% of his passes. He didn’t turn the ball over much—only three interceptions in over 200 attempts. Compared to some of the QB play we've seen from "highly touted" prospects lately, DeVito was actually serviceable.
The problem wasn't his talent; it was his ceiling. He’s 6'2", 210 pounds, with an average arm. In a league that wants 6'5" monsters who can run like deer and throw 70 yards off their back foot, "serviceable" usually gets you a spot on the practice squad.
Also, the off-field stuff got a little messy. Remember the pizzeria drama? His agent allegedly doubled an appearance fee at a local spot called Coniglio’s Old Fashioned Pizzeria, leading to a PR nightmare. It made the "local hero" look a bit like a guy trying to cash in before the clock struck midnight.
The Legacy of Tommy Cutlets
So, was it worth it?
If you ask a Giants fan who sat through the 2023 season, they’ll tell you yes. That Monday night win over Green Bay was the only time MetLife Stadium felt alive that year. It gave people a reason to wear jerseys and cheer during a 6-11 season that was otherwise a slow-motion car crash.
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But for the NY Giants Tommy DeVito is now a trivia question.
He represents a specific moment in New York sports history when we all decided to lean into the stereotype and have some fun. He was the underdog’s underdog.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Analysts:
- Don't mistake a hot streak for a breakout: DeVito's 2023 run was fueled by a high completion percentage on short throws and a defense that forced turnovers. When the defense regressed, his lack of "big play" ability was exposed.
- Roster construction matters: The Giants' decision to bring in Wilson, Winston, and Dart simultaneously in 2025 shows they viewed DeVito as a "floor" player, not a "ceiling" player.
- The "Emergency QB" rule is his lifeline: Under the NFL's current rules, teams can dress a third QB without using a roster spot on game day. This is exactly why DeVito still has a job in New England. He's a cheap, experienced insurance policy.
If you’re still holding onto that #15 jersey, keep it. It’s a great piece of memorabilia from a time when a kid from Jersey actually made us believe in the "Passing Paisano." Just don't expect to see him starting for Big Blue ever again. The team has moved into the Jaxson Dart era, and the cutlets have finally gone cold.
To stay updated on his status, keep an eye on the Patriots' weekly transactions, as he's currently hovering on the edge of the active roster as a restricted depth piece.