Tom DeVito was aware that the time might arrive, but he was unable to get ready for it. When his son, Tommy DeVito, trotted onto the MetLife Stadium field to play quarterback for the New York Giants for the first time in the regular season, his knees started to shake.
“I thought I was gonna collapse in the stands,” Tom said of watching his son’s Week 8 debut, a relief appearance after Tyrod Taylor went down with an injury late in the first half against the Jets.
Injuries to Taylor and Daniel Jones eventually thrust the undrafted rookie into the starting role. The Cedar Grove, N.J., native played in three more games before finally making his home debut as the Giants starter in Week 12.
That meant Tommy would be unveiled during team introductions on a Sunday afternoon versus the New England Patriots.
,” Tom remarked, hesitating for a moment to find the words.
“That was it for me, when they announced him last and the standing ovation he received.”
Tom always thought his son would play in the NFL if given the opportunity. Even Tommy’s most ardent supporters find it hard to believe how his life has changed from Don Bosco Prep to Syracuse, then Illinois, where he never heard his name called during the NFL Draft, to becoming the biggest story in New York as the starting quarterback of his hometown team.
Tom remarked, “It turned into not a dream; it’s past the dream.” “That’s just a dream.”
