Giants Face Familiar Foe in Tommy DeVito Ahead of MNF Showdown with Patriots
The New York Giants are no strangers to quarterback instability. Since Eli Manning hung up his cleats in 2019, the team has been searching for a steady hand under center.
Daniel Jones had his shot, but the results never quite matched the expectations. Now, the Giants are hoping they’ve finally found their guy in Jaxson Dart - a bold first-round pick they traded up to get in this year’s NFL Draft.
But as the Giants prepare to face the New England Patriots on Monday Night Football, they’ll be staring down a quarterback they know all too well - and one who isn’t exactly holding back.
DeVito’s Revenge?
Tommy DeVito, once a fan-favorite in New York, is now wearing Patriots red, white, and blue. And ahead of this week’s matchup, he made it clear he’s not looking to do his former team any favors. When asked about facing the Giants, DeVito didn’t mince words: “I hope we blow them out.”
That’s a sharp turn from the quarterback who once had MetLife buzzing with his underdog story. DeVito started eight games across two seasons with the Giants, going 3-5 while throwing for 1,358 yards, eight touchdowns, and three interceptions.
He completed over 65% of his passes and brought a spark during a bleak stretch in 2023. But that spark came with unintended consequences.
The Maye Miss
DeVito’s three wins as a starter in 2023 pushed the Giants just far enough up the standings to knock them out of the top three picks in the 2024 NFL Draft - a draft position that could’ve landed them Drake Maye. Instead, the Patriots pounced, landing Maye and pairing him with new head coach Mike Vrabel.
The results? A 10-2 record and one of the most promising young quarterbacks in the league.
It’s a twist of fate that hasn’t gone unnoticed by Giants fans. Some still hold DeVito partly responsible for the team missing out on Maye, and his recent comments certainly won’t help mend fences.
From Fan Favorite to Forgotten Man
DeVito’s departure from the Giants this past offseason wasn’t exactly shocking, but it was telling. The writing was on the wall early in training camp when Russell Wilson - a surprise addition - was named the starter before anyone had even taken a preseason snap.
Jaxson Dart, as the team’s first-round pick, was always going to be on the roster. Jameis Winston, brought in on a two-year deal, impressed in the preseason.
That left DeVito as the odd man out.
The Giants waived him, and the Patriots quickly claimed him - adding a quarterback with inside knowledge of the Giants’ locker room and playbook, even if he’s currently third on the depth chart behind Maye and Joshua Dobbs.
A Subtle Role, But a Strategic One
DeVito isn’t expected to see the field Monday night, but that doesn’t mean he’s not involved. He’s been helping the Patriots coaching staff with player breakdowns and personnel tendencies - the kind of behind-the-scenes intel that can offer a slight edge in preparation.
“I can help player breakdowns and give my two cents here and there,” DeVito said. “I’ll help in any way I can.”
His contributions may be quiet, but they’re meaningful - especially against a team he knows intimately.
A New Era in New York?
While the Giants didn’t land Maye, they didn’t walk away empty-handed. Their consolation prize?
Wide receiver Malik Nabers - a dynamic playmaker who’s already making noise. And with Dart showing flashes of potential, there’s cautious optimism that the franchise might finally be turning the corner at quarterback.
Still, the sting of missing out on Maye lingers, especially when he’s thriving elsewhere. Monday night’s game isn’t just a meeting between two struggling teams and two rebuilding franchises - it’s a glimpse at what could’ve been, what is, and what might still be.
And for Tommy DeVito, it’s personal.