Tommy DeVito is stepping back under center for the New York Giants. The second-year quarterback will replace former starter Daniel Jones in Sunday’s game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
DeVito made an impression last season, appearing in nine games and throwing for 1,101 yards, eight touchdowns, and three interceptions.
During his six starts, he delivered seven touchdown passes against just one interception, leading the Giants to a 3-3 record in that span. However, he was benched in favor of Tyrod Taylor after Week 16.
The undrafted rookie from New Jersey impressed fans last season, sparking “DeVito-mania” during a stretch of three consecutive wins in late November and early December.
From the revelation that “Tommy Cutlets” still lived at home to signing autographs on white tank tops at a strip mall, and even to his agent becoming a viral sensation, DeVito’s rise was anything but ordinary.
This time, though, DeVito says he’s fully focused on football.
“The external stuff will be on pause,” he stated on Wednesday. “I already had talks with everybody around me, my inner circle. I want it to stay very tight and make sure that everything is about production on Sunday.”
Here’s a look back at the top moments—both on and off the field—from DeVito’s first stint as the Giants’ starting quarterback
Living at Home: A Quarterback’s Smart Move
DeVito became a headline before even starting his first game, thanks to the revelation that he still lived with his parents.
When asked about the setup, then-Giants running back Saquon Barkley was incredulous: “Living at home?”
For DeVito, the decision was a no-brainer. Teammate Justin Pugh chimed in with support.
“That is the greatest. You know what, smart!” Pugh said. “Saving his money. Genius! That’s the one thing I’d say from a financial standpoint. Your mom helping with your wash, making sure you’re up on time, no distractions—unbelievable.”
DeVito explained it simply, emphasizing the practical advantages of staying at home.
The Win That Sparked DeVito-Mania
DeVito’s first start came on November 12 against the Dallas Cowboys, stepping in due to injuries to Jones and Taylor.
It was the first time in the common draft era (since 1967) that the Giants started an undrafted rookie in a non-strike game.
Although humbled in a 49-17 loss to Dallas, DeVito rebounded the following week, leading the Giants to a 31-19 victory over the Washington Commanders. He threw for 246 yards and three touchdowns, cementing his potential.
Through his first two starts, DeVito logged five touchdown passes—the most by any Giants quarterback in their first two starts since records began in 1950, according to ESPN Research.
Barkley praised DeVito’s attitude after the win:
“For me, even the game where [it was] the first game he got in, he might have not thrown the ball that much, [but] just the confidence he came in with. The swagger that he has. I thought it goes a long way, especially with me.”
Tommy Cutlets: A Cultural Phenomenon
As DeVito continued to win, his legend only grew.
After securing his second straight victory, DeVito hosted an autograph session at Primo Hoagies, a local sandwich shop.
For three hours, fans lined up with items ranging from shoes to tank tops for him to sign. Many posed for photos making the Italian pinched-fingers hand gesture—a nod to DeVito’s celebration style and Italian heritage.
One particularly enthusiastic fan shouted, “Put it up for the f—ing cutlet king!”
A Monday Night to Remember
DeVito’s hype peaked during a Monday Night Football showdown against the Green Bay Packers in Week 14.
Trailing 22-21 with just 1:33 left, DeVito orchestrated a clutch 8-play, 57-yard drive culminating in a walk-off field goal.
He went 4-for-4 for 53 yards during the sequence, becoming just the third undrafted rookie quarterback in the common draft era to win three of his first four career starts, according to Elias Sports Bureau.
The moment featured a memorable celebration: DeVito’s agent, Sean Stellato, planting a kiss on DeVito’s father in jubilant delight.
The win left the Giants just one game behind five teams in the race for the NFC’s final wild-card spot.
Packers coach Matt LaFleur acknowledged DeVito’s determination, calling him a “hell of a competitor,” while Daboll offered a succinct endorsement:
“Earned the right to play [Monday], and earned the right to play next week. The kid’s done a good job.”
