BREAKING: New England Patriots are to retire Tom Brady’s number 12 shirt and……

New England Patriots are to retire Tom Brady’s number 12 shirt and build a statue of their legendary former quarterback.

The announcement came as the 46-year-old was inducted into the franchise’s Hall of Fame.

Brady, who was picked with the 199th choice in the 2000 draft, guided the Patriots to six Super Bowl victories.

“[The statue] will stand alone in the plaza outside of the Hall of Fame to symbolise his position, not as the greatest in franchise history, but as the greatest in all of NFL history,” Robert Kraft, the owner of the Patriots, said.

Brady left the Patriots in 2020 to join the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where he helped them win the Super Bowl in his first season, earning MVP honors for the sixth time.

He announced his retirement in 2022, only to return six weeks later to play his 23rd and final NFL season.

“I’m eternally grateful. I’m Tom Brady. “And I am a Patriot,” Brady declared at the ceremony at the Patriots’ home stadium.

Brady was coached by former Patriots coach Bill Belichick during his tenure with the team.

“Let me make this crystal clear – there is no coach in the world I would rather play for than Bill Belichick,” said Brady.

Belichick was also in attendance and remarked, “Thank you for everything you’ve done for us.” Thank you for everything you have done for me.

“And thank you for being a daily example and mantra for all of us over the last 20 years. Congratulations.”

Brady holds the NFL record for most regular-season pass attempts (12,050), completions (7,753), passing yards (89,214), and touchdown passes (649).

He was selected season MVP three times.