The popularity of New York Giants QB Tommy DeVito just grew even larger in the Big Apple.
The undrafted Giants rookie quarterback has grown popular among the Italian community for embracing his heritage, including ranking his favorite Italian-themed dishes and his touchdown celebration. DeVito, though, just expanded on his popularity in front of the Monday Night Football audience by leading a last-second drive to win 24-22 over the red-hot Green Bay Packers.
Now, two words have surfaced among NFL fans and around the Giants — “quarterback controversy.”
NFL Fans Sound Off on Whether Tommy DeVito Should Be Giants QB1
This time, DeVito orchestrated some fourth-quarter magic with under 1:35 left.
Starting from his own 25, DeVito hit four completions to get the Giants into Packers territory. But his biggest completion went to WR Wan’Dale Robinson, who accelerated 32 yards down the right sideline to get the Giants into field goal range. Then came the final chef’s kiss to finish off the Packers.
For the win 🤌#NYGiants pic.twitter.com/Vbcr30lf5Z
— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) December 12, 2023
Fans have grown enamored by the journey of the underdog rookie quarterback winning over the Italian community — and now NFL fans, as a whole.
“I didn’t think I could possibly like Tommy DeVito more. But then he goes undrafted, fights his way onto a practice squad, gets unexpectedly thrust into a starting position on a 2-7 team, then wins three straight, including a game-winning drive against the Packers on primetime TV,” one fan said on X (formerly known as Twitter).
MORE: New York Giants Depth Chart
Pro Football Network’s own Kyle Yates is another who is hopping on the DeVito bandwagon by considering a pre-Christmas splurge involving the first-year passer.
I might be ordering a Tommy DeVito jersey by the end of the night. pic.twitter.com/RRqRO9cWw4
— Kyle Yates (@KyleYNFL) December 12, 2023
DeVito has now tied an NFL record. He’s led the Giants to three straight wins, which now ties the best mark for an undrafted rookie QB per Andrew Siciliano of the NFL Network.
But as DeVito’s fame expands, the Giants’ original QB1, Daniel Jones, has to watch New York fall in love with DeVito-mania.
Daniel Jones is watching Brian Daboll fall in love with Tommy DeVito in real time 😂 pic.twitter.com/or87MUfzVH
— Alex Wilson (@AlexWilsonESM) December 12, 2023
Already, DeVito earned an MNF win before Jones ever did. The belief is growing that the New Jersey native is officially the better QB option.
“Whatever Tommy DeVito is doing, he sure is doing it significantly better than Daniel Jones,” said CBS Sports NFL analyst Jeff Kerr.
Is Brian Daboll Buying Into DeVito Mania?
Giants HC Brian Daboll hasn’t had much to celebrate about this season with his eight-loss team, but the final walk-off field goal showed him at his most exuberant state.
Now comes this for the second-year head coach: Jones or DeVito behind center moving forward?
“He earned the right to play today, and he earned the right to play the next week. The kid has done a good job,” Daboll told the New York media postgame.
Even DeVito’s veteran teammates are noticing the Giants take on a different kind of swagger with him leading the offense.
“With the confidence and swagger he plays with, you can feel it through the stadium, and you can feel it on the sidelines,” said Pro Bowl RB Saquon Barkley to reporters.
WR Isaiah Hodgins caught the lone touchdown pass of the night from DeVito, which was an eight-yard connection during the third quarter. He’s admitting to having a blast playing alongside DeVito — he’s even waiting on an Italian recipe from him.
“Whatever it is, it’s fun. It’s fun to be part of, and it’s fun to watch…I’m still waiting for my little vodka sandwich that he got,” Hodgins said in the locker room.
DeVito-mania has increased in popularity in New York and across the league. The undrafted local hero from nearby Livingston, New Jersey has reignited a fan base that had briefly gone quiet. But, for a franchise that’s seen quarterback controversies in Jones/Eli Manning, Manning/Kurt Warner, and Phil Simms/Jeff Hostetler, “Tommy Cutlets” has fans believing the Giants should turn to him over the first-rounder, Jones.
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