From afar, professional athletes can seem rather untouchable. They make millions of dollars playing a game, and, at the risk of painting with a broad brush, live the high life. New York Giants quarterback Tommy DeVito, however, feels a bit different.
The signal-caller took a more humble road to the pros, playing at Syracuse and Illinois before entering the NFL as an undrafted free agent, but that’s not the entirety of his common touch. As you may have heard, the Giants QB lives at home with his parents, mere miles from MetLife Stadium.
That arrangement comes with some fringe benefits.
“It was a no-brainer for me,” DeVito told ESPN earlier this year. “Everything that I need is there at the house. The decision was made since this level of football is stressful for a rookie, especially from the quarterback position. There is a lot going on, a lot of meetings. So everything outside of football is handled by my family.
“I don’t have to worry about laundry, what I’m eating for dinner, chicken cutlets and all that is waiting for me when I get there. My mom still makes my bed. Everything is handled for me. Honestly, I don’t even know if I could find a place closer to here than where I live. It takes me 12 minutes to get here.”
And now, DeVito might have his family—and teammate Saquon Barkley—to thank for a new nickname.
Michael Owens/Getty Images
Barkley Called DeVito ‘Tommy Cutlets’
While in-game interviews can be divisive—some feel that you’ll never get a genuine answer from a coach during the action—having a player mic’d up during a game is a bit more appealing. There’s (presumably) plenty of audio we can’t hear, but it can be cool to hear the sounds of the game and some candid chatter.
And during the most recent week of NFL action, Barkley was the one wearing the “Inside the NFL” wire. If the clips that hit social media are any indication, the running back’s a big supporter of the club’s current quarterback.
When DeVito was introduced, Barkley was seen hyping up the crowd and shouting, “Jersey!” The two then shared a brief exchange on the bench, with Barkley telling his teammate to be himself and have fun.
But the most ear-catching comment came after DeVito walked away. As Barkley returned to the bench, he said, “Tommy Cutlets, you dig?” to no one in particular.
Regardless of who specifically coined the nickname, hearing the Giants star using it is the sort of endorsement that can push a moniker to the next level.
And while there’s no telling what a fan base will latch onto, it’s easy to see the potential there. DeVito has become something of a cult hero, with the New York Post making reference to “Tommy DeVito fever.” He also drew lengthy lines at an autograph session and was apparently asked to sign some objects as “Tommy Cutlets.”
The Tommy DeVito craze is wild!
Line wrapped around building at Primo Hoagies in Wayne, hundreds deep, people having shoes signed, asking him to sign the name Tommy Cutlets, bringing white tank tops for autographs, taking endless pics with 🤌 pic.twitter.com/gTshOPigp0
— Jordan Raanan (@JordanRaanan) November 29, 2023
DeVito’s Hand Gesture Has Also Been a Hit
But having a cool potential nickname isn’t all DeVito has working for him. The quarterback has also grabbed the attention of Giants fans with what has become his signature hand gesture.
“I kind of thought it was just the old Italians. When they talk, they start doing this,” the signal-caller explained. “It’s just a little credit to them.”
Giants assistant athletic trainer Phil Buzzerio deserves an assist, though.
“He mentioned it to me a couple of weeks ago. I was like, ‘Alright, I’ll roll with it one of these days,’ and he was like, ‘This is the week!’ Alright, I did it, and then it kind of took off from there,” DeVito said.
And given that 17 percent of New Jersey residents claim Italian heritage, it’s easy to see why his “DeVito” is resonating with Giants fans.
Oh yeah, and winning back-to-back football games probably didn’t hurt, either.
Is the quarterback the long-term answer in New York? That’s a question that’s larger than a few games. With that being said, though, every franchise has some cult heroes who made an outsized impact during a brief time on the team.
And, if nothing else, Tommy “Cutlets” DeVito is probably playing his way into that category. Beyond that, the rest will be gravy (pun intended).
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
