Meet Giants Quarterback Tommy DeVito at a New Jersey Autograph Signing Event

WAYNE, N.J. — The phenomenon of Tommy DeVito, also known as Tommy Cutlets, continues to expand. A rapid assessment of his visit to a local sandwich shop on Tuesday night tells the whole story.

DeVito, the unrecruited quarterback who has taken the field in the last three games for the New York Giants (winning two of them), attracted a huge crowd that wrapped around the strip mall housing Primo Hoagies.

Hundreds of fans flocked in for hours, requesting everything from shoes, hats, helmets, classic white Jersey Tank Tops, and handmade No. 15 DeVito jerseys to be signed by the local legend. The requests ranged from TD to Tommy Cutlets to Jersey Juice autographs.

And naturally, many insisted on a photo while mimicking the classic Italian pinched fingers hand gesture in the air, which seems to have become DeVito’s signature celebration.

The appearance was scheduled for two hours, but due to overwhelming demand, DeVito stayed for three, ensuring that every attendee at least received an autograph.

As the final group awaited their sandwiches, one fan shouted to “put it up for the f—ing cutlet king” before a final DeVito chant erupted. It was a scene typically reserved for New York sports’ elite … or Jeremy Lin.

“It’s all fun at the end of the day,” DeVito told ESPN. “I’m enjoying the bye week, enjoying the fans, just trying to give back a bit. Ride with the good vibes while they’re going.”

The frenzy has been sparked by DeVito’s six touchdown passes to one interception in his three starts. The Giants are in their bye week after back-to-back victories over the Washington Commanders and New England Patriots.

It has the Giants mimicking the pinched fingers celebration on the field, with players like star running back Saquon Barkley referring to him as “Tommy Cutlets” on the sideline and exclaiming “Jersey!” to describe his red-hot teammate.

A sandwich shop in New Jersey, of course, was the most fitting setting for a DeVito autograph appearance.

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.com/gTshOPigp0

— Jordan Raanan (@JordanRaanan) November 29, 2023

The DeVito legend is more than just being a star quarterback who won a state championship at New Jersey powerhouse Don Bosco Prep. It’s that he didn’t get selected in this year’s draft, latched onto the practice squad, and wasn’t supposed to start this season since he was behind Daniel Jones and Tyrod Taylor.

But Jones and Taylor got injured, prompting DeVito into a starting role.

And, oh yeah, DeVito also embraces his Italian heritage and living at home, where he gets to eat his mom’s delicious chicken cutlets.

“It was a no-brainer for me,” DeVito told ESPN prior to his first start about living with his parents. “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.”