Giants QB, Agent Ready for ‘Tommy Cutlets’ Return

Tommy Cutlets is back in the driver’s seat.

New York Giants backup quarterback Tommy DeVito was promoted to starter this week after the franchise decided to bench Daniel Jones after a string of poor performances during a 2-8 start to the season. It’s an opportunity for the undrafted DeVito not only to solidify his standing with the Giants, but to continue to build his marketability off the field.

“He understands that he’s a brand,” agent Sean Stellato said in an interview. “There are businesses that want to collaborate, but where he’s at in his career, his focus for the time being is to help the Giants win football games and play to the best of his ability. We’re going to entertain (commercial opportunities) as they come in but right now, he has a Tom Brady mentality prepping for the Super Bowl.”

The Giants won’t be playing in the Super Bowl this season with the playoffs out of reach, but for DeVito this might as well be. After sidestepping any possibility of Jones triggering a $23 million injury guarantee by benching the starter, the Giants are giving DeVito another audition in the nation’s biggest media market—which includes a Thanksgiving clash with the Dallas Cowboys. The fans are already familiar with the Italian-American New Jersey native who helped the underachieving team win three straight games last year after injuries to Jones and then-backup Tyrod Taylor (now with the New York Jets).

DeVito, who lived at his parents’ home in nearby Cedar Grove, N.J., last season, made the most of last year’s promotion. The former Illinois standout earned commercial opportunities including national spots, most notably featuring in a Super Bowl ad for Pizza Hut. Regionally, he’s collected appearance fees at mom-and-pop restaurants as well as national chains; he stopped by the Dunkin’ in Morris Township, N.J., earlier this year for its grand opening.

“He’s a clean-cut, good-looking kid who is well spoken,” Stellato said. “His social currency has organically evolved. … He’s unique when it comes to the branding side of things. He’s not your typical.”

DeVito’s sudden fame also raised the profile of Stellato, a Massachusetts native who played college football at Marist and in the arena league. The veteran agent, who is known for wearing fedoras and colorful outfits, was inducted into the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame last year.

DeVito is on the final year of his two-year contract and will be an exclusive free agent after this season. The Giants can tender DeVito with a league minimum deal and use the extra cash to spend at another position while avoiding paying top dollar for a veteran backup quarterback. There is an expectation that the Giants will use the upcoming draft to find their next franchise quarterback but could also use the savings to sign a veteran.

Regardless, DeVito has seven games to earn his keep on the roster while he weighs how to expand the “Tommy Cutlets” brand. He received the moniker last year after stating that the dish is his favorite and that he loves eating his mother’s chicken cutlets. The nickname has been popular with fans who have asked him to sign his name as “Tommy Cutlets” on T-shirts and other clothing items.

“He’s got to focus on one game at a time,” Stellato said. “Following the season, we’ll be ready to explore and prepare and hopefully put him in the best situation to continue to do what he loves and be compensated at the level he’s playing.”