Former Illini QB Tommy DeVito Re-Signs With New York Giants

NEWS: According to a post by the NFL on X, per league insider Mike Garafolo – After two seasons, former Illinois Football quarterback Tommy DeVito has signed a contract extension with his hometown New York Giants.

Tommy will sign his exclusive rights free agent tender in the next few days, valued at $1.03 million per Art Stapleton of NorthJersey.com.

Giants re-signing QB Tommy DeVito. (via @MikeGarafolo) pic.twitter.com/hn1NRbDrx6

— NFL (@NFL) March 6, 2025

The Leader Illinois Football Needed

Illinois football struggled for years for stability at the quarterback position through the Tim Beckman and Lovie Smith eras.

That all changed in 2022 with the arrival of DeVito.

Under coach Bret Bielema, the Syracuse transfer led the Illini to their best season in a decade, restoring confidence and swagger to the program. That eight-win campaign became a launching pad for Illinois football, laying the foundation for long-awaited consistency. It also provided a glimpse into Bielema’s vision for the program and its potential moving forward, further proving that winning can be done at a high level at Illinois.

Fast forward to 2025, and Illinois is still building on that vision, reaching heights unseen in Champaign in over two decades. Without question, DeVito played a key role in setting the stage for this resurgence.

Welcome Home, Tommy

Since returning home—quite literally—to New York in 2022, DeVito’s journey has been anything but ordinary. Amid the turbulence of the Daniel Jones era and a brief stint with Tyrod Taylor, the Giants offense has struggled. Yet, these challenges have provided DeVito with a rare opportunity for meaningful reps that many undrafted free-agent quarterbacks are never afforded.

Over 12 total appearances for the Giants, DeVito has completed 145 of 222 passes for 1,358 yards, with 8 touchdowns and just 3 interceptions. Among those 12 games, he started in 6, going 3-3—a solid showing for a UDFA.

It’s been great to see DeVito create value and marketability for himself while making the most of his time living out his dream back home. His story is still unfolding, and Illini fans have plenty of reasons to keep watching and rooting for Tommy Cutlets.

Nov 28, 2024. Arlington, Texas, USA. New York Giants quarterback Tommy DeVito prior to the game against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium. Credit: Andrew Dieb-Imagn Images.

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