Tom Brady Honorable Sculpture

Being Selected for a Historic Project

Jeff Buccacio, an accomplished sculptor, was personally invited by the New England Patriots to Gillette Stadium for a private meeting with the leadership team. With decades of experience, including work on major Hollywood films and a reputation for excellence in public monuments and fine art conservation, Jeff’s portfolio spoke volumes. His passion for honoring American heritage through sculpture, combined with his technical mastery, made a lasting impression on the Patriots.

As he sat in his truck in the Gillette Stadium parking lot following the meeting, Jeff called his wife and co-owner of Buccacio Sculpture Services, Nina. “I think we just got the Brady job,” he said, his voice full of excitement.

The Sculpting Journey

The Patriots provided Jeff with a selection of photographs to use as design inspiration. One image in particular stood out. It was a powerful shot of Tom Brady raising his right fist in a stoic, victorious, and visibly exhausted posture. That moment became the foundation for the sculpture’s design.

Jeff began by creating three or four quick clay sketches, each taking between one to three hours to complete. These initial sketches helped him explore the overall posture and block shape of the sculpture. From there, Jeff progressed to a 12-inch maquette, keeping it loose and gestural as he worked to capture Brady’s proportions, gait, expression, and stare.

Jeff then moved into a three-foot version of the sculpture, where many of the finer details began to take shape. The model was delivered to Gillette Stadium and presented to the New England Patriots on a game day morning in December 2023.

Jeff met with the Patriots for the first official viewing of the three-foot version. During the review, questions were raised about the proportions of certain features. After careful evaluation and discussion, adjustments were made to emphasize the sculpture’s heroic, V-shaped stance.

Jeff explored several variations of hairstyle and facial expression, some with wet hair and a furrowed brow, others with longer hair and an open mouth. Ultimately, the chosen version featured a closed mouth and stoic posture, capturing the moment’s emotional weight.

Once the sculpture returned to the studio, multiple sessions were dedicated to refining every detail, from the number of laces and the positioning of logos to the size of the jersey numbers and the pinstripes on the pants. The Patriots played a pivotal role throughout, offering thoughtful and constructive feedback.

In the early 12-inch version, it was decided to use a six-sided base representing Brady’s six Super Bowl victories with the Patriots. Information about each Super Bowl win was sandblasted into the base itself.

After receiving full approval, the team began enlarging the sculpture using their 3D scanning, 3D printing, and CNC foam milling equipment. The full-size figure was milled from two-pound white bead foam, assembled, and mounted to a fabricated steel frame. This held the sculpture in place; the foam structure was coated with shellac, and a fresh layer of clay was applied.

At this stage in the development of the monumental sculpture, scale transformed Jeff’s relationship to the work. What began as a 3-foot maquette became a 12-foot structure that must be understood and resolved from the ground up. Jeff anticipated this shift early in the process, working from a lower vantage point during the maquette phase to simulate how the final piece would be perceived in its public setting.

As the sculpture was enlarged to the 12-foot version, maintaining structural integrity and visual coherence became critical. At full scale, small compositional flaws become amplified. The piece’s success no longer hinges on surface detail, but on the underlying gesture, balance, and rhythm of the form. If the weight distribution is incorrect or the pose lacks flow, the sculpture can appear static or unnatural, regardless of how refined the textures or features may be. Jeff reworked these foundational elements extensively to ensure that the composition communicates clarity, motion, and presence at scale.

In this final stage, the smallest details were carefully refined, from the veins and strands of hair to the uniform logos. Particular attention was given to the eyes and facial features to capture a sense of intensity and emotion.

This phase presented a unique challenge, as Jeff referenced photographs of Tom Brady taken across many years. It had to be just right, a timeless and iconic representation of a legendary player.

The Metalwork Phase

After the 12-foot clay model was approved, Buccacio Sculpture Services created silicone and plaster molds of the piece, completed in approximately 30 individual sections. Once the molds were finalized, wax positives were produced and used to create ceramic shell molds for the highly detailed areas. For the larger structural components, such as the torso and limbs, traditional sand casting was employed. This combination of techniques ensured both intricate detail and structural integrity throughout the sculpture.

Once all of the bronze pieces were cast, Jeff and his team began assembling the metal. Starting at the pelvis and working upward through the legs and into the chest, they simultaneously progressed on the base. The face was treated with particular care, with Jeff taking meticulous steps to ensure the metal finish captured the intended expression. Every seam was expertly welded and chased until it disappeared. Texture matching, surface blending, and achieving uniform coloration were all essential to the final presentation.

After completing the assembly and metalwork, in order to achieve an even and chemically bonded patina (changing the color of the metal), the metal must be sandblasted to remove all contaminants. Once the sandblasting was complete, a patina was applied to the entire sculpture. This process involves heating the surface and carefully applying chemical treatments to achieve the desired color, tone, depth, and finish, bringing the bronze figure to life.

Setting History in Place

Once the sculpture was complete, the full-size bronze figure and its granite base were transported to a Patriots warehouse for secure storage. Buccacio Sculpture Services coordinated transportation and crane logistics to ensure safe handling of the artwork.

In the week leading up to the unveiling, a large truss structure with privacy curtains was installed around the installation site to maintain confidentiality. It was essential to keep the sculpture secret until the official reveal.

The following day, Buccacio Sculpture Services collaborated with the New England Patriots to install the granite base, which consisted of a solid block of “Honed Mist” granite, quarried in Barre, Vermont. The base is hexagon-shaped, symbolizing Tom Brady’s six Super Bowl championships with the New England Patriots, and a nod to the six New England states. The base was drilled and pinned on-site, and hydrostatic epoxy was applied to ensure a secure and long-lasting hold. The engraved lettering was sandblasted and treated with black lithochrome to provide sharp, lasting contrast.

Once the granite was in place, the bronze sculpture, finished in a classic “French Brown” patina, was carefully lowered and installed by the Buccacio team. The figure stands 12 feet tall from the bottom of the foot to the top of the head, reaching 14.5 feet at the top of the raised fist. With the 2.5-foot granite base, the full installation measures 17 feet tall. The bronze sculpture weighs approximately 1,800 pounds, and the granite base weighs around 10,500 pounds, bringing the total installation weight to 12,300 pounds.

Jeff Buccacio, a local Massachusetts sculptor, and his team were honored to be part of the unveiling ceremony. It was a powerful and emotional moment, standing beside the completed piece surrounded by the Patriots organization and fans. Today, the sculpture stands not only as a tribute to Tom Brady, but as a lasting symbol of excellence, endurance, and legacy.

a Monument of Your Own?

Whether for public memory, cultural preservation, or commemorating a legacy, Buccacio Sculpture Services is trusted by institutions, municipalities, and private clients across the country. Our team brings decades of experience in sculpting, casting, and installation—handling each project with precision, artistry, and care. From monumental commissions to private memorials, we’re here to help you bring your vision to life. Contact us today to get started!