Tommy DeVito nickname: Why Giants QB is called 'Tommy Cutlets' as latest Tri-State Italian icon

Tommy DeVito has become a New York sensation.

His Italian hand gesture. Living at home with his parents. Oh yeah, and he’s won a pair of games for the Giants in three starts, posting some solid numbers along the way with a 62.7 completion percentage, seven touchdowns and three picks with 697 passing yards.

Along the way to becoming the new starting quarterback in New York, he’s also earned himself a nickname: Tommy Cutlets.

How did DeVito wind up landing the nickname? Here’s what you need to know.

Tommy DeVito nickname

DeVito made headlines when he told ESPN he still lives at home with his parents in Cedar Grove, New Jersey. He explained it was a “no-brainer” to live with his parents, saying everything he needs is at home with his family.

One thing at home? His mom’s chicken cutlets.

“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,” DeVito said. “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.”

During the Giants’ game against the Patriots, running back Saquon Barkley referred to him as “Tommy Cutlets,” and was yelling “Jersey” as DeVito took the field.

“TOMMY CUTLETS, YA DIG?!” 😂🤌@saquon | @tommydevito007 #InsideTheNFL tonight 8/7c on @TheCW pic.twitter.com/HceVhorUOa

— NFL (@NFL) November 28, 2023

The nickname, “Tommy Cutlets,” began to take off with fans at a sandwich shop in New Jersey — Primo Hoagies — even requesting he sign his name 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

And since then, DeVito has leaned into it. In a video shared by the Giants, he was blind ranking different food types. He rated penne vodka as his top pasta. He rated cutlets as his No. 1 entree. And his preferred way of eating chicken cutlets? Chicken cutlet vodka parm sandwich.

“You can do anything with a cutlet,” DeVito said in the video. “Sandwich or dinner … or breakfast. Laying on the table like this, just grab one and go.”