The NFL has announced that Tom Brady's jersey from Super Bowl LI, which went missing after the New England Patriots' comeback victory over the Atlanta Falcons, has been recovered. The jersey was found in the possession of an unidentified member of the international media, according to a league statement.
Mexican authorities, working with the FBI and Houston police, traced the jersey to a home in suburban Mexico City. Reports indicate that Mauricio Ortega, a former executive with newspaper chain Organización Editorial Mexicana (OEM), was involved. Ortega resigned on 14 March for personal reasons, the company said, and was unaware of any investigation.
The NFL also recovered Brady's jersey from the Patriots' Super Bowl XLIX win over the Seattle Seahawks in 2015. Both jerseys were valued at $500,000 by Houston police. The league thanked the FBI and other law enforcement agencies for their cooperation in the recovery.
The theft occurred shortly after the Patriots' victory at NRG Stadium in Houston. Brady had placed the jersey in a bag, but it was missing when he returned. Team owner Robert Kraft described the theft as a significant loss of memorabilia.
The incident has drawn attention to Mexico's struggles with crime and corruption, with social media users questioning why authorities could recover a jersey but not solve cases like the disappearance of 43 teacher trainees in 2014. Despite this, the NFL remains popular in Mexico, and Brady's friendship with US President Donald Trump has not affected his popularity among Mexican fans.
