Tommy DeVito has taken over the NFL news cycle in the last couple of weeks and not just for his impressive play on the field. The Giants quarterback has become a cultural phenomenon, thanks to his Italian roots.
Then, as if things couldn’t get any better, the internet saw his agent.
Before his team’s win over the Packers on Monday Night Football, cameras caught DeVito talking to his agent, Sean Stellato, and the internet fell in love with both his wardrobe and his celebration alongside DeVito’s family. As part of the DeVito craze, the rookie quarterback has taken an infamous Italian gesture as his own celebration and his agent tried to explain exactly what it means in a recent interview.
A very Italian-American moment followed:
"What does 🤌🤌🤌 mean to you?" – @TheWilderThings to Tommy DeVito's agent Sean Stellato.
— Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz (@LeBatardShow) December 13, 2023
"It's really just 'listen to me, you Mamaluke.'" 😂😂😂
📺 https://t.co/jjn5X65Do4 pic.twitter.com/EfJj2sL9p7
“I mean, forget about it. I mean, it’s really just, ‘Hey, listen to me ya mamaluke,’” Stellato said on The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz on Wednesday. “I think it’s interpreted differently by different Italians. But it’s definitely a powerful hand gesture that Tommy’s passionate about.”
“Mamaluke” is slang for “idiot” or “fool,” in case anyone was wondering.
Regardless of his internet fame, DeVito’s play is what’s really taking over. He was named NFC Player of the Week for his performance against Green Bay in which he threw for 218 yards and rushed for another 71 in the 24–22 win and has led the Giants to three straight victories.
For Giants fans, hopefully, there are more hand gestures to come.
