Tom Brady's stolen Super Bowl LI jersey returns to Foxborough

FOXBORUGH, Mass. — It’s been a long and strange journey, but Tom Brady’s Super Bowl LI jersey is finally back in safe hands.

The jersey was stolen from Brady’s bag in the team locker room shortly after the Patriots comeback against Atlanta Falcons.

For several weeks there were few clues about where the jersey went, but on Monday, the FBI announced that the jersey was located “on foreign soil.”

The jersey had been stolen by Martin Mauricio Ortega, a credentialed member of the media from Mexico, who apparently has a history of stealing Super Bowl memorabilia.

In addition to Brady's Super Bowl LI jersey, Ortega had Brady's Super Bowl XLIX jersey and a helmet worn during Super Bowl 50.

On Thursday, the FBI returned Brady’s stolen jerseys to Patriots owner Robert Kraft.

"We want to thank the FBI, the Mexican authorities and the many different local agencies that were involved in the investigation and ultimate recovery of Tom Brady's Super Bowl LI jersey. Working along with the Patriots and NFL security, those agencies collectively coordinated an investigation that also led to the recovery of Tom's missing Super Bowl XLIX jersey. It was great to have both jerseys returned to Gillette Stadium today. I don't know that any agency could have accomplished this independently, but collectively multiple agencies - both in the U.S. and in Mexico - worked together to achieve the goal of retrieving the stolen property. It is another example of the importance of teamwork and what can be accomplished when everyone works together. We appreciate the effort of everyone involved and look forward to returning these jerseys to Tom when he gets back to New England."

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