EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Tommy Cutlets the celebrity just wants to be Tommy DeVito the quarterback.

When he debuted as an NFL player in 2023, DeVito received as much publicity for his Italian heritage, love of chicken and local roots as he did for his playing ability. DeVito's life story sometimes obscured his accomplishments on the field, where he became the first Giants rookie quarterback to win three consecutive games since Phil Simms in 1979 and earned an NFC Offensive Player of the Week award.

The DeVito Story, Part II will begin in earnest on Sunday when he makes his first start and appearance of the 2024 season in the Giants' home game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. DeVito hopes this time the focus remains on the games and not his life away from them.

"Last year was a good story and all," DeVito said. "It was kind of like how it happened, but all the fun and games outside, it was fun, it was last year. I'm kind of over that. I'm sticking to football now. Not that I wasn't before, but really focused on that, the external stuff will be on pause. I already had talks with everybody around me, my inner circle. It is going to stay very tight and make sure that everything is about production on Sunday."

Coach Brian Daboll announced Monday that DeVito will replace Daniel Jones as the starting quarterback. The Giants are 2-8, have lost five consecutive games, and their 15.2 points-per-game average is last in the NFL.

DeVito relishes the opportunity.

"It means a lot," he said. "Just another opportunity to get out on the field, showcase my abilities, play for my teammates and the organization."

Does he have a message for his teammates as he again steps into the high-profile job?

"Same thing as it was last year," he said. "I'm going to give you everything I can on the field. I put my heart and soul into it all the time, leading up to it, the preparation, and ultimately going out and playing on game day. But most importantly, enjoying doing it."

The Giants lost DeVito's first start last year, 49-17, in Dallas. The following week, he threw three touchdown passes in a 31-19 victory in Dallas, still the Giants' most recent 30-point performance. DeVito started the next week in a home victory against New England. After a bye, he earned player of the week honors by completing 17 of 21 passes for 158 yards and a touchdown and running for 71 more yards in a Monday night victory against Green Bay.

DeVito generated a buzz and excitement in MetLife Stadium in the games he started against the Patriots and Packers. The same emotion will likely be evident in the building Sunday.

"I think I bring a certain confidence, energy, swag, whatever you call it, to the team, to the people around me," DeVito said. "I think I've kind of always had that growing up from when I was even younger, so I kind of just bring that energy. It's all about really enjoying it for me. I kind of said that last year. It's like, it is a children's game, obviously there's a lot more money and a lot more stakes into it, but at the same time, if you don't enjoy going out there, you don't play with the same kind of passion that you would if you did. So really just trying to keep everybody's high spirits up, enjoy it, and just bring energy when I'm out there."

In his six starts, DeVito completed 95 of 149 passes (63.8%) for 581 yards, seven touchdowns (plus one when he relieved an injured Jones in Last Vegas) and three interceptions. DeVito also rushed for 166 yards. He was replaced by Tyrod Taylor in the second half of his final start, on Christmas Day in Philadelphia.

Daboll believes DeVito has improved despite not playing in a game since the preseason.

"He's had a year in the system," Daboll said. "He was 3-3 for us when he played, eight touchdowns, three interceptions, still learning the ropes as he played. He's got good leadership about him. I think he's a year into the system where he understands things even more. He's done a good job since he's been here, really since we had him last year and we'll work as hard as we can with him so he can be as ready to go."

DeVito is confident that he is better than he was a year ago.

"A lot mentally," he said. "Trying to avoid more negative plays than I was. Sometimes taking some sacks where I could have found a way to get the ball out or just make a better decision. So really just the growth from year one to year two of watching a lot more film of myself, of other people and just getting some more ideas for when I'm out there."

Jones is highly regarded in the Giants' locker room, but even his most ardent supporters are eager to see what DeVito can do.

"I'm excited," defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence said. "He showed his flashes last year, obviously. And I have trust in him, and I trust in what the team has seen from him, so I'm excited."

"I believe in D.J." wide receiver Darius Slayton said. "I know he's a really good football player, but at the end of the day we haven't gotten the results we needed to get. Things like this only happened because we have two wins.

"I've been here six years and (Jones) has been a starting quarterback the whole time, with the exception when he's hurt. It was a bit different (in practice today), obviously, but Tommy's a good player and we're gonna ride behind him and do our best to go out there and win. I'm doing my best to try to help us win. And whoever's back there playing quarterback and in the game, I think everybody in here at the end of the day wants to win. So, whether it was you or him or Steve from down the street, we're gonna ride behind him and do our best to help him and help to succeed come Sunday."