Tom Brady thinks his career was completely changed by that controversial ‘Tuck Rule’ game that broke the hearts of Raiders fans back then and still today.
It’s the play that changed the course of history in the NFL, and especially for Tom Brady. The then second-year quarterback and backup took over for an injured Drew Bledsoe and helped lead the New England Patriots to the franchise’s first Super Bowl victory, but it was also in large part thanks to the now infamous “tuck rule.”
In his first playoff game, Brady was hit late in the fourth quarter by future Hall of Fame defensive back Charles Woodson and the ball came loose. What looked like a clear fumble that would send Brady home would change after a ref deemed it was not a fumble at all by Brady, but instead that he had begun forward motion to attempt a pass — deeming the play dead on an incomplete pass attempt.
“I’m probably the backup QB going into 2002,” Brady said in ESPN’s “30 for 30” documentary on the play, via NBC Sports. “I’m not the starter if we lose that game.”
Adam Vinatieri went on to kick a game-tying field goal to force overtime, where the Patriots went on to win on a 23-yard kick by Vinatieiri. Bledsoe was traded to the Buffalo Bills and the Patriots went on to win six titles with the tandem of Brady and head coach Bill Belichick.
“That was the catalyst for the beginning of a dynasty.”
Brady eventually parted ways with the Patriots after two decades and signed on with the Tampa Bay Bucs, where he won his final Super Bowl in his very first year with the team.
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He then called it a career last week after 22 seasons.
