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Tom Brady Discusses How The Controversial ‘Tuck Rule’ Play Could’ve Derailed His Career

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Tom Brady Discusses How The Tuck Rule Could've Derailed His Career

Getty Image / Robert Klein


  • In a new ’30 for 30′ documentary about the controversial ‘Tuck Rule’, quarterback Tom Brady discussed the 2002 ruling
  • Brady expressed that he believes he would’ve been demoted if the Tuck Rule didn’t go in his favor and the Patriots didn’t win the game against the Raiders
  • Read more articles on BroBible right here

A new 30 for 30 documentary about the ‘Tuck Rule’ aired over the weekend and it featured Patriots head coach Bill Belichick and former Patriots QB Tom Brady. The Patriots benefitted heavily from the Tuck Rule during the AFC divisional game on January 19, 2002 (2001) seasons, Brady’s first Super Bowl win. And Tom believes his career would have gone VERY differently if he didn’t benefit from that Tuck Rule call.

First, let’s look back at the controversial Tuck Rule call the 2001/2 NFL playoffs. In the final minutes of the game, Tom Brady had started his passing motion, stopped, and pulled his hand down. Charles Woodson knocked the ball out and the Raiders recovered the ball. The call on the field was a recovered fumble but it was reversed after the instant replay, with the referee later saying the Tuck Rule applied.

That was one of the most controversial applications of the Tuck Rule in NFL history. The Raiders’ Bruce Allen would later say “the way the rule is written, it was a fumble” but that didn’t stop the Pats from getting the ball back, tying after 45-yard field goal, winning on another FG, and winning Tom Brady’s first Super Bowl two games later. It was the beginning of a dynasty.

Tom Brady and the 2001 Tuck Rule

In the new ‘Tuck Rule’ 30 for 30, Tom Brady shared that he believes if he didn’t get that Tuck Rule ruling he would’ve been demoted to backup again. Brady said:

“I’m probably the backup QB going into 2002. I’m not the starter if we lose that game.”

Brady also added:

We will never know if that was true or not because Tom Brady went on to win his first Super Bowl and Super Bowl MVP award. Drew Bledsoe was traded to Buffalo where he’d have a phenomenal season in 2002 and make the Pro Bowl, an indication that if Tom Brady was demoted to Bledsoe’s backup Tom might have been stuck waiting for his chance a bit longer.

Tom Brady was never a mobile QB but a ‘baby deer’???

I already miss Tom Brady more than any NFL player in history and he’s only been gone from my Tampa Bay Buccaneers for a few days. Networks are trying to lure him in but it seems highly unlikely.