“I’m Drew Bledsoe’s backup in 2002 if not for…” Tom Brady credits this rule for massive change in fortunes as a quarterback

“I’m Drew Bledsoe’s backup in 2002 if not for…” Tom Brady credits this rule for massive change in fortunes as a quarterback

Tom Brady finally brought an end to his illustrious career of 22 years, a couple of weeks ago. The former New England Patriots quarterback won plenty of accolades and records and will surely go down as one of the best if not the best player in the history of the NFL.

Brady won seven Super Bowl rings during his esteemed career, but the 44-year old credited the infamous “Tuck Rule” game for the New England Patriots as the turning point in his career, which propelled him for greater things.

Tom Brady reckoned that a defeat in that game would have seen him play backup for Drew Bledsoe for the rest of the season

Drew Bledsoe and Tom Brady
Bledsoe and Tom Brady

The “Tuck rule” was recently created back then in 1999 and it came to Brady’s aid which helped the Patriots come out with a 16-13 win over the Oakland Raiders. The tuck rule turned an apparent game-ending fumble into an incomplete pass. It also meant that the Patriots kept possession of the ball and went on to score the match tieing field goal before winning the match.

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However, what no one realised at that time was that the rule also meant the start of something incredible that the NFL would go on to discover in the coming two decades.

Speaking on ESPN’s 30 for 30 documentary titled “The Tuck Rule,” Brady spoke of how the rule changed his career fortunes forever.

“I’m probably the backup QB going into 2002,” Brady said, via NBC Sports Boston. “I’m not the starter if we lose that game.”

Tom Brady and Bill Belichick
Tom Brady and Bill Belichick

Tom Brady replaced Drew Bledsoe for the first two matches of the 2001 season and showed his immense talent during those matches before earning his status as first-choice QB for the Patriots. He led them to the Supr Bowl title and it prompted Bill Belichick to make the decision of letting go of their veteran quarterback Drew Bledsoe in 2002.

Thus started the legacy of Tom Brady in the NFL, and he ended up with seven Super Bowl titles to his name before retiring this season.

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