For more than two decades, Mo Lewis has been remembered less for his three Pro Bowls and 13 NFL seasons than for one violent collision in 2001 – the hit that knocked Patriots quarterback Drew Bledsoe out of a game and opened the door for Tom Brady.
Now, Lewis is finally breaking his silence.
In a new book by reporter Gary Myers, the former Jets linebacker rejects the narrative that he “created” Brady’s legendary career. Instead, Lewis says Bledsoe was responsible for putting himself in harm’s way.
It was all Bledsoe’s fault
“Had he not got outside the pocket and ran with the ball, would we be talking about this? Who caused the event? The person who was with the ball,” Lewis said.
Fans see the play as the spark that ignited a dynasty – Brady stepped in, started 14 games, and led New England to its first Super Bowl title before going on to win seven championships and three MVPs. Bledsoe, meanwhile, never regained his job, later finishing his career in Buffalo and Dallas.
It was another day at work for Lewis
But Lewis insists it was never more than a routine tackle.
“I’ve never gone back to watch the play,” he said. “I’m a linebacker. I make tackles. I do not gauge how hard or how soft I hit a person… I’m just trying to stop him from getting a first down. Period.”
While fans still joke that Lewis deserves a share of Brady’s Hall of Fame résumé, the linebacker himself refuses to give the moment any special meaning.
“To me, it has no importance,” he said.
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