Former New York Jets linebacker Mo Lewis is speaking out, more than two decades later, about the infamous hit that sidelined New England Patriots quarterback Drew Bledsoe and paved the way for Tom Brady's legendary career. In a forthcoming book, Lewis argues that Bledsoe himself is responsible for the turn of events.
The hit, which occurred in 2001, resulted in a sheared blood vessel in Bledsoe's chest. Brady stepped in, and the rest is NFL history. The Patriots went on to win six Super Bowls with Brady at quarterback, establishing a dynasty. But Lewis believes the narrative has unfairly placed blame on him.
According to ESPN's Rich Cimini, Lewis states in Gary Myers' upcoming book, "Brady vs. Belichick," that Bledsoe's decision to run with the ball outside the pocket ultimately led to the collision. "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.
Lewis emphasizes that he was simply doing his job. "He signed up to be a passing quarterback. What do I do? I stop the people with the ball. It's just another play for me. But it's a different play for him," he explained.
A Defining Moment in NFL History
The September 23, 2001, game is widely regarded as a pivotal moment in NFL history, marking the beginning of the Tom Brady era and the Patriots' unprecedented success. While the hit on Bledsoe is often viewed as a stroke of misfortune that altered the course of both franchises, Lewis maintains that he was merely executing his assignment.
Lewis Downplays the Hit's Significance
Lewis, who retired after the 2003 season with three Pro Bowl selections, downplays the idea that the moment still matters to him. "It's really irrelevant to me," Lewis said. "It was just another play to me. To you all, it's a big game-changing, history-changing play. I've never gone back to watch the play. If people want to talk about it, I don't hide from it. But it has no importance to me."
- The hit occurred during a Jets-Patriots game in 2001.
- Drew Bledsoe suffered a sheared blood vessel in his chest.
- Tom Brady replaced Bledsoe and led the Patriots to six Super Bowl victories.