In football lore, few moments have been as talked about as the hit that shifted the course of the New England Patriots’ franchise forever. While fans often point fingers at Mo Lewis for inadvertently launching Tom Brady’s legendary career, the former Jets linebacker is finally speaking out—offering a perspective that flips the story in an unexpected way.
Mo Lewis Breaks His Silence
Lewis, a three-time Pro Bowler known for his fierce sideline tackles, rarely comments on his playing days.
But in a new book by reporter Gary Myers, Brady vs. Belichick, Lewis doesn’t just defend the infamous 2001 hit on then-Patriots quarterback Drew Bledsoe—he actually puts some of the responsibility back on Bledsoe himself.
The hit, which caused internal bleeding for Bledsoe, came late in a game against the Jets when the quarterback tried to scramble for a first down.
It would end up being the last time Bledsoe started for the Patriots, clearing the way for Brady to step in.
“It Was Just Another Play”
In his book, Lewis insists he was only doing his job on the field.
“[Bledsoe] just signed a $100 million deal to be what type of quarterback? A passing quarterback, correct?” Lewis said, according to ESPN.
“Had he not gotten outside the pocket and run with the ball, would we even be talking about this? Who caused the event? The person who had the ball.
Now he’s doing something he didn’t sign up for. I’m just stopping the guy with the ball.
It’s just another play for me, but a completely different play for him.”
Lewis emphasizes that, for him, the attention the hit received afterward was irrelevant.
“To you all, it’s a big game-changing, history-changing play,” he said. “I’ve never gone back to watch it.
If people want to talk about it, I don’t hide from it. But it has no importance to me.”
On the Field, There’s No Room for Hesitation
The linebacker also clarifies that he couldn’t gauge the severity of Bledsoe’s injuries in the heat of the moment.
“I’m not a doctor,” Lewis said. “I make tackles. I don’t decide how hard or soft I hit someone.
You’re trying to make me see the future after the hit. I’m telling you, I’m just trying to stop him from getting a first down. Period.”
Tom Brady Steps In
With Bledsoe sidelined, Brady was thrust into action.
He started 14 regular season games that year and led New England to a Super Bowl victory in his first season as starter.
From there, he went on to carve out one of the greatest careers in NFL history: seven Super Bowls, three MVPs, and a legacy that will be remembered for generations.
Bledsoe’s Career After the Hit
Bledsoe bounced back with the Buffalo Bills in 2002, earning a Pro Bowl nod, but he never made another postseason appearance.
Lewis retired in 2003 after a 13-year career, though his legacy is forever intertwined with that one defining moment on the field.
