The Hit That Changed History: Mo Lewis Defends Infamous Tackle, Playfully Blames Drew Bledsoe for Tom Brady's Dynasty

Twenty-three years ago, an ordinary tackle in a Week 2 NFL game between the New York Jets and the New England Patriots unexpectedly became the genesis of the greatest dynasty in professional sports history. Now, the man at the center of that seismic shift, former Jets linebacker Mo Lewis, is revisiting the infamous play, offering a defense of his actions and a humorous take on its monumental ripple effect.

The date was September 23, 2001.

Drew Bledsoe, the established Pro Bowl quarterback for the Patriots, was scrambling towards the sideline in the fourth quarter. As he tried to avoid a tackle, Lewis delivered a crushing blow that left Bledsoe severely injured, suffering internal bleeding, a collapsed lung, and a concussion. The impact was immediate and dramatic: Bledsoe was out, and an unheralded, second-year backup named Tom Brady stepped onto the field.

What followed was nothing short of legendary.

Under Brady's leadership, the Patriots not only won that game but went on to claim their first Super Bowl title that season. It was the first of six Lombardi Trophies Brady would hoist with New England, cementing his status as the greatest quarterback of all time and establishing a two-decade-long reign of dominance for the franchise.

The play became known as "the hit that changed everything," a pivotal moment that redirected the trajectory of the NFL.

Despite the immense historical significance of his tackle, Lewis maintains a characteristically level-headed perspective. "I have no regret at all," he recently stated on the 'Sports Seriously with Kevin Frazier' podcast.

"It was just a bang-bang play. That's how it went down. That's the game of football." Lewis, a tough, hard-nosed player throughout his career, views it simply as part of the sport's inherent physicality.

In a lighthearted twist, Lewis playfully deflected any 'credit' for Brady's eventual superstardom.

"It was more of Drew Bledsoe's fault than mine," Lewis joked. "He should've gotten out of bounds." This humorous deflection underscores Lewis's pragmatic view: he was just doing his job, and Bledsoe's injury, while unfortunate, was a consequence of the game. It's a sentiment that acknowledges the unforeseen outcome without taking personal responsibility for Brady's subsequent historic ascension.

The ripple effect of that single play continues to fascinate football fans and historians alike.

It's a powerful reminder of how quickly circumstances can change and how one moment can alter the course of an entire sport. Mo Lewis's tackle, initially just another hit in a football game, became the unlikely spark for Tom Brady's unprecedented career and the New England Patriots' enduring dynasty, forever etched into the annals of NFL lore.