Former New York Jets linebacker Mo Lewis has defended his infamous 2001 tackle on Drew Bledsoe, arguing the responsibility for the event lies with Bledsoe rather than himself. The hit, which forced Bledsoe out of the game, allowed Tom Brady to step in and eventually lead the New England Patriots to unprecedented success, including six Super Bowl titles. Lewis, who spent his entire NFL career with the Jets, expressed frustration over being remembered mostly for the tackle rather than his overall career achievements.
In a discussion with longtime NFL reporter Gary Myers, Lewis pointed to Bledsoe’s decision to scramble on the play, which he believed triggered the incident. “[Bledsoe] just signed a $100 million deal to be what type of quarterback? A passing quarterback, correct? 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 noted. “Now he’s doing what he didn’t sign up for. 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.” The tackle, deemed legal by officials, was widely recognized for its intensity, and many observers have since remembered it for its historical impact.
Lewis stepped away from football after the 2003 season and has largely avoided media or public events associated with the Jets in the years since. His decision to live away from the spotlight was rooted in his frustration with being remembered mostly for the Bledsoe tackle rather than his overall career achievements. Lewis earned first-team All-Pro honors in 1998 and was selected to three Pro Bowls. Brady, now a two-time Super Bowl champion with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, has cemented his legacy as one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history.
The event, which changed the trajectory of the NFL, has led to ongoing debates about accountability and the impact of individual moments in sports history. While Lewis claims the play was a normal part of the game, others have pointed to it as a turning point in Brady’s career. The legacy of that tackle continues to be discussed, especially in the context of how it shaped the NFL landscape over the past two decades.
As the NFL continues to evolve, the discussion around the 2001 play remains a topic of interest among fans, analysts, and former players. The case of Mo Lewis and Drew Bledsoe highlights the complex interplay between individual actions and their broader impact on sports history. For Lewis, the focus has been on moving past the incident and acknowledging his contributions to the game beyond the tackle that defined his legacy.