By Angela Clark
Twist of Fate Radio | TwistOfFateRadio.com
In the high-stakes world of the NFL, everything can change in a heartbeat. A perfectly timed pass, a missed tackle, or in this case—a brutal hit—can reshape not only the trajectory of a game but of an entire league.
The year was 2001. The New England Patriots, led by head coach Bill Belichick, were coming off a lackluster season and had just begun their second year under the new regime. Their starting quarterback, Drew Bledsoe, was a proven leader. Drafted first overall in 1993, Bledsoe had been the face of the franchise for nearly a decade. He’d led them to a Super Bowl in 1997 and was known for his strong arm, pocket presence, and toughness. He was signed to a 10-year, $103 million contract—the largest in NFL history at the time.
But everything changed on September 23, 2001.
In a Week 2 matchup against the New York Jets, Bledsoe dropped back for a routine play. As he scrambled toward the sideline, Jets linebacker Mo Lewis delivered a crushing blow that drove Bledsoe into the ground. The hit tore a blood vessel in his chest, causing internal bleeding. At first, the injury didn’t seem life-threatening, but later that night, Bledsoe was rushed to the hospital. Doctors said he had come dangerously close to dying.
With their franchise quarterback suddenly out indefinitely, the Patriots were forced to turn to his backup—a second-year player who had barely seen the field. He was lanky. Quiet. Drafted 199th overall in the sixth round the year before. Few outside of Massachusetts even knew his name.
That backup was Tom Brady.
Brady’s first start came the following week against the Indianapolis Colts, led by rising star Peyton Manning. The Patriots were 0–2 and desperate for momentum. Brady wasn’t flashy, but he was poised. He completed 13 of 23 passes for 168 yards, no touchdowns, no interceptions—and more importantly, he didn’t make mistakes. The Patriots dominated, winning 44–13. It was the spark they needed.
What followed was nothing short of remarkable. Brady continued to lead with composure, and the team responded. They began to gel. The defense tightened. The offense grew more confident. One win turned into another… and then another. By midseason, whispers began: “Could Brady be more than just a stopgap?”
By the end of the regular season, the Patriots had won 11 games and clinched the AFC East. Meanwhile, Bledsoe had recovered—but Belichick made the controversial decision to stick with Brady for the playoffs.
In the AFC Championship Game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Brady suffered a minor injury in the first half. Bledsoe stepped in and delivered a key touchdown pass, helping New England win the game. But when it came time for the Super Bowl, Belichick returned to Brady.
And it paid off.
In Super Bowl XXXVI, the Patriots faced “The Greatest Show on Turf”—the heavily favored St. Louis Rams. The Rams were led by MVP quarterback Kurt Warner and boasted the league’s most explosive offense. But New England’s defense held them in check. With the game tied 17–17 and just 1:21 remaining, Brady calmly led a final drive from his own 17-yard line. With no timeouts, he moved the ball 53 yards in seven plays, setting up kicker Adam Vinatieri’s game-winning 48-yard field goal as time expired.
Final score: Patriots 20, Rams 17.
It was one of the greatest upsets in Super Bowl history—and the beginning of a football dynasty.
Tom Brady would go on to lead the Patriots to nine Super Bowl appearances, winning six with New England and a seventh with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He became the NFL’s all-time leader in passing touchdowns, Super Bowl wins, and playoff victories. Once overlooked, he now stands atop the NFL record books as one of the greatest—if not the greatest—quarterbacks in history.
As for Drew Bledsoe, he was traded to the Buffalo Bills the following season. Though he continued to have a solid career, he never returned to the Super Bowl. Yet, Bledsoe has spoken with grace and admiration about Brady’s rise, acknowledging that his own injury, though painful, opened the door for something truly historic.
It’s a classic “what-if” moment in sports. What if Mo Lewis hadn’t delivered that hit? What if Bledsoe had returned as starter? What if Brady had never taken the field?
History may have gone in a completely different direction.
But fate—in the form of one violent collision—had other plans.
Sources: