In the so-called “Tuck Rule Game” a controversial decision became a career turbo for Tom Brady. Who now admits: It might have been a bad call.

Munich – Tom Brady’s first ever playoff game was one for the history books: infamous as the “Tuck Rule Game”, the game from January 2002 is still a thorn in the flesh for Raiders fans in particular. In the AFC Divisional Game between the then Oakland Raiders and the New England Patriots, the Raiders were already on the winning track. Even more so after the then no-name Tom Brady, substituting for Drew Bledsoe, had the ball knocked out of his hand for a fumble.

But because of the so-called tuck rule, the referees changed their mind after a second look at the scene and changed their ruling from a fumble to an incomplete pass. The Patriots kept possession, forced overtime, won thanks to a field goal and even continued their winning streak to the Super Bowl title – the first for today’s GOAT.

Decision to launch a GOAT career

So the call not only caused heated debate, but may have been the saviour of Tom Brady’s unique NFL career. Now, over 20 years later, Tom Brady brought the issue back to the table with a social video – trolling critics and Raiders fans.

Brady responded to pop star Justin Bieber’s TikTok call to say something honest with his own clip. In it, he whispered to the camera, looking mischievous: “On the tuck rule game against the Raiders: it could have been a fumble. “

Everyone keep this on the down low please. pic.twitter.com/xPtrg1kXjr

– Tom Brady (@TomBrady) May 5, 2022

A little later he followed up via tweet, “I said it ‘could’. Such a difficult call. We have no choice but to respect the probably correct decision of the refs. “

I said might. Such a tough call. No choice but to respect the officials probably correct decision. https://t.co/0qXIiq5Ux9

– Tom Brady (@TomBrady) May 5, 2022

Tuck Rule now abolished

But what did the Tuck Rule, which was in effect in the NFL from 1999 to 2013, actually say? It defined any forward movement of the arm with the ball, even if it was only to hold it against the body, as a natural movement of a pass attempt. According to the Tuck Rule, losing the ball during such a movement was considered an incomplete pass instead of a fumble.