The “Tuck Rule” playoff game between the Patriots and Raiders is considered a seminal moment in NFL history.
The game is famous for a late fourth-quarter play where the Raiders’ Charles Woodson hit a young Tom Brady and forced a fumble. Instead of giving then-Oakland possession on a recovery, letting them coast to victory, the officials leaned on an obscure statute in the rulebook: The Tuck Rule. It stipulated that since Brady was moving his arm forward while Woodson hit him, he technically (weirdly) threw the ball, and it wasn’t a fumble.
Sparked by new life, New England went on to win the game and six Super Bowls over the next approximate two decades. Meanwhile, Woodson and the Raiders have never quite let the perceived unfairness of that unfortunate moment fade.
Almost 20 years later, Brady admitted a deep, dark secret: That said “forward pass” was actually a fumble. Oops?
Everyone keep this on the down low please. pic.twitter.com/xPtrg1kXjr
— Tom Brady (@TomBrady) May 5, 2022
Really, Tom? You only get that off your chest now? Whatever. I’m sure everyone will let bygones be bygones anyway.
Oh, well, except for one person: Charles Woodson. The Pro Football Hall of Famer was understandably upset at Brady’s way-too-late reveal.
Really @TomBrady https://t.co/uC2fxVjwlF pic.twitter.com/N98wpE0Cf1
— Charles Woodson (@CharlesWoodson) May 5, 2022
I can’t say I blame Woodson! You try watching the guy you forced a fumble on — in a playoff game you likely would’ve won — going on to win the Super Bowl. The sting from that kind of loss and roll of the dice never entirely dissipates.
You know, for Woodson’s sake, maybe Brady should’ve kept this secret under lock and key forever.
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