Tom Brady will have to admit to ‘tuck rule’ play being a fumble, jokes Raiders coach Josh McDaniels

Las Vegas head coach Josh McDaniels has insisted that Tom Brady will, without a doubt, have to admit to his ‘tuck rule’ play being a fumble, ahead of the seven-time Super Bowl’s minority stake purchase of the Raiders. 

Asked by reporters if Brady will be required to clarify his stance on the infamous play from the 2001 postseason, McDaniels joked: ‘One hundred percent. No question.’

The play took place during Brady’s second season on the New England Patriots in January 19, 2002. With the Patriots down 13-10 in the game’s final moments, Brady was sacked by his former Michigan teammate, Raiders defensive back Charles Woodson. 

The ball came lose and Oakland recovered, seemingly ending the Patriots’ chances of winning. However, much to the dismay of Raiders fans, the fumble was overturned on replay due to the ‘tuck rule’. Referee Walt Coleman ruled that Brady’s arm was moving forward when the ball came lose, thereby turning a fumble and a costly turnover into an incomplete pass.

Given new life, Brady guided the Patriots offense deeper into Raiders territory, where Adam Vinatieri kicked the game-tying field goal. The Patriots would win in overtime and go on to capture their first of six Lombardi Trophies with Brady under center.

Raiders coach Josh McDaniels joked Tom Brady will have to admit his ‘tuck rule’ was a fumble

Brady has an agreement in place to buy a minority share in the Raiders (seen with Mark Davis)

Brady would play the Raiders six times in the regular season, posting a 5-1 record against the Oakland-Las Vegas franchise. 

After the ‘tuck rule’ game, the Raiders would go into decline, not winning a playoff game since reaching the Super Bowl by the end of the 2003 season. 

McDaniels also provided his own thoughts on Brady, who he knows well from his time as an offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach on the Patriots, and the retired three-time’s MVP’s agreement to become a minority owner of the Raiders.

‘I think everybody knows how I feel about Tom the person,’ said the soon-to-be second-year Raiders coach. 

McDaniels knows Brady well from his time as offensive coordinator & QB coach on the Patriots

‘So, if that comes to fruition, obviously I’ll be incredibly excited about just him being somebody that’s in Raider Nation and has a vested interest in us doing as well as we can do in trying to bring a championship football team here to Vegas.’  

‘So I don’t know exactly where all that stands. I think that’s a question that’s way above my pay grade in terms of that stuff. 

‘But, obviously, I had a great history with the player and an even better one with the person. So it’ll obviously be a tremendous honor to partner up with him again.

The size and cost of Brady’s stake has not been revealed. Team spokespeople have not responded to DailyMail.com’s request for confirmation. 

The sale has been agreed upon and submitted to the NFL for approval, which could take some time. There are no plans on addressing the sale at the upcoming spring meeting, Albert Breer, of Sports Illustrated, reported.