Editing Mo Lewis (section)

==Impact on NFL history==

While Lewis had a productive career, he is best known for being the catalyst for starting the [[New England Patriots]] dynasty that would span two decades. During an early-season game against the Patriots in 2001, Lewis leveled Patriots' quarterback [[Drew Bledsoe]] with a hard, but clean hit. Bledsoe was about to dive for the first-down marker, but defensive end [[Shaun Ellis]] clipped Bledsoe's ankles, resulting in Bledsoe taking the full force of the hit while standing straight up.<ref name=15Years>{{Cite web | url=https://www.nfl.com/news/tom-brady-drew-bledsoe-reflect-on-pivotal-hit-15-years-later-0ap3000000707463 |title = Tom Brady, Drew Bledsoe reflect on pivotal hit 15 years later|publisher=[[NFL Network]]|date=September 22, 2016}}</ref> [[Tom Brady]], a sixth-round draft pick in the [[2000 NFL draft]], was the back-up quarterback and finished the game.

It turned out that Lewis' hit sheared a blood vessel in Bledsoe's chest, causing Bledsoe to lose a pint of blood an hour. Bledsoe would never regain his starting job (he was traded to [[Buffalo Bills|Buffalo]] after the season).<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/insider/story/_/id/32257032/the-hit-changed-tom-brady-drew-bledsoe-course-nfl-history|title=The hit that changed Tom Brady, Drew Bledsoe and the course of NFL history|author1=Sean Wickersham|publisher=[[ESPN]]|date=September 22, 2021}}</ref> The Patriots went 11–3 for the remainder of the season with Brady under center, culminating in the team's first [[Super Bowl XXXVI|Super Bowl]] title on February 3, 2002.

Over the next two decades, the Patriots won six Super Bowl titles and Brady would win a seventh in [[Tampa Bay Buccaneers|Tampa Bay]]. As a result, Lewis' hit on Bledsoe is often noted for its impact on NFL history.<ref name="SportingNews">{{cite web |last1=Rivera |first1=Joe |title=The hit that started Tom Brady era with Patriots: What if Mo Lewis never injured Drew Bledsoe? |url=https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nfl/news/mo-lewis-hit-drew-bledsoe-tom-brady-patriots/1kkv215wq2lw416m5tam7hlr0x |website=[[Sporting News]] |accessdate=24 August 2020 |date=17 March 2020}}</ref><ref name="Sportscasting">{{cite web |last1=Moriello |first1=John |title=One Hit by Mo Lewis Led to Tom Brady's Big Break and Changed NFL History |url=https://www.sportscasting.com/one-hit-by-mo-lewis-led-to-tom-bradys-big-break-and-changed-nfl-history/ |website=Sportscasting |accessdate=24 August 2020 |date=11 May 2020}}</ref> The hit appeared on the NFL's list of 100 greatest game changers, ranking at 82.<ref name="NFL100">{{cite web |title='NFL 100 Greatest' Game Changers: Mo Lewis |url=https://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-100-greatest-game-changers-mo-lewis |website=[[NFL|NFL.com]] |accessdate=24 August 2020}}</ref>