Perhaps no day has cemented the New York Jets‘ modern fortunes—or lack thereof—more than Sept. 23, 2001. On a humid afternoon, a Gang Green victory over a divisional rival somehow spawned one of the darkest days in franchise history.
This Thursday marks the 20th anniversary of Tom Brady‘s unofficial takeover of the NFL and American pop culture as a whole: the seven-time Super Bowl champion and holder of innumerable NFL records saw his first meaningful professional snaps in the final stages of the New England Patriots’ 10-3 loss to the Jets.
Brady entered the game in relief of New England staple Drew Bledsoe after the latter was forced to leave due to internal bleeding after he was the victim of a legal hit from Jets linebacker Mo Lewis.