"Still makes me sick”: Former Raiders coach Jon Gruden is still angry about Tom Brady's infamous tuck rule

Jon Gruden is a professional football coach born in the United States. He is an advisor to the Milano Seamen of the European League of Football. He served as a head coach for the Raiders franchise during their tenure in Oakland from 1998 to 2001; he won two consecutive division titles and appeared in an AFC Championship Game. In a video tour of his Fired Football Coaches Association (FFCA) office, Gruden proudly shows off a few framed jerseys before turning to his pièce de résistance: a massive photo of the famed Tom Brady's "tuck rule" play situated right in front of his toilet.

Jon Gruden still can't let go of the 2002 AFC’s tuck rule

Jon Gruden, former Oakland Raiders coach and Barstool Sports personality, can't let go of the "tuck rule," the momentum-swinging call in the 2002 playoff match between the Raiders and the Patriots. He probably sees it at least once daily. In an office video tour, Gruden displays his framed jerseys and a big-picture photo of the "tuck rule" play-set right in front of his toilet. "Still makes me sick when I think of the Patriots," Gruden emphatically notes, panning away from the picture. "I can't help but fall to my knees when I think of the tuck rule."


In a 2002 AFC divisional playoff game, Tom Brady was sacked by Raiders cornerback Charles Woodson and had the ball knocked from his grasp, and the Raiders recovered the fumble to win. But the referee invoked the "tuck rule," ruling that Brady's arm was still in motion before he tucked it back into his body, the play, therefore, an incomplete pass. And New England won in overtime. Quarterback Josh Gruden was traded to Tampa Bay.

Following a Patriots possession, Brady hit David Patten with a 13-yard pass to the Raiders' 29. Two incompletions and a Brady scramble later, Vinatieri came on to hit a game-tying 45-yard field goal through the snow with only 27 seconds remaining, a kick that is often considered one of the most difficult in NFL history,[16] or the most "clutch-kick ever." [17] The Raiders let the game go into overtime after the Patriots ran off most of the last few ticks of the clock following the kickoff.

The Patriots won the toss and received. They marched 61 yards in 15 plays, with Brady completing all eight of his pass attempts, going 45 yards. On fourth down and 4 from the Raiders' 28, Brady hit Patten for a six-yard completion. Three plays later, Antowain Smith picked up eight yards for a first down at the Oakland 9 and the Patriots, now going against the wind, fought to set up the game-winning kick. After Brady dove to the 5 and centered the ball, Vinatieri kicked a 23-yard field goal, giving the Patriots a 16–13 victory and advancing them to the AFC Championship Game. Brady completed 26 of 39 passes for 238 yards in the second half.

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The "tuck rule" was eliminated by the NFL in 2013. Gruden, out of either penance or spite or simply unable to let go, now looks at one of his career-defining moments every time he goes to the porcelain throne.