The seven-time Super Bowl champion quarterback decided to participate in Justin Bieber’s “new trend alert” and seemingly spilled the beans about one of his most iconic plays.
Bieber asks people to “tell me something honest,” and Brady answered with a reference to the controversial “Tuck Rule Game” during the 2001 NFL playoffs, Sports Illustrated reported.
“The tuck rule game against the Raiders,” Brady says, before looking around to be sure no one is listening, “it might’ve been a fumble.”
The call late in the 2001 AFC divisional round favored the New England Patriots and was the birth of the team’s dynasty. Brady appeared to fumble while being tackled by Charles Woodson and the Oakland Raiders recovered the loose football, ESPN reported. That should have ended the Patriots’ season.
But it didn’t.
An obscure rule stated that even though Brady appeared to be tucking the ball into his chest, it was still technically a passing motion, ESPN reported. The play was ruled an incomplete pass.
That enabled the Patriots to tie the game and eventually win in overtime.
The victory in snowy Foxborough, Massachusetts, catapulted the Patriots toward their first Super Bowl championship several weeks later against the St. Louis Rams.
Woodson, Brady’s college teammate at the University of Michigan who was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2021, did not seem amused with Brady’s admission.
As usual, Brady left the door open about what really happened.
“I said might. Such a tough call,” Brady tweeted. “No choice but to respect the officials’ probably correct decision.”
Tom Brady TAMPA, FL - NOVEMBER 23: Tom Brady (12) of the Buccaneers is all smiles before the regular season game between the Los Angeles Rams and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on November 23, 2020 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) (Icon Sportswire/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Tom Brady FILE - In this Jan. 18, 2004, file photo, New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, right, talks with Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning after the Patriots 24-14 win during their AFC Championship game in Foxborough, Mass. The rivalry that defined much of Brady's career was the one he had with Manning. Brady won 11 of the 17 meetings, including the first time they met in the playoffs. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, File) (CHARLES KRUPA/AP)
Tom Brady BOSTON, MA - DECEMBER 07: Tom Brady is seen on December 07, 2013 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Stickman/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images) (Stickman/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images)
Tom Brady Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady (12) throws a pass during an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong) (Kyusung Gong/AP)
Tom Brady FILE - New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady shakes hands with a fan as he leaves the field after losing an NFL wild-card playoff football game to the Tennessee Titans in Foxborough, in this Saturday, Jan. 4, 2020, file photo. Brady hasn't played an NFL football game in New England since Jan. 4, 2020. But remnants from his 20-year run with the Patriots remain everywhere in Foxborough. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, File) (Charles Krupa/AP)
Tom Brady FILE - In this Jan. 14, 2012, file photo, New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady celebrates his 19-yard touchdown pass to Rob Gronkowski during the first half of an NFL divisional playoff football game against the Denver Broncos in Foxborough, Mass. Brady had one of his most prolific playoff games at home on Jan. 14, 2012, when he and the Patriots ended Tebow Mania. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola, File) (Elise Amendola/AP)
Tom Brady Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady yells as enters the field for warmups before an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) (Jae C. Hong/AP)
Tom Brady FILE - In this Jan. 10, 2015, file photo, New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski (87) celebrates his touchdown catch from Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) in the second half of an NFL divisional playoff football game against the Baltimore Ravens in Foxborough, Mass. Brady has engineered nine fourth-quarter comebacks in the playoffs but just four of those came at home. Perhaps the most memorable of those New England comebacks outside of the Tuck Rule game, game on Jan. 10, 2015, against Baltimore. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola, File) (Elise Amendola/AP)
Tom Brady LOUISVILLE, KY - MAY 06: Tom Brady attends the 143rd Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 6, 2017 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Stephen J. Cohen/Getty Images) (Stephen J. Cohen/Getty Images)
Tom Brady Football: New England Patriots QB Tom Brady (12) and Rob Gronkowski (87) victorious after scoring touchdown during game vs Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Indianapolis, IN 11/16/2014
CREDIT: David E. Klutho (Photo by David E. Klutho /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)
(Set Number: X158945 TK1 ) (David E. Klutho/Sports Illustrated via Getty Ima)
Tom Brady TAMPA, FL - FEBRUARY 07: Tom Brady (12) of the Buccaneers drops back to pass during the Super Bowl LV game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on February 7, 2021 at Raymond James Stadium, in Tampa, FL. (Photo by Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) (Icon Sportswire/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Tom Brady JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA - APRIL 24: Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady arrives backstage during the UFC 261 event at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena on April 24, 2021 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC) (Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)
Tom Brady TOPSHOT - Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots holds the Vince Lombardi Trophy after defeating the Atlanta Falcons 34-28 in overtime during Super Bowl 51 at NRG Stadium on February 5, 2017 in Houston, Texas.
The Patriots defeated the Falcons 34-28 after overtime. / AFP PHOTO / Timothy A. CLARY (Photo credit should read TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP via Getty Images) (TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP via Getty Images)
Tom Brady TAMPA, FL - NOVEMBER 29: Tom Brady (12) of the Buccaneers shakes hands with Patrick Mahomes (15) of the Chiefs after the regular season game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on November 29, 2020 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) (Icon Sportswire/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Tom Brady TAMPA, FL - NOVEMBER 08: Two of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history Drew Brees (9) of the Saints and Tom Brady (12) of the Buccaneers share a few words of encouragement after the regular season game between the New Orleans Saints and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on November 08, 2020 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) (Icon Sportswire/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Tom Brady NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 06: Tom Brady and Gisele Bündchen attend The 2019 Met Gala Celebrating Camp: Notes on Fashion at Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 06, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Theo Wargo/WireImage) (Theo Wargo/WireImage)
Tom Brady US President Joe Biden holds a jersey alongside Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Bruce Arians (2nd R) and quarterback Tom Brady (R) during a ceremony honoring the Tampa Bay Buccaneers NFL football team for their Super Bowl LV Championship on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC, July 20, 2021. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP) (Photo by SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images) (SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images)
Tom Brady FOXBORO, UNITED STATES: New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (C) takes a hit from Charles Woodson (R) of the Oakland Raiders on a pass attempt in the last two minutes of the game in their AFC playoff 19 January 2002 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. The Patriots won 16-13 in overtime. AFP PHOTO/Matt CAMPBELL (Photo credit should read MATT CAMPBELL/AFP via Getty Images) (MATT CAMPBELL/AFP via Getty Images)
Tom Brady NEW ORLEANS, UNITED STATES: New England Patriots' quarterback Tom Brady celebrates with head coach Bill Belichick (R) after their win over the St. Louis Rams 03 February, 2002 in Super Bowl XXXVI in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Patriots defeated the Rams 20-17 for the NFL championship. AFP PHOTO/Jeff HAYNES (Photo credit should read JEFF HAYNES/AFP via Getty Images) (JEFF HAYNES/AFP via Getty Images)