Getty Tom Brady gets hit from behind by Charles Woodson (right) in the "Tuck Rule Game" in 2002.
A moment known as “The Tuck Rule” that launched and defined recently retired quarterback Tom Brady’s illustrious NFL career is now set for the “30 for 30” documentary treatment.
The movie will premiere Sunday at 8:30 p.m. ET on ESPN. But if you don’t have cable, here are some different ways you can watch “The Tuck Rule” streaming online:
Note: Heavy may earn an affiliate commission if you sign up via a link on this page
FuboTV
You can watch a live stream of ESPN and 100-plus other live TV channels on FuboTV, which comes with a free seven-day trial:
Once signed up for FuboTV, you can watch “The Tuck Rule” live on the FuboTV app, which is available on your Roku, Roku TV, Amazon Fire TV or Fire Stick, Apple TV, Chromecast, Xbox One or Series X/S, Samsung TV, LG TV, any device with Android TV (such as a Sony TV or Nvidia Shield), iPhone, Android phone, iPad or Android tablet. Or you can watch on your computer via the FuboTV website.
You can also watch live via ESPN.com or the ESPN app. You’ll need to sign in to a cable provider to watch this way, but if you don’t have that, you can use your Fubo credentials to log in and watch.
Sling TV
You can watch a live stream of ESPN and 30-plus other live TV channels via Sling TV’s “Sling Orange” package, which you can include with your free three-day trial:
Once signed up for Sling TV, you can watch “The Tuck Rule” live on the Sling TV app, which is available on your Roku, Roku TV, Amazon Fire TV or Fire Stick, Apple TV, Chromecast, Xbox One or Series X/S, Samsung TV, LG TV, any device with Android TV (such as a Sony TV or Nvidia Shield), airTV Mini, Oculus, Portal, iPhone, Android phone, iPad or Android tablet. Or you can watch on your computer via the Sling TV website.
You can also watch live via ESPN.com or the ESPN app. You’ll need to sign in to a cable provider to watch this way, but if you don’t have that, you can use your Sling credentials to log in and watch.
DirecTV Stream
DirecTV Stream (formerly AT&T TV) has four different channel packages: “Entertainment,” “Choice,” “Ultimate” and “Premier.” ESPN is included in every one, but you can pick any package and any add-on you want with your free 14-day trial.
Note that the free trial isn’t advertised as such, but your “due today” amount will be $0 when signing up. If you watch on your computer, phone or tablet, you won’t be charged for 14 days. If you watch on a streaming device on your TV (Roku, Fire Stick, Apple TV, etc.), you will be charged for the first month, but you can get still get a full refund if you cancel before 14 days:
Once signed up for DirecTV Stream, you can watch “The Tuck Rule” live on the DirecTV Stream app, which is available on your Roku, Roku TV, Amazon Fire TV or Fire Stick, Apple TV, Chromecast, Samsung TV, any device with Android TV (such as a Sony TV or Nvidia Shield), iPhone, Android phone, iPad or Android tablet. Or you can watch on your computer via the DirecTV Stream website.
You can also watch live via ESPN.com or the ESPN app. You’ll need to sign in to a cable provider to watch this way, but if you don’t have that, you can use your DirecTV Stream credentials (may still be listed as AT&T on the list of cable providers) to log in and watch.
Vidgo
You can watch a live stream of ESPN and 90+ other TV channels on Vidgo, which comes with a free seven-day trial:
Once signed up for Vidgo, you can watch “The Tuck Rule” live on the Vidgo app, which is available on your Roku, Roku TV, Amazon Fire TV, or Firestick, Apple TV, Chromecast, any device with Android TV (such as a Sony TV or Nvidia Shield), iPhone, Android phone, iPad, or Android tablet. Or you can watch on your computer via the Vidgo website.
You can also watch live via ESPN.com or the ESPN app. You’ll need to sign in to a cable provider to watch this way, but if you don’t have that, you can use your Vidgo credentials to log in and watch.
Hulu With Live TV
You can watch a live stream of ESPN and 65+ other TV channels via Hulu With Live TV, which now also includes both ESPN+ and Disney+ as part of their special bundle:
Once signed up for Hulu With Live TV, you can watch “The Tuck Rule” live on the Hulu app, which is available on your Roku, Roku TV, Amazon Fire TV or Fire Stick, Apple TV, Chromecast, Xbox One or Series X/S, PlayStation 4 or 5, Nintendo Switch, Samsung TV, LG TV, any device with Android TV (such as a Sony TV or Nvidia Shield), iPhone, Android phone, iPad or Android tablet. Or you can watch on your computer via the Hulu website.
You can also watch live via ESPN.com or the ESPN app. You’ll need to sign in to a cable provider to watch this way, but if you don’t have that, you can use your Hulu credentials to log in and watch.
“The Tuck Rule” Preview
Twenty years ago, Tom Brady was 24 years old and a little known backup quarterback for the New England Patriots filling in for the injured Drew Bledsoe.
Brady kept the starting job through the 2001 regular season into the playoffs, and his first playoff game made a lasting mark on his career and the league. He looked to drive his team to a game-tying field goal amid a blizzard in New England in the 2001 AFC Divisional Round game against the Oakland Raiders. The Patriots trailed the Raiders 13-10 with 1:50 to go in regulation.
It nearly fell apart for Brady and company as former college teammate and Raiders defensive back hit Brady from behind and knocked the ball out. Referees called it a fumble. After reviewing the play, the call got reversed because Brady moved his arm forward for a pass and then tucked it.
On This Date: In 2002, it looked like Tom Brady fumbled it … but the Tuck Rule changed everything.
The ruling came from NFL Rule 3, Section 22, Article 2, Note 2, which is known as “The Tuck Rule”.
“When [an offensive] player is holding the ball to pass it forward, any intentional forward movement of his arm starts a forward pass, even if the player loses possession of the ball as he is attempting to tuck it back toward his body. Also, if the player has tucked the ball into his body and then loses possession, it is a fumble,” the rule states.
Brady then marched the Patriots to a game-tying field goal, and the Patriots went on to win 16-13 in overtime. The Patriots went to win the AFC Championship and the Super Bowl — the first of six with Brady at quarterback.
Woodson, who played with Brady at Michigan, also had a Hall of Fame career and eventually won a Super Bowl with the Green Bay Packers in 2011. Brady and Woodson, once college roommates, talked about “The Tuck Rule” eventually — sort of.
2001. Tuck Rule play.
@CharlesWoodson asks @TomBrady straight up: “Was it a fumble?”
📺: #NFLTheGrind on @EPIXHD
In the documentary, Brady and Woodson sit down at greater length to talk about the moment that greatly shaped their careers.
“Everyone has a tuck rule in their life. Maybe several tuck rules,” documentary co-director Ken Rodgers said according to USA Today’s Chris Bumbaca. “This may be the biggest turning point in the history of the NFL because it leads to so much history.”