QB Matt Cassel was thrown into an uncommon role as an insurance policy in his early NFL years. Cassel was drafted by the New England Patriots in the seventh round of the 2005 NFL Draft. He was largely ignored throughout his first few years at USC as he patiently waited behind the great Tom Brady.
When Brady suffered an ACL injury that ended the season in 2008, Cassel was thrown into the starting lineup for 15 games, which was his turning point. Though Cassel had little collegiate experience, he took advantage of the chance. He had even greater success with the Kansas City Chiefs after leaving New England, and in 2010 he was selected to the Pro Bowl.
The time Matt Cassel wrestled Tom Brady. Rodney Harrison and Richard Seymour broke it up to protect the franchise QB and Cassel thought they were going to beat *his* ass. Very few better storytellers than @M_Cassel16. This Is Football is so good today. pic.twitter.com/JagfTaiRSf
— Kevin Clark (@bykevinclark) January 25, 2024
Reflecting on his time with the Patriots, Cassel shared a memorable off-the-field incident during a recent appearance on the This is Football podcast – a wrestling match with Brady. According to Cassel, he emerged victorious, serving Brady a slice of humble pie during his “younger years when testosterone was through the roof.”
Both Cassel and Brady shared a background as exemplary athletes drafted by MLB teams – Brady by the Montreal Expos in 1995 and Cassel by the Oakland Athletics in 2004. Cassel recalled playfully challenging Brady, goading him into a wrestling match.
Cassel’s victory after quickly body-slamming Brady attracted the attention of teammates—not all of them in a good way. Not to be outdone, defensive end Richard Seymour and defensive back Rodney Harrison jogged down the field to warn Cassel not to put Tom Brady in danger. They released him with a warning, but the message was quite clear: Brady’s safety could not be compromised.
