2001 NFL trade deadline
The 2001 NFL trade deadline.
A chronological guide to the transactions and decisions surrounding the 2001 NFL trade deadline.
In the order it happened
The transaction timeline
The draft, major signings, trades and roster decisions are ordered chronologically. Complete draft boards, trade packages and free-agent jersey changes are embedded at the moment they happened.
September · Season interruption
The league pauses after the September 11 attacks
Games were postponed and the schedule moved back a week, placing football decisions inside a much larger national moment.
Deadline week · Stand pat
New England trusts an unexpected quarterback change
With Drew Bledsoe injured, the Patriots kept the offense around Tom Brady rather than pursue a veteran before the early deadline.
After the deadline · Legacy
The internal answer begins a dynasty
Brady remained the starter after Bledsoe recovered and led New England to its first championship.