On Dec. 9, 2001, Devin Bush Sr. was the starting free safety for the Browns when they lined up against the Patriots in Foxborough to face a fresh-faced young quarterback named Tom Brady.
Brady, a sixth-round draft pick in 2000 by New England, had been forced into the starting lineup for the Patriots earlier in the season because of an injury to starter Drew Bledsoe. On this day, the Patriots would pull out a 27-16 win over the Browns, though Brady looked very average in the game. He completed 19-of-28 passes for 218 yards, no touchdowns and two interceptions while being sacked three times. As for Bush, he recorded seven tackles, though none were on Brady.
Fast forward 18 years and it's something his son, Devin Bush Jr., might get an opportunity to do when the Steelers open the season Sept. 8 at New England.
Brady, at 42, is still playing for the Patriots. Bush, who just turned 21 in July, was the Steelers' first-round pick and should see a lot of time at linebacker in the game.
The Steelers have faced Brady and the Patriots a number of times over the years -- including last season when they defeated New England 17-10 at Heinz Field in December -- but this will be the first time one of their players will have a father who also played against him.
"I hadn't really thought about that," Bush told me. "That's kind of crazy when you think about it like that. You kind of blew my mind with that one there."
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