Veteran WR Julian Edelman announced his retirement in 2020 after a 12-year career with the Patriots drafted out of Kent State. As one of Tom Brady’s favorite WR’s, he was able to make his impact on the field and make some non-forgettable moments that will live in NFL history forever. Now as time passes, there has been a debate on whether Edelman should be inducted into the hall of fame so I took a look at his career and we’ll see if he has done enough to be in Canton, Ohio for the NFL’s hall of fame ceremony when his time comes.
Edelman came on the Patriots roster as an undrafted player with his great kickoff and punt returns also while on offense sharing the field with all pro players like Wes Welker and Rob Gronkowski. But as he picked up steam, Belichick had other plans putting him more in the slot position and less on returns as his value sky-rocketed. Then slowly as Edelman and Brady began creating chemistry he began seeing the ball thrown to him more slowly becoming the Patriots’ WR1. The 34-year-old collected three Super Bowl wins and Super Bowl MVP with 620 receptions, 6,822 yards, and 41 touchdowns during his career. He has the second-most receptions (118) and receiving yards (1,422) in the Super Bowl era behind Jerry Rice. Edelman was the definition of the ‘Patriots Way’. Belichick said this when Julian announced his retirement in 2020.
“By any measure of what constitutes an elite NFL career — wins, championships, production — Julian has it all,” Belichick said. “Few players can match Julian’s achievements, period, but considering his professional trajectory and longevity, the group is even more select. It is historic. This is a tribute to his legendary competitiveness, mental and physical toughness, and will to excel. Day in and day out, Julian was always the same: all out.
“Then, in the biggest games and moments, with championships at stake, he reached even greater heights and delivered some of his best, most thrilling performances. For all Julian did for our team, what I may appreciate the most is he was the quintessential throwback player. He could, and did, do everything — catch, run, throw, block, return, cover, and tackle — all with an edge and attitude that would not allow him to fail under any circumstance.
“Julian Edelman is the ultimate competitor, and it was a privilege to coach him.”
Anyone who either teamed up with or faced against him has the up most respect for the 12-year veteran, with Edelman getting 6,882 receiving yards and over 68 touchdowns for his career. But you have to take a look at some of his career highlights and some of the best moments he had during his time with the Patriots.
With the Patriots facing a must-have 3rd-and-14 down 10 in the fourth quarter of Super Bowl XLIX, Tom Brady found Julian Edelman over the middle beyond the sticks. Despite a massive blow from Kam Chancellor, he held onto the ball for the first down – plus extra yardage. He’d torch the Legion of Boom for nine catches and 109 yards in the game, and caught what ended up being the game-winning touchdown – on a play they’d already run earlier in the game.
This may be the greatest non-Super Bowl play from the Patriots dynasty. Bill Belichick waited six years to let the college QB throw his first NFL pass, but they picked the exact right time. The touchdown pass to then Patriots receiver Danny Amendola tied the game and erased the Patriots’ second 14-point deficit of the night vs Baltimore and sent the Gillette Stadium crowd into a frenzy.
Edelman wasn’t about to let the 28-3 comeback slip through his fingers. On the eventual game-tying drive of Super Bowl LI, Edelman caught a deflected pass just inches from the ground, beating three Falcons defenders to the ball. It is arguably the most miraculous catch in Super Bowl history.
Julian Edelman had a career to remember, as one of the best WR that the Patriots ever had, and I think he will be in Canton, Ohio when the NFL brings him in as a Hall of Famer.
