Julian Edelman is an American football wide receiver and punt returner for the New England Patriots of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Kent State and was drafted by the Patriots in the seventh round of the 2009 NFL Draft. Edelman is one of the most accomplished receivers in NFL history, having been selected to three Pro Bowls and winning Super Bowl XLIX and Super Bowl LI with the Patriots.
Table of Contents:
1. Early Life and College Career
2. Professional career
3. Post-playing Career
4. Personal Life
5. Julian Edelman Quotes
- Early Life and College Career
Edelman was born in Redwood City, California, to Angela and Frank Edelman. He has two sisters, Nicole and Melanie. His mother is of Irish descent, while his father is of Jewish descent. Edelman was raised Jewish. He attended Woodside High School in Woodside, California, where he played quarterback, cornerback, and running back on the football team.
In his senior year, he was named the San Mateo County Defensive Player of the Year. He also played basketball and baseball. Edelman was drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 232nd round of the 2002 Major League Baseball draft but did not sign and instead chose to attend college.
Edelman played college football at Kent State University from 2006 to 2008. He began his career as a quarterback before switching to wide receiver as a junior. As a junior in 2007, he was the Golden Flashes’ leading receiver with 55 receptions for 697 yards and four touchdowns. In his senior year, he caught 58 passes for 844 yards and seven touchdowns. He also returned punts and had 19 punt returns for Kent State in 2008, averaging 11.2 yards per return.
- Professional Career
Edelman was drafted by the New England Patriots in the seventh round of the 2009 NFL Draft with the 232nd overall pick. He was the 25th wide receiver drafted in 2009.
Edelman made his NFL debut in the Patriots’ season opener against the Buffalo Bills on September 14, 2009. He recorded his first career reception, an 11-yard catch from quarterback Tom Brady, in the second quarter of the game. He finished the game with two receptions for 23 yards.
In his rookie season, Edelman played in 11 games and finished the season with 37 receptions for 359 yards and one touchdown. He also returned 36 punts for 310 yards and one touchdown.
Edelman had a breakout season in 2010, his second year in the league. He played in all 16 games and finished the season with 61 receptions for 611 yards and five touchdowns. He also returned 55 punts for 593 yards and two touchdowns.
Edelman was selected for his first Pro Bowl in 2016. He finished the season with career-highs in receptions (98) and receiving yards (1,106). He also had three touchdown receptions.
In Super Bowl LI, Edelman had five receptions for 87 yards, including a key 23-yard catch on a fourth-quarter drive that helped the Patriots win the game 34-28 in overtime.
Edelman was selected for his second Pro Bowl in 2018. He finished the season with 74 receptions for 850 yards and six touchdowns.
- Post-Playing Career
On April 12, 2021, Edelman announced his retirement from the NFL after 11 seasons.
- Personal Life
Edelman is a member of the board of directors of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston.
In May 2016, Edelman was the commencement speaker at his alma mater, Kent State University.
Edelman has a daughter, Lily, with Swedish model Ella Rose.
He also has a son, Julian, with model and actress Natalia Vodianova.
Julian Edelman Quotes
“Life’s about dealing with adversity and solving problems.”― Julian Edelman
“I don’t even enjoy football, at least professional football, anymore because I’m breaking the game down constantly. You’re sitting there watching the plays, and you’re talking mental reps on what would I have done here against this coverage or this leverage, this, that. It is what it is.”― Julian Edelman
“The more everyone tries to do their own job, that’s when the team fires on all cylinders.”― Julian Edelman
“It’s the NFL, so anytime you get to go out and get to play against another team, there’s going to be some physicality.”― Julian Edelman
“I’m from the Bay Area.”― Julian Edelman
“The funnest thing to do is win.”― Julian Edelman
“Everyone goes down a road that they’re not supposed to go down. You can do two things from it. You can keep going down that road and go to a dark place. Or you can turn and go up the hill and go to the top – try to go to the top.”― Julian Edelman
“Ball security is job security here.”― Julian Edelman
“I played 51 percent of the snaps outside, though. But you can go ahead and call me a slot as well.”― Julian Edelman
“I don’t say I’m necessarily a professional football player. I’m a competitor. That’s what was instilled in me as a young boy.”― Julian Edelman
“I love being a Patriot, and we’ll leave it at that.”― Julian Edelman
“To be really honest, I do not mind whether it is offense or defense. I just like being in on plays and doing what needs to be done to help us win.”― Julian Edelman
“I like running that football.”― Julian Edelman
“You’ve got these young kids out here that have to learn, but you learn from the guys above you. I learned from the Kevin Faulks.”― Julian Edelman
“As a punt returner in the NFL, I know all about teamwork, high speeds, and collisions on Sundays.”― Julian Edelman
“Your job as a receiver is to get open and catch the ball and block in the run game.”― Julian Edelman
“It’s nice not having to do that kind of stuff, getting surgeries and all that. It gives you an opportunity to get better. That’s what the offseason’s for.”― Julian Edelman
“If it’s a trip for pleasure, I always go with a comfortable outfit.”― Julian Edelman
“I put at the top of my paper every day, ‘Never comfortable.’ It’s just how I feel always.”― Julian Edelman
“I think it’s an honor to play for coach Belichick. You never go into a week thinking you are not prepared.”― Julian Edelman
“Injuries are psychologically so hard for an athlete because you don’t get to do what you love to do.”― Julian Edelman
“You can never go wrong with a pair of jeans, a cool tailored shirt, and a nice jacket. You can dress it up with a more stylish jacket or a bracelet, watch, or necklace. It’s simple, but it’s cool. That’s my opinion.”― Julian Edelman
“Anytime you get to go out and see the fellas and play with them and talk with them and be in the huddle and look at guys and participate in drills – I mean, that’s what you play the game for, ultimately.”― Julian Edelman
“I have fun outside the game.”― Julian Edelman
“As a young player here in New England, there’s a lot of ups and downs.”― Julian Edelman
“Mr. Kraft and his family, they gave me an opportunity to come out and play in the NFL. And just to see the kind of role model Mr. Kraft is in the community, he’s always around; he’s here every day – darn near – he’s very involved, and he’s just a good man. Nothing but respect, and it starts at the top.”― Julian Edelman
“I’m a practice player. The more I practice, the more confident I become.”― Julian Edelman
“If you give me six tries, I can probably land a kickflip.”― Julian Edelman
“I think everything happens for a reason.”― Julian Edelman
“I just kind of try to go out and focus on what I’ve got to do to get myself better.”― Julian Edelman
“When you become a pa, you have different priorities now, and you’re not living for yourself; you’re living for someone else now.”― Julian Edelman
“No one likes going out and sprinting 20 sprints, but you do it because it’s going to help you.”― Julian Edelman
“Any time you have one-on-one time with any quarterback, it’s very valuable.”― Julian Edelman
“Tough times don’t last. Tough people do. I preach that, and I guess you have to live to it.”― Julian Edelman
“Everyone’s got talent at the level we’re at. But being a smart, tough football player – there’s a huge premium for that.”― Julian Edelman
“It’s always nice to be on the practice field because, ultimately, practice is the most important thing other than the game because that’s where you gain your confidence; that’s where you get your fundamentals.”― Julian Edelman
“I wear a lot of sweatshirts and joggers in the winter and gym shorts and tees in the summer. I really appreciate something that is easy to slip on and chill out in.”― Julian Edelman
“When you’ve got a leader that wants to go out and practice at the ultimate, highest level when something that you should do doesn’t go right, there’s going to be a little fire under that, and that’s what you need from your leader.”― Julian Edelman
“I think any time you can go out and put pads on and practice before the season, I think it’s a good sign. It’s a good sign.”― Julian Edelman
“I’ve always felt like if I had a bad practice, I could potentially get cut the next day.”― Julian Edelman
“Just play every play.”― Julian Edelman
“I try to live by the 80/20 rule – 80% clean, 20% cheat. During the week and while I train, I eat as clean as possible. But I always like myself a good cheat day, which includes a juicy burger.”― Julian Edelman
“In college, I guess you could say I was a running back that threw.”― Julian Edelman
“I like to leisurely cruise around town on a longboard.”― Julian Edelman
“I always preach you have to have a short memory, whether it is good or bad.”― Julian Edelman
“It’s always exciting to get back out there with the teammates and start a new year and get on the field.”― Julian Edelman
“So I’ve been fortunate to have a bunch of teammates – pretty much all the teammates I’ve had have been pretty good guys.”― Julian Edelman
“The No. 1 rule you’re taught as a receiver: You’ve just got to watch the ball. You hear about the guy who was lucky. But the guy who was lucky got an opportunity, and he was prepared for it. Sometimes the ball falls your way, and, you know, we’ll take it.”― Julian Edelman
“It’s cool to get to play with guys that you have friendships with.”― Julian Edelman
“Special teams is one-third of the game.”― Julian Edelman
“It’s hard to shop for a guy who has everything.”― Julian Edelman
“There’s a lot of crazy stuff in this league, and you got to go out and you got to earn your role out every year.”― Julian Edelman
“We never quit.”― Julian Edelman
“There’s nothing like a nice May day in Foxborough.”― Julian Edelman
“It’s always a great thing getting to play in the last game of the year.”― Julian Edelman
“When you’re clicking, you’re not making mental mistakes. You’re going out there. You’re lining up fast.”― Julian Edelman
“There are different types of cornerbacks: you’ve got your longer guys that will try to get physical with you and use their length, and you’ve got your quick guys that will try to use their quickness, and then you’ve got your ‘tweener’ guys that will try to use both.”― Julian Edelman
“Go out and do your drills that you do to try to get better. You lift your weights, try to take things from the classroom to grass, try to get better every day.”― Julian Edelman
“It’s one thing to be 100 percent and go out and play football feeling great. It’s another thing when you’re not feeling good. You’re sick, or you got a nagging injury, and you gotta go out in the cold and go across the middle where a guy’s coming full speed at you trying to kill you.”― Julian Edelman
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