Julian Edelman facts for kids
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Edelman with the New England Patriots in 2019
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| Position: | Wide receiver | ||||||||||
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| Born: | May 22, 1986 Redwood City, California, U.S. |
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| Height: | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | ||||||||||
| Weight: | 198 lb (90 kg) | ||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||
| High school: | Woodside (Woodside, California) | ||||||||||
| College: |
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| NFL Draft: | 2009 / Round: 7 / Pick: 232 | ||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||||||||||
Julian Francis Edelman (born May 22, 1986) is a former professional football player. He was a wide receiver for the New England Patriots for 12 seasons in the National Football League (NFL).
Edelman played college football as a quarterback for the Kent State Golden Flashes. The Patriots drafted him in 2009. He then changed positions to become a return specialist and wide receiver. By 2013, Edelman was a key player for the Patriots' offense. He retired after the 2020 season.
Julian Edelman is known as one of the best receivers in playoff history. He ranks third all-time in postseason receiving yards and catches. He also holds Super Bowl records for punt returns and first-half receptions. Edelman won three Super Bowls. He was the top receiver in Super Bowl XLIX and Super Bowl LIII. He was even named the MVP of Super Bowl LIII.
Contents
- Early Life and High School Football
- College Football Career
- Professional Football Career
- Joining the Patriots in 2009
- 2010 Season: Record-Breaking Returner
- 2011 Season: Playing Both Sides
- 2012 Season: More Return Touchdowns
- 2013 Season: A Breakout Year
- 2014 Season: First Super Bowl Win
- 2015 Season: Injury and Playoff Return
- 2016 Season: Second Super Bowl Championship
- 2017 Season: Missing Due to Injury
- 2018 Season: Super Bowl MVP
- 2019 Season: Another 1,000-Yard Season
- 2020 Season: Final Games
- Retirement from Football
- NFL Career Statistics
- Outside of Football
- Personal Life
- See also
Early Life and High School Football
Julian Edelman was born in Redwood City, California. He played both football and baseball at Woodside High School. When he was a freshman, he was very small. But he grew and became the quarterback for his high school team.
In 2004, as a senior, Edelman led his team to a perfect 13–0 record. During his high school career, he threw for 2,237 yards and 29 touchdowns. He also ran for 964 yards and 13 touchdowns. Edelman identifies as Jewish and celebrates Hanukkah.
College Football Career
After high school, Edelman first attended the College of San Mateo. There, he showed off his skills as a quarterback. He threw for 1,312 yards and 14 touchdowns. He also set a school record by rushing for 1,253 yards and 17 touchdowns.
Edelman then transferred to Kent State University. He played quarterback there for three years. In his senior year, he was the team's top passer and rusher. He completed 153 passes for 1,820 yards and 13 touchdowns. He also rushed for 1,370 yards and 13 touchdowns. His total offense broke a school record.
College Statistics Overview
Here's a look at Julian Edelman's college football statistics:
| Season | Team | GP | Passing | Rushing | Total Yds | Total TDs | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cmp | Att | Pct | Yds | Avg | TD | Int | Rtg | Att | Yds | Avg | TD | |||||
| 2006 | Kent State | 11 | 134 | 242 | 55.4 | 1,859 | 7.7 | 10 | 11 | 124.4 | 169 | 658 | 3.9 | 7 | 2,517 | 17 |
| 2007 | Kent State | 8 | 98 | 189 | 51.9 | 1,318 | 7.0 | 7 | 9 | 113.1 | 118 | 455 | 3.9 | 2 | 1,773 | 9 |
| 2008 | Kent State | 12 | 153 | 275 | 55.6 | 1,820 | 6.6 | 13 | 11 | 118.8 | 215 | 1,370 | 6.4 | 13 | 3,190 | 26 |
| Total | 31 | 385 | 706 | 54.5 | 4,997 | 7.1 | 30 | 31 | 119.2 | 502 | 2,483 | 4.9 | 22 | 7,480 | 52 | |
Professional Football Career
| Height | Weight | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | 20-yard shuttle | Three-cone drill | Vertical jump | Broad jump | Bench press | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 ft 10+3⁄8 in (1.79 m) |
195 lb (88 kg) |
4.52 s | 1.52 s | 2.58 s | 3.92 s | 6.62 s | 36.5 in (0.93 m) |
10 ft 3 in (3.12 m) |
14 reps | |||
| All values from Kent State Pro Day | ||||||||||||
Julian Edelman was not invited to the NFL Combine in 2009. However, he performed very well at his Pro Day. His short shuttle time was faster than anyone at the Combine that year.
Joining the Patriots in 2009
The New England Patriots drafted Edelman in the seventh round of the 2009 NFL draft. He was the 232nd player chosen overall. The Patriots announced him as a wide receiver, even though he played quarterback in college.
In August 2009, during a preseason game, Edelman returned a punt 75 yards for a touchdown. He made the team and quickly showed his talent.
Edelman missed the first game of the season due to an ankle injury. But in Week 2, he made his first start. He caught eight passes for 98 yards. He also gained 38 yards on kickoff returns.
Later in the season, Edelman broke his arm. He returned in Week 10 and scored his first official NFL touchdown. It was a nine-yard catch from Tom Brady. When teammate Wes Welker was injured, Edelman stepped up. He had his first 100-yard receiving game. He finished his rookie season with 37 catches for 359 yards.
In the playoffs, Edelman caught two touchdowns against the Baltimore Ravens. He was the first rookie since 1995 to score two receiving touchdowns in a single playoff game.
2010 Season: Record-Breaking Returner
In 2010, Edelman's playing time as a receiver decreased. However, he shined as a return specialist. In Week 17, he returned a punt 94 yards for a touchdown. This was the longest punt return in Patriots history.
Edelman set a franchise record by averaging 15.3 yards per punt return. This was the second-best average in the entire league. He finished the season with 321 return yards.
2011 Season: Playing Both Sides
In 2011, Edelman was mainly a kick and punt returner. But due to injuries on the team, he also played defensive back in some games. He even made a tackle on defense.
In Week 11, he returned a punt 72 yards for another touchdown. This earned him his first AFC Special Teams Player of the Week award. The Patriots reached Super Bowl XLVI that season, but they lost to the New York Giants.
2012 Season: More Return Touchdowns
Edelman continued to be a versatile player in 2012. In Week 11, he had one of his best games. He caught five passes for 58 yards and a touchdown. He also ran for 47 yards on one play.
He returned two punts for 117 yards, including a 68-yard touchdown. This gave him three punt return touchdowns in his career, tying a Patriots record. In a game against the New York Jets, he scored two more touchdowns. One was a fumble recovery returned for a touchdown, and the other was a 56-yard touchdown catch from Tom Brady. Unfortunately, his season ended early due to a foot injury.
2013 Season: A Breakout Year
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After the 2012 season, Edelman signed a new one-year deal with the Patriots. The 2013 season became his breakout year. In the first game, he scored both of New England's touchdowns. He also became the NFL's all-time leader in career punt return average for a short time.
In Week 12, Edelman had nine catches for 110 yards and two touchdowns. This helped the Patriots make a huge comeback win against the Denver Broncos. They were down by 24 points at halftime but won in overtime. In Week 17, Edelman caught his 100th pass of the season. He finished the year with 105 receptions for 1,056 yards.
The Patriots won their division and played the Indianapolis Colts in the playoffs. Edelman had six catches for 84 yards in their victory.
2014 Season: First Super Bowl Win
In 2014, Edelman signed a four-year contract with the Patriots. He started 14 games and had 92 catches for 972 yards. In Week 9, he returned an 84-yard punt for his fourth career return touchdown. This broke the Patriots' record for most punt return touchdowns.
In the playoffs, Edelman even threw a touchdown pass! He caught a lateral from Tom Brady and then threw a 51-yard touchdown to Danny Amendola. This helped the Patriots win their playoff game against the Baltimore Ravens.
The Patriots went on to win Super Bowl XLIX against the Seattle Seahawks. Edelman led all receivers with 109 yards on nine catches. His touchdown catch late in the fourth quarter was the winning score. He led all receivers in the playoffs with 26 catches and 281 receiving yards.
2015 Season: Injury and Playoff Return
Edelman started the 2015 season strong. In the first two games, he had 11 catches in each. In November, he suffered a foot injury that required surgery. He had 61 catches for 692 yards and seven touchdowns before his injury.
He returned for the playoffs and helped the Patriots win their first game. They reached the AFC Championship Game but lost a close game to the Denver Broncos.
2016 Season: Second Super Bowl Championship
In 2016, Edelman continued to be a top receiver. In Week 13, he had eight catches for 101 yards. In the final regular-season game, he had a career-long 77-yard touchdown catch. He finished the season with 98 catches for a career-high 1,106 yards.
The Patriots made it to their ninth Super Bowl, an NFL record. In Super Bowl LI against the Atlanta Falcons, Edelman made an amazing catch in the fourth quarter. The ball was tipped, bounced off a defender, and Edelman caught it just inches from the ground. This catch helped the Patriots make a historic comeback. They were down 28–3 but won 34–28 in overtime.
2017 Season: Missing Due to Injury
In 2017, Edelman signed a contract extension with the Patriots. However, he tore a ligament in his knee during a preseason game. This injury meant he missed the entire 2017 season. Without him, the Patriots still reached Super Bowl LII but lost to the Philadelphia Eagles.
2018 Season: Super Bowl MVP
After recovering from his injury, Edelman was ready to play in 2018. He missed the first four games due to a suspension. But he returned strong in October. He had several games with over 100 receiving yards. He finished the season with 74 catches for 850 yards and six touchdowns.
In the playoffs, Edelman was outstanding. He had nine catches for 151 yards in the first game. In the AFC Championship Game, he made crucial catches to help the Patriots win in overtime.
In Super Bowl LIII against the Los Angeles Rams, Edelman caught 10 passes for 141 yards. His amazing performance earned him the Super Bowl MVP award. He was the first wide receiver to win Super Bowl MVP since 2009. His playoff performance moved him to second all-time in playoff receptions and receiving yards, behind only Jerry Rice.
2019 Season: Another 1,000-Yard Season
In May 2019, Edelman signed another contract extension. In Week 1, he caught six passes for 83 yards. He also threw a 32-yard pass. He suffered a rib injury in Week 3 but quickly recovered.
In Week 5, he had eight catches for 110 yards and a touchdown. He continued to have strong performances, including a game with two touchdowns. In Week 11, he threw another touchdown pass to Phillip Dorsett II. He finished the 2019 season with 100 catches for 1,117 yards and six touchdowns.
2020 Season: Final Games
In Week 2 of the 2020 season, Edelman had a career-high 179 receiving yards. He played his final game on October 25, 2020. Six days later, he was placed on injured reserve after knee surgery. He did not play again that season.
Retirement from Football
Julian Edelman announced his retirement on April 12, 2021. He played 12 seasons, all with the Patriots. Both Bill Belichick, his coach, and Robert Kraft, the team owner, praised him. They called him a "quintessential throwback player" and "one of the great success stories." His former teammate Tom Brady also shared his affection for Edelman.
After retiring, Edelman started a media career. He joined the cast of Inside the NFL as an analyst. There was some talk that he might return to play with Tom Brady on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but Edelman said he was "a one-team guy."
His retirement also brought up discussions about whether he should be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Some people point to his three Super Bowl wins and his high playoff stats. Others note that he didn't have as many regular-season awards as some other Hall of Fame players.
NFL Career Statistics
| Legend | |
|---|---|
| Won the Super Bowl | |
| Super Bowl MVP | |
| Bold | Career high |
Regular Season Stats
| Year | Team | Games | Receiving | Rushing | Returning | Passing | Fumbles | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| GP | GS | Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Att | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Ret | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Cmp | Att | Pct | Yds | TD | Int | Rtg | Fum | Lost | ||
| 2009 | NE | 11 | 7 | 37 | 359 | 9.7 | 29 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 2.5 | 5 | 0 | 6 | 63 | 10.5 | 35 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 0 |
| 2010 | NE | 15 | 3 | 7 | 86 | 12.3 | 40 | 0 | 2 | 14 | 7.0 | 13 | 0 | 21 | 321 | 15.3 | 94 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 0 |
| 2011 | NE | 13 | 0 | 4 | 34 | 8.5 | 11 | 0 | 4 | 8 | 2.0 | 6 | 0 | 40 | 580 | 14.5 | 72 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 1 |
| 2012 | NE | 9 | 3 | 21 | 235 | 11.2 | 56 | 3 | 4 | 45 | 11.3 | 47 | 0 | 20 | 301 | 15.0 | 68 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 |
| 2013 | NE | 16 | 11 | 105 | 1,056 | 10.1 | 44 | 6 | 2 | 11 | 5.5 | 7 | 0 | 35 | 374 | 10.7 | 43 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | 0 |
| 2014 | NE | 14 | 13 | 92 | 972 | 10.6 | 69 | 4 | 10 | 94 | 9.4 | 25 | 0 | 25 | 299 | 12.0 | 84 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | 0 |
| 2015 | NE | 9 | 9 | 61 | 692 | 11.3 | 59 | 7 | 3 | 23 | 7.7 | 12 | 0 | 10 | 81 | 8.1 | 19 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 |
| 2016 | NE | 16 | 13 | 98 | 1,106 | 11.3 | 77 | 3 | 12 | 57 | 4.8 | 9 | 0 | 18 | 179 | 9.9 | 23 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 2 |
| 2017 | NE | 0 | 0 | Did not play due to injury | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2018 | NE | 12 | 12 | 74 | 850 | 11.5 | 36 | 6 | 9 | 107 | 11.9 | 20 | 0 | 20 | 154 | 7.7 | 25 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 100.0 | 43 | 0 | 0 | 118.7 | 1 | 0 |
| 2019 | NE | 16 | 13 | 100 | 1,117 | 11.2 | 44 | 6 | 8 | 27 | 3.4 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 19 | 19.0 | 19 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 100.0 | 47 | 1 | 0 | 158.3 | 3 | 1 |
| 2020 | NE | 6 | 1 | 21 | 315 | 15.0 | 49 | 0 | 2 | 22 | 11.0 | 23 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | 100.0 | 38 | 0 | 0 | 118.7 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 137 | 85 | 620 | 6,822 | 11.0 | 77 | 36 | 58 | 413 | 7.1 | 47 | 0 | 207 | 2,612 | 12.6 | 94 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 100.0 | 128 | 1 | 0 | 158.3 | 25 | 6 | |
Postseason Stats
| Year | Team | Games | Receiving | Rushing | Returning | Passing | Fumbles | ||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Att | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Ret | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Cmp | Att | Pct | Yds | TD | Int | Rtg | Fum | Lost | ||
| 2009 | NE | 1 | 1 | 6 | 44 | 7.3 | 24 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 28 | 28.0 | 28 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0 |
| 2010 | NE | 1 | 1 | 1 | 12 | 12.0 | 12 | 0 | 1 | 11 | 11.0 | 11 | 0 | 2 | 42 | 21.0 | 41 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0 |
| 2011 | NE | 3 | 0 | 2 | 19 | 9.5 | 11 | 0 | 1 | −1 | −1.0 | −1 | 0 | 7 | 108 | 15.4 | 31 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0 |
| 2012 | NE | 0 | 0 | Did not play due to injury | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2013 | NE | 2 | 1 | 16 | 173 | 10.8 | 27 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | 36 | 7.2 | 15 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0 |
| 2014 | NE | 3 | 3 | 26 | 281 | 10.8 | 23 | 1 | 2 | 19 | 9.5 | 12 | 0 | 9 | 143 | 15.9 | 45 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 100.0 | 51 | 1 | 0 | 158.3 | 2 | 0 |
| 2015 | NE | 2 | 2 | 17 | 153 | 9.0 | 19 | 0 | 1 | 11 | 11.0 | 11 | 0 | 1 | 16 | 16.0 | 16 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0 |
| 2016 | NE | 3 | 3 | 21 | 342 | 16.3 | 48 | 1 | 2 | 14 | 7.0 | 12 | 0 | 7 | 66 | 9.4 | 26 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 39.6 | 0 | 0 |
| 2017 | NE | 0 | 0 | Did not play due to injury | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2018 | NE | 3 | 3 | 26 | 388 | 14.9 | 35 | 0 | 2 | 15 | 7.5 | 8 | 0 | 10 | 77 | 7.7 | 16 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0 |
| 2019 | NE | 1 | 1 | 3 | 30 | 10.0 | 20 | 0 | 2 | 12 | 6.0 | 7 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 0 |
| Total | 19 | 15 | 118 | 1,442 | 12.2 | 48 | 5 | 11 | 81 | 7.4 | 12 | 1 | 42 | 516 | 12.3 | 45 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 50.0 | 51 | 1 | 0 | 135.4 | 3 | 0 | |
Outside of Football
Julian Edelman has done many things outside of football.
Children's Books
In 2016, Edelman wrote a children's book called Flying High. It's about a squirrel named Jules who learns to work hard and overcome challenges. A second book, Flying High 2, came out in 2017. It was inspired by his famous Super Bowl catch.
Memoir and Clothing Brand
Edelman also wrote a memoir called Relentless in 2017. He has his own clothing brand called JE11. He has worked with other companies on lines of shirts, jeans, and football gloves.
TV Appearances and Podcasts
Edelman has made guest appearances on TV shows like Ballers and America's Next Top Model. He has also presented at the Grammy Awards twice.
In 2019, Edelman started a production company called Nuthouse Sports. They made a documentary about his recovery from injury called 100%. He also became an analyst for Inside the NFL.
Since 2022, Edelman has co-hosted a podcast called Games with Names. He talks about famous sports games with guests. In 2024, he launched another podcast, Dudes on Dudes, with his former teammate Rob Gronkowski. Edelman has also appeared on other popular podcasts, including New Heights, where his impression of coach Bill Belichick became very popular online.
Personal Life
Julian Edelman has a daughter named Lily. He has spoken about how being a father has changed his life.
He has shown support for the Jewish community. In 2014, he wore an Israeli-American flag pin during a game. After a tragic event in Pittsburgh in 2018, he wore an Israeli flag hat and special cleats with the message #strongerthanhate. He also invited a basketball player who used a hateful slur to a Shabbat dinner.
See also
In Spanish: Julian Edelman para niños
