Julian Edelman facts for kids
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Edelman with the New England Patriots in 2019
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| No. 11 | |||||||||||
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| Position: | Wide receiver | ||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||
| 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 American football player. He played as a wide receiver and return specialist 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, and he became a key player for their offense. He was known for his amazing catches and toughness.
He is one of the best playoff receivers in NFL history. Edelman won three Super Bowl championships with the Patriots. He was named the MVP of Super Bowl LIII in 2019.
Contents
Early Life and High School Football
Julian Edelman was born in Redwood City, California. His dad, Frank, was a mechanic. Julian has two siblings, Jason and Nicole. He was raised Christian but later explored his Jewish heritage. In 2013, he shared that he identifies as Jewish and celebrates Hanukkah.
Edelman played both football and baseball at Woodside High School. He was very small when he started high school. As a senior in 2004, he led his high school football team to a perfect 13–0 record as their quarterback. He threw for over 2,200 yards and 29 touchdowns. He also ran for over 900 yards and 13 touchdowns.
College Career as a Quarterback
After high school, Edelman went to the College of San Mateo for a year. There, he threw for 1,312 yards and 14 touchdowns. He also set a school record by rushing for 1,253 yards and 17 touchdowns.
He then moved to Kent State University. At Kent State, Edelman was the starting quarterback for three years. In his senior year (2008), he was the team's top passer and rusher. He threw for 1,820 yards and 13 touchdowns. He also ran for 1,370 yards and 13 touchdowns. His total offense that year broke a school record.
College Football Statistics
| Season | Team | GP | Passing | Rushing | Combined | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cmp | Att | Pct | Yds | Avg | TD | Int | Rtg | Att | Yds | Avg | TD | Total Yards | Total TDs | |||
| 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
Julian Edelman was not invited to the NFL Combine, where college players show off their skills for NFL teams. However, at his own "Pro Day," he ran a very fast shuttle drill. This caught the attention of teams.
The New England Patriots drafted Edelman in the seventh round of the 2009 NFL Draft. He was the 232nd player picked. The Patriots saw his potential to play different positions, not just quarterback. Edelman knew he probably couldn't make an NFL team as a quarterback. So, he prepared to play other roles, like return specialist and wide receiver.
Starting His NFL Journey (2009-2012)
In 2009, Edelman made the Patriots team. He returned a punt 75 yards in a preseason game. He made his first NFL start in Week 2, catching eight passes for 98 yards. He scored his first NFL touchdown later that season. When star receiver Wes Welker got injured, Edelman stepped up. He had his first 100-yard receiving game. In the playoffs, he scored two touchdowns, becoming the first rookie since 1995 to do so in a playoff game.
In 2010, Edelman had a 94-yard punt return touchdown. This was the longest punt return in Patriots history. He also had the second-best punt return average in the league.
During the 2011 season, Edelman was mainly a kick and punt returner. He even played some defensive back because of team injuries. He returned a punt for a touchdown and made important tackles. The Patriots reached Super Bowl XLVI but lost to the New York Giants.
In 2012, Edelman continued to be a strong returner. He tied a Patriots record with his third punt return touchdown. He also had a great game against the New York Jets, scoring two touchdowns. However, he broke his foot later that season and missed the rest of the games.
Becoming a Star Receiver (2013-2016)
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Edelman signed a new contract with the Patriots in 2013. This was a breakout year for him. He caught 105 passes for 1,056 yards. He became only the third Patriots player to catch over 100 passes in a season. He also helped the Patriots win a huge comeback game against the Denver Broncos, where they were down by 24 points at halftime.
In 2014, Edelman started 14 games. He had 92 catches for 972 yards. He set a new Patriots record with his fourth career punt return touchdown. In the playoffs, he even threw a 51-yard touchdown pass on a trick play! The Patriots won Super Bowl XLIX against the Seattle Seahawks. Edelman had 109 receiving yards and scored the game-winning touchdown in the fourth quarter. He led all receivers in the playoffs that year in catches and yards.
In 2015, Edelman started strong with two games of 10 or more catches. However, he suffered a foot injury that needed surgery. He returned for the playoffs, helping the Patriots win a game with 10 catches for 100 yards.
The 2016 season was another great one for Edelman. He had a career-high 1,106 receiving yards on 98 catches. He also had a 77-yard touchdown catch. The Patriots reached the Super Bowl LI against the Atlanta Falcons. Edelman made an incredible, difficult catch in the fourth quarter. This catch was key to the Patriots' historic comeback, as they won 34–28 in overtime after being down 28–3. Many called it "the greatest catch in Super Bowl history."
Injuries and Super Bowl MVP (2017-2018)
In 2017, Edelman signed a contract extension. However, he tore a ligament in his knee during a preseason game. This injury caused him to miss the entire 2017 season. The Patriots still made it to Super Bowl LII but lost.
In 2018, Edelman was suspended for the first four games. He returned to play in October. He finished the season with 74 catches for 850 yards and six touchdowns. The Patriots made the playoffs again.
In the 2018 playoffs, Edelman was outstanding. He had 151 receiving yards in the first game. In the AFC Championship, he had 96 yards. In Super Bowl LIII, he caught 10 passes for 141 yards in the Patriots' 13–3 victory over the Los Angeles Rams. For his amazing performance, he was named the MVP of the game. He became the first wide receiver since 2009 to win Super Bowl MVP. He also became the first Jewish football player to win the award. His playoff performance moved him to second all-time in playoff catches and receiving yards, behind only Jerry Rice.
Final Seasons and Retirement (2019-2021)
In 2019, Edelman signed another contract extension. He continued to be a key player for the Patriots. He had 100 catches for 1,117 receiving yards and six touchdowns that season. He reached 100 catches for the season in the final game.
In 2020, Edelman had a career-high 179 receiving yards in a game against the Seattle Seahawks. However, he later had knee surgery and was placed on injured reserve. He did not play again that season.
Julian Edelman announced his retirement from football on April 12, 2021. He played all 12 of his NFL seasons with the New England Patriots. Both his coach, Bill Belichick, and team owner, Robert Kraft, praised him for his toughness and competitive spirit. His former teammate, Tom Brady, also shared his appreciation for Edelman.
After retiring, Edelman started a media career. He joined the show Inside the NFL as an analyst. There was some talk about him possibly returning to play with Tom Brady, 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.
NFL Career Statistics
| Legend | |
|---|---|
| Won the Super Bowl | |
| Super Bowl MVP | |
| Bold | Career high |
Regular season
| 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 | 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
| 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 Football and Personal Life
In 2016, Edelman wrote a children's book called Flying High. It's about a squirrel named Jules who works hard to overcome challenges. A second book, Flying High 2, came out in 2017. He also wrote a memoir, Relentless, in 2017.
Edelman has his own clothing brand, JE11. He has also appeared on TV shows like Ballers and America's Next Top Model. He has presented at the Grammy Awards twice.
In 2019, Edelman started a production company called Nuthouse Sports. Their first project was a documentary about his recovery from injury, called 100%. After he retired, he joined Inside the NFL as an analyst.
In 2022, Edelman started 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 is also known for his funny impersonations of his former coach, Bill Belichick, which became popular online.
Edelman has a daughter named Lily. He has spoken about how being a father changed his view of life.
See also
- List of select Jewish football players
