Former wide receiver Julian Edelman has been elected to the Patriots Hall of Fame following a fan vote. He becomes the 37th individual inducted into the franchise's hall.
Edelman spent his entire 12-year NFL career with the New England Patriots after joining the team as a seventh-round draft pick in 2009. He converted from a college quarterback to a wide receiver.
He is the tenth player to enter the Patriots Hall of Fame with three Super Bowl titles earned with the team. These include wins in Super Bowl XLIX, Super Bowl LI, and Super Bowl LIII.
Edelman earned Super Bowl LIII MVP honors after catching 10 passes for 141 yards in the victory against the Los Angeles Rams. He made a memorable catch late in the fourth quarter of the Super Bowl LI win against Atlanta. In Super Bowl XLIX, he caught the game-winning touchdown pass.
He ranks second in team history with 620 receptions and fourth with 6,822 receiving yards. His 36 receiving touchdowns are ninth in franchise history.
Beyond receiving, Edelman also holds the most rushing attempts (58) and rushing yards (413) by a wide receiver in Patriots history. His 9,869 all-purpose yards rank fourth in team history.
In the postseason, Edelman ranks third in NFL history with 118 receptions and third with 1,442 receiving yards. He was also a prominent punt returner early in his career, ranking 12th in league annals with an 11.2-yard average on 177 returns. He holds the team record with 4 punt returns for a touchdown.
Patriots fans have spoken, selecting Edelman over other finalists Adam Vinatieri and Logan Mankins in the annual vote. The Patriots are the only team in the NFL that allows its fans to make the final selection for induction.
Former head coach Bill Parcells will also be inducted into the Patriots Hall of Fame this year as a contributor. The date and time for the 2025 induction ceremony will be announced later.
Patriots owner Robert Kraft highlighted Edelman's improbable journey in a statement. "Julian Edelman is one of the great success stories in our franchise’s history," Kraft said. "There aren’t many players who earn an NFL roster spot at a position they have never played before. Julian not only did that as a seventh-round draft selection, but he finished his career with the second-most receptions in franchise history and as a three-time Super Bowl Champion, including his last as Super Bowl MVP. No one was more committed to his craft and honing his skills than Jules. His explosiveness off the line, quickness in his cuts and elusiveness after the catch made him one of the hardest players to defend. His clutch catches in our biggest games and overall toughness made him a fan favorite."
