FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Julian Edelman was voted by followers as a 2025 inductee into the Patriots Corridor of Fame, the workforce introduced Monday.
Edelman spent his total 12-year profession with the Patriots, becoming a member of the franchise as a seventh-round pick of Kent State in 2009 and changing into a key cog in three Tremendous Bowl championship groups after switching from faculty quarterback to NFL large receiver.
.@Edelman11 did all of it.
Welcome to @TheHall JE11. pic.twitter.com/1gpX59QUGS
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) Could 5, 2025
This was Edelman’s first yr of eligibility for the Patriots Corridor of Fame, which requires a participant to be retired for a minimum of 4 seasons. A Patriots Corridor of Fame committee composed of media members, former gamers and coaches, and team-based media staffers named him a finalist alongside kicker Adam Vinatieri (1996-2005) and offensive lineman Logan Mankins (2005-13).
Of the finalists chosen by the Patriots Corridor of Fame committee, a fan vote over a number of weeks then determines one inductee for the reason that course of was instituted in 2007.
“Julian Edelman is likely one of the nice success tales in our franchise’s historical past,” proprietor Robert Kraft mentioned in an announcement. “There aren’t many gamers who earn an NFL roster spot at a place they’ve by no means performed earlier than. Julian not solely did that as a seventh-round draft choice, however he completed his profession with the second-most receptions in franchise historical past [620] and as a three-time Tremendous Bowl champion, together with his final as Tremendous Bowl MVP.
“Nobody was extra dedicated to his craft and honing his abilities than Jules. His explosiveness off the road, quickness in his cuts and elusiveness after the catch made him one of many hardest gamers to defend. His clutch catches in our largest video games and general toughness made him a fan favourite.”
Edelman posted to X Monday that he was “honored and grateful.” The publish included a video of him calling his father to share the information.
Honored and grateful #FoxboroForever @patriots pic.twitter.com/zTz9cgGbQN
— Julian Edelman (@Edelman11) Could 5, 2025
Former Patriots coach Invoice Belichick had the foresight to challenge that Edelman — who completed his Kent State profession with 4,997 passing yards and a couple of,664 speeding yards over 31 video games — may transition to receiver and punt returner within the NFL. That led the Patriots to pick out him with decide No. 232 of the 256-pick draft in 2009.
Edelman’s transition wasn’t seamless, nonetheless. In his first coaching camp, he struggled to catch punts and was booed by followers at one level.
Edelman was extra of a distinct segment participant in his first 4 seasons within the NFL — totaling 69 receptions for 714 yards and 4 touchdowns — earlier than breaking by means of in 2013 with a 105-catch, 1,056-yard season as quarterback Tom Brady’s go-to goal.
His profession took off from there, with arguably his best play coming within the workforce’s 34-28 comeback win over the Atlanta Falcons in Tremendous Bowl LI with a sensational tipped-ball diving catch late within the fourth quarter.
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The play mirrored how Edelman, as Kraft famous, was one of many Patriots’ most clutch performers. He ranks third in NFL historical past with 118 postseason receptions, behind Travis Kelce (178) and Jerry Rice (151). His 1,442 postseason receiving yards additionally ranks third all-time, behind Rice (2,245) and Kelce (2,078).
Within the Patriots’ 13-3 win over the Los Angeles Rams in Tremendous Bowl LIII, he was named MVP after ending with 10 receptions for 141 yards.
Whereas Edelman is broadly seen as worthy of the Patriots Corridor of Fame honor, his choice by followers over Vinatieri — who was additionally in his first yr of eligibility after the 2024 voting course of was tabled to induct Brady — is prone to spark debate on how a lot affect followers ought to have in choosing the inductee.
Like Edelman, Vinatieri was a part of three Tremendous Bowl championship groups in New England (2001, 2003, 2004) and his “Snow Bowl” kick in a divisional-round win over the Raiders on Jan. 19, 2002, is taken into account by some to be the best kick in NFL historical past — a play many view because the official starting of what led to the Patriots’ dynastic run that included six Tremendous Bowls.
Vinatieri, who went on to play for the Indianapolis Colts (2006-19) when the Patriots did not supply him a comparable long-term contract after utilizing the franchise tag on him in successive years, was additionally a finalist for the Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame this yr in his first yr of eligibility.
Edelman might be joined by former coach Invoice Parcells (1993-96) as this yr’s inductees into the Patriots Corridor of Fame. Kraft used his standing as proprietor to place Parcells into the Corridor of Fame as a contributor after he had been voted a finalist 5 occasions.
