Patriots
“That wasn’t my goal in life, to make the Hall of Fame.”
Julian Edelman hung up his spikes in 2021 as one of the most beloved Patriots of all time.
The tenacious receiver played a key role in New England’s final three Super Bowls, serving as Tom Brady’s most dependable short-yardage receiver and making several critical plays on football’s highest stage.
But even with three Super Bowl titles, one Super Bowl MVP, and 620 career receptions on his resume, Edelman’s case for Canton remains murky.
Edelman was one of the greatest postseason performers in NFL history, as the Patriots wideout currently ranks third all-time in both postseason receptions (118) and receiving yards (1,442).
He left his fingerprints all over New England’s final three Super Bowl victories — reeling in the game-winning touchdown in Super Bowl XLIX against the Seahawks, holding onto a bobbled pass that fueled a game-tying drive against the Falcons in Super Bowl LI, and winning MVP honors in Super Bowl LIII against the Rams after recording 10 catches for 141 yards.
But while he was a trusty receiver for Brady during his extended tenure in New England, Edelman’s regular-season stats don’t leap off the page, at least when compared to some other Hall-of-Fame wideouts.
Add in the fact that he didn’t earn a nod as a Pro Bowler — nor did he make any All-Pro team — and Edelman might be on the outside looking in at the Hall of Fame.
But speaking on “The Dan Patrick Show” this week, Edelman stressed that he’s not worried about his Canton credentials, nor does he plan on making any sort of campaign for entry into the Hall of Fame.
“I’m not a campaigner,” Edelman told Patrick. “That wasn’t my goal in life, to make the Hall of Fame. My goal in life was to go out and hoist a Lombardi Trophy. I got to do that three times, and played my best football games in those matches.
So that’s pretty much where I stand with all that stuff. I’m not going to sit here and campaign, try to get in to the Hall of Fame, I think that’s lame.”
For Edelman, there are more important things to focus on than the Hall of Fame — nor does he have any regrets over how his 12-year run with the Patriots played out.
“If I get in, I get in,” Edelman said. “If I don’t, I’ve got a beautiful eight-year-old daughter and I’ve got three trophies that I’ll be happy with for the rest of my life — four, because I got the MVP of the last one.”
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