The Patriots have parted ways with a significant portion of their most recent championship teams. The team terminated Julian Edelman’s contract after a failed physical as reported by Nan Network’s Ian Rapoport. Instead of trying to sign with a new team, Edelman is expected to retire, according to Mike Reiss of ESPN.
The soon-to-be 35-year-old receiver has been with the Patriots since 2009, when he was taken into the draft with the 232nd pick. Edelman was a starter on each of the three most recent Super Bowl championship teams, and was limited to just six games after undergoing knee surgery in 2020. He ended the 2020 season with 21 catches for 315 yards, which was his lowest total since 2012.
The former Kent State quarterback is second in Patriots history in receptions with 670, 12 receptions behind former teammate Wes Welker. He is fourth in franchise history with 6,822 receiving yards and ninth with 36 touchdowns. One of his best seasons took place in 2019, when at the age of 33 he reached 100 of 153 targets for 1117 meters and six touchdowns.
“When you’re done growing, you’re done playing,” Edelman said late in the 2019 season via USA Today. “My father always said, ‘When you are green, you grow, when you are ripe, you rot.’ “And that’s what you’re doing here. You’re constantly going out and trying to get better, improving everything you can. And that’s what I will do until the day I finish.
To make Edelman’s production more impressive in 2019 was the fact that he suffered various injuries, including injuries to his shoulder, chest and ribs.
“Julian is a tough kid,” Patriots coach Bill Belichick said during the season. “He can work through quite a bit. So, he did a good job this year.”
The Super Bowl LIII MVP, Edelman, is one of the most productive post-season receivers in league history. He is second with 118 receptions and 1,442 careers after the season. He scored in the game in New England’s 28-24 victory over Seattle in Super Bowl XLIX. While the Patriots were late behind in Super Bowl LI, Edelman’s ballet reception of 23 yards helped New England complete the biggest comeback in Super Bowl history. Two years later, in the Super Bowl that was the lowest point ever, Edelman’s 10-catch 141 yard was the difference in the Patriots’ 13-3 victory over the Rams.
Edelman’s 24 receptions in Super Bowl play are equivalent to fellow former Patriots receiver Deion Branch for the fifth time. His 337 Super Bowl yard is fourth time behind Hall of Famers Jerry Rice and Lynn Swann, as well as former teammate Rob Gronkowski. His ten receptions in Super Bowl LIII are equivalent to the eighth highest singles total in Super Bowl history.
The five-foot-10, 198-pound Edelman, a quarterback in college, struck 13 times while running for another 13 during his final season in Kent State. His versatility caught Belichick’s attention, which kept Edelman on the leaderboard after Edelman’s impressive rookie camp. Edelman eventually blossomed into Tom Brady’s No. 1 receiver during New England’s Super Bowl runs in 2014, ’16 and ’18. Edelman’s three Super Bowl wins are the best for any receiver who has entered the NFL since 2009. His contributions to the recent success of the Patriots earned him a spot on the franchise’s team for the entire decade for the 2010s.
Although he was never selected in a Pro Bowl, Edelman earned a permanent spot in the Patriots because he was one of the most important members of the team’s recent championship.