On September 20, the New England Patriots inducted their all-time leading postseason receiver, and in my opinion, the greatest receiver in Patriots history, into their Hall of Fame – Julian Edelman. Edelman was a 1x Pro Bowler, a 3x Super Bowl Champion, a 1x Super Bowl Most Valuable Player and eclipsed over 1000 yards three times in his 11-year career. To celebrate Edelman’s induction into the Patriots Hall of Fame, I put together a list of his top 5 moments from his time in the league.
#5: Julian Edelman for 21 Yards on 3rd & 14, gets blasted by Kam Chancellor (Super Bowl XLIX)
The Patriots were skidding, and along with that was any hope for a Super Bowl 49 victory. The Patriots faced a 3rd & 14 from their own 28-yard line with ten minutes and 58 seconds to go in the game. Tom Brady took the snap in shotgun formation and dropped back to the 20-yard line. Instead of throwing from there, he stepped up and then began to run with the football. However, just before crossing the line of scrimmage, he planted his feet and fired a pass 21 yards down the field to Julian Edelman. Edelman caught the football and was hit hard by Kam Chancellor. Somehow, Edelman held onto the football and even got up to run for a dozen more yards. He was later ruled down at the spot of the catch, but Edelman’s catch got momentum back on New England’s side, as they were later able to score on the drive, and later won the game to earn themselves a fourth Lombardi trophy.
#4: “The Double Pass,” Tom Brady to Julian Edelman to Danny Amendola for 51 yards (2014 AFC Divisional playoff)
In 2009, the Patriots selected quarterback Julian Edelman in the seventh round of the NFL Draft; however, it wasn’t until January 11th, 2014, that he was finally given his first opportunity to throw a pass. Late in the third quarter of the 2014 AFC Divisional playoff, the Patriots were halfway done with erasing their second 14-point deficit of the night, as they were down 28-21. Brady lined up under center as he signaled for Edelman to go in motion. He ran behind Brady, and just as Edelman set his feet, the ball was snapped and quickly swung out to him. The former college quarterback caught the football, and instead of running with it like he typically would, he put the ball in his right hand and geared back to pass. Lofting a 51-yard touchdown pass to fellow wide receiver Danny Amendola, and following an extra point, the game was tied. It was a crucial moment that once again allowed the Patriots to seize the momentum of the game in the postseason. The team carried that momentum all the way through the Super Bowl, defeating the Seahawks 28-24, just weeks later.
#3: Edelman wins Super Bowl MVP against the Rams (Super Bowl LIII)
Unlike the previous two on this list, this isn’t just one particular play; it’s ten. In 2018, the Patriots were counted out by most “NFL experts,” following their 41-33 loss to the Eagles in Super Bowl 52; however, it wasn’t just the Patriots who were counted out. Julian Edelman did not play in the 2017 season due to suffering a torn ACL and was going to be out for the first four games of the 2018 season as well. It was going to be hard for him to come back from such a severe injury at the age of 32 and be the same player he once was. However, he beat all odds, and in Super Bowl 53, Edelman put an exclamation point on what was already a fantastic career. He was the only spark for the Patriots’ dormant offense, as he caught ten balls for 144 yards. Without this performance from Edelman, the Patriots would not have won the Super Bowl.
#2: Julian Edelman catches game-winning touchdown pass in Super Bowl XLIX against the Seahawks
Edelman should have had two touchdown catches on back-to-back drives, on the same route in this game; however, Brady overthrew him the first time in the endzone. The very next play, Brady found Amendola for a touchdown to put the Patriots within three. One series later, in the same formation, Edelman was jammed harder this time, but was still able to break outside, and Brady hit the throw. As the legendary Bob Socci said, “The Patriots are back in the lead in Super Bowl 49!” This play, the one the Patriots should have scored on twice, was put in the game plan the night before in the walkthrough. This means that the first time they ran this play with an actual football was in the fourth quarter of the Super Bowl. The story behind this play and the magnitude of the it are what make it number two on this list.
#1: Julian Edelman’s heroic catch in Super Bowl LI against the Falcons
With two minutes and 28 seconds to go in Super Bowl 51, the Patriots were trailing by eight, and it was evident that they needed a game-changing play if they wanted to complete the greatest comeback in Super Bowl history. That spark was provided by none other than Edelman. Brady fired a 20-yard strike over the middle of the field, which was broken up by Falcons cornerback Robert Alfered. Unfortunately for Alfered, he wasn’t able to knock the ball all the way down, as it flew in the air. Just like a scene in a movie, two Falcons defenders and Edelman all dove for the ball in the air. Edelman was the one who got there first, diving over Alfred and in between two other members of the Falcons’ secondary to make the catch. It not only set the Patriots up to tie the game to end the drive, but also was arguably the greatest catch in NFL history, and it finished one of the greatest comebacks in sports history.
