Julian Edelman's career receiving stats - 620 receptions, 6,822 yards, 36 touchdowns - may not pop out at you as spectacular, but it was the combination of Edelman's work ethic and performances in clutch moments that stand out to Patriots' fans throughout the world.
Not only did Edelman serve as Tom Brady's safety blanket for most of the second half of New England's dynasty, especially from 2013 on after Wes Welker left the Patriots for Denver, but one moment that sticks out in my mind is Edelman's tip-drill catch on the game-tying drive of Super Bowl LI.
Edelman and a host of other NFL legends, including all-time leading Patriots' scorer Stephen Gostkowski, are up for the Pro Football Hall of Fame for the first time in 2026. While Edelman may not get in on the first ballot, you could argue that he's deserving of a gold jacket.
Three reasons why Julian Edelman should be enshrined in the NFL Hall of Fame
1. Coming through when it mattered most
Julian Edelman was always the guy that the Patriots could count on to get a huge first down or a clutch touchdown. Not only was the aforementioned catch against the Falcons a championship moment, but Edelman hauled in what proved to be the game-winning score in Super Bowl XLIX against Seattle.
His playoff numbers - 118 catches, 1,442 yards, six touchdowns - are some of the best of all time. We all remember the touchdown pass he threw against the Ravens in the 2014 divisional round, which sparked a Patriots' comeback. There's no Super Bowl XLIX championship without that moment. Period.
2. Overcoming the odds to be a top receiver
Edelman was a seventh-round pick out of Kent State and played quarterback in college. Like most low-round draft picks, his best bet to make the final roster came on special teams. After being converted into a wide receiver, Edelman wowed Bill Belichick and company by returning a punt for a touchdown in a preseason game against Philadelphia.
Edelman only had four touchdown catches over his first four seasons, but he was buried in a deep New England depth chart that included the likes of Welker and Randy Moss, and later Rob Gronkowski and Danny Amendola.
But the 2013 season was Edelman's coming-out party after Welker had bolted for Denver, catching 105 passes for 1,056 yards and six touchdowns. From then on, he was Brady's most reliable guy, and The Goat and The Squirrel formed an undeniable chemistry on the field.
3. Consistency
From 2013 on, Edelman never had what you could define as a bad season. One could argue that his numbers may be better, both in the regular season and postseason, had his 2017 campaign not been wiped out by a torn ACL.
His best season in New England came in 2019 (100 catches, 1,117 yards, six TDs), but an injury midway through the 2020 campaign essentially ended Edelman's career.
Edelman may not be Moss or Jerry Rice in terms of natural talent, but his blend of work ethic, consistency, and postseason clutchness - on one of the best dynasties pro sports has ever seen, no less - makes him a solid Hall of Fame candidate.