Julian Edelman was drafted by the New England Patriots in the seventh round (232nd overall) of the 2009 NFL Draft (7/23/09).
CAREER TRANSACTIONSJulian Edelman was drafted by the New England Patriots in the seventh round (232nd overall) of the 2009 NFL Draft.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
- In 2010, set a franchise record for the highest punt return average in a single-season with a 15.3-yard average, which led the AFC and finished second in the NFL behind Chicago’s Devin Hester (17.1-yard return average).
- Set a franchise record with a 94-yard punt return for a touchdown vs. Miami (1/2/11).
- Currently owns the best career punt return average in Patriots history with a 13.1-yard average.
- Currently tied with Troy Brown and Irving Fryar with most punt return touchdowns in team history with three.
SEASONAL REVIEWS2012 (9/3, 0/0)
- Was placed on Injured Reserve with a foot injury on Dec. 4, 2012.
- Utilized as the main punt returner and saw action at wide receiver.
- Started at wide receiver and caught one pass for 13 yards in the win at Miami (12/2) before leaving the game with an injury. Also returned two punts for 25 yards (12.5 avg).
- Recorded his second straight game with two touchdowns - a 22-yard fumble return on a kickoff and a career-long 56-yard touchdown reception in the win at N.Y. Jets. Also returned two punts for 32 yards (16.0 avg) and had one rush for three yards. Left the game in the third quarter with a head injury and did not return.
- Scored on a 68-yard punt return in the second quarter and also had a 2-yard touchdown reception in the third quarter to become the first Patriots player to score on a return and have a touchdown reception in the same game since Irving Fryar n vs. Indianapolis on Nov. 10, 1985. Also had the longest run from scrimmage for a wide receiver in Patriots history with a 47-yard scamper in the fourth quarter. Also added a 49-yard punt return in the fourth quarter.
- Returned after missing three games due to injury and caught two passes for seven yards (3.5 avg) in overtime win vs. N.Y. Jets (10/21).
- Was inactive due to injury at Seattle (10/14), vs. Denver (10/7) and at Buffalo (9/30).
- Caught four passes for 28 yards (7.0 avg) and his second career regular-season touchdown reception at Baltimore (9/23). Also returned one punt for 11 yards.
- Started at wide receiver and caught five passes for 50 yards (10.0 avg.) vs. Arizona (9/16). Also returned two punts for 25 yards (12.5 avg.)
- Returned four punts for 27 yards (6.8 avg.) and played as a reserve on offense, catching one pass for seven yards in the win at Tennessee (9/9).
2011 (13/0, 3/0)
- Appeared in 13 games and played offense, defense and special teams throughout the season.
- Caught four passes for 34 yards and rushed four times for 30 yards on offense.
- Compiled 14 tackles during eight appearances at defensive back.
- On special teams, returned 28 punts for 296 yards and a touchdown, 12 kickoffs for 284 yards and made five tackles.
- Was inactive vs. the N.Y. Jets (10/9) and Dallas (10/16) due to injury.
- Was inactive at Pittsburgh (10/30).
- Appeared in all three postseason games and caught two passes for 19 yards and rushed once for -1 yards on offense. Combined for two tackles on defense. On special teams, returned four punts for 35 yards, three kickoffs for 73 yards and made one special teams tackle.
- Earned AFC Special Teams Player of the Week (Wk. 11) after returning a punt 72 yards for a touchdown on Monday Night Football vs. Kansas City (11/21).
- Saw time in all three phases of the game in the AFC Championship vs. Baltimore (1/22). Caught an eight-yard pass, rushed once for a loss of a yard, made one tackle and returned two punts for seven yards.
- Played as a reserve at wide receiver, return specialist and defensive back in the Divisional playoff game vs. Denver (1/14). Caught one pass for 11 yards, made one defensive tackle and returned two punts for 28 yards.
- Saw his first action on defense at the N.Y. Jets (11/13).
- Played in a reserve role at wide receiver and on special teams in Super Bowl XLVI vs. the N.Y. Giants (2/5). Returned three kickoffs 73 yards with a long return of 31 yards. Caught one pass for 11 yards and returned two punts for 28 yards against Denver (1/14).
2010 (15/3, 1/1)
- Played in 15 games with three starts in three-wide receiver sets.
- Finished the season with 21 punt returns for 321 yards and set a franchise record for the highest punt return average in a single-season with a 15.3-yard average. Led the AFC and finished second in the NFL behind Chicago’s Devin Hester (17.1-yard return average) with the 15.3-yard average.
- Also had 14 rushing yards on two carries and 86 yards on seven receptions.
- Set a franchise record with a 94-yard punt return for a touchdown vs. Miami (1/2). Recorded a career high 40-yard reception from Tom Brady in the first quarter against the Dolphins and a career-high 13-yard rush. Finished with three catches for 72 yards (24.0 avg.), 13 rushing yards, four punt returns for 112 yards and a touchdown, and two fair catches against the Dolphins.
- Registered a then career-long 42-yard punt return in the second quarter at Chicago (12/12). Also had a 71-yard punt return for a touchdown called back due to a penalty in the second quarter.
- Started at wide receiver in the postseason game vs. N.Y. Jets (1/16). Had one rush for 11 yards, one reception for 12 yards and returned two punts for 42 yards, including a 41-yard punt return.
2009 (11/7, 1/1)
- Played in 11 games with seven starting assignments and finished the year with 37 receptions for 359 yards and one touchdown, 11 kickoff returns for 241 yards, six punt returns for 63 yards and two rushing attempts for five yards. and led the team with six catches for 44 yards with two touchdown passes. Also returned one punt for 28 yards. Became the first Patriots rookie to catch two touchdown passes in a postseason game when he scored on a 6-yard pass from Tom Brady in the second quarter and a 1-yard touchdown reception in the third quarter.
- Was inactive for the season-opener vs. Buffalo (9/14) and missed four games due to injury: at Tampa Bay (10/25), vs. Miami (11/8), at New Orleans (11/30) and at Miami (12/6).
- Made his NFL debut at the N.Y. Jets (9/20) when he started in place of an injured Wes Welker. Led the team with eight receptions for 98 yards.
- Hauled in his first career touchdown reception at Indianapolis (11/15) on a 9-yard pass from Tom Brady in the second quarter.
- Set career-highs with 10 catches for 103 yards in the regular-season finale at Houston (1/3), seeing increased action following a first quarter injury to Wes Welker.
COLLEGE
- Played in 31 games to finish his career at Kent State with 4,997 yards passing and 2,664 yards rushing.
- Compiled a career high 3,190 yards of total offense in his senior season with the Golden Flashes and finished his career with 30 touchdown passes and 22 rushing scores.
- Was the Golden Flashes’ starting quarterback as a senior in 2008, playing in 12 games and completing 153-of-275 passes for 1,820 yards and 13 touchdowns with 11 interceptions.
- Posted record-setting numbers as a redshirt freshman quarterback at the College of San Mateo in 2005.
- Was named the Most Valuable Player in All-State Region I by the California Community College Football Coaches Association.
- Passed for 1,312 yards and 14 touchdowns and rushed for a school-record 1,253 yards and 17 scores.
- Helped lead San Mateo to an 8-3 record and second-place finish in the NorCal Conference.
PERSONAL
- Julian Edelman was born May 22, 1986 to Angie and Francis Edelman.
- As senior at Woodside (Calif.) High School in 2004, led the Wildcats to a 13-0 record and Central Coast Section championship and was named first-team all-league and all-county.
- Totaled 2,237 passing yards and 29 touchdowns in his high school career and also rushed for 964 yards and 13 touchdowns.
- Majored in business management at Kent State.
EXTRA POINTS
- Growing up as an undersized quarterback with a good arm and all kinds of athleticism, Julian Edelman had visions of being the next Doug Flutie.
- A QB at Kent State, he passed for 1,820 yards as a senior and added 1,551 rushing yards to break the school’s single-season record for total offense set by Joshua Cribbs (now with Cleveland) in 2003.
- Had an offer from the British Columbia Lions of the Canadian Football League to play quarterback but chose to switch to receiver and play in the NFL. “It was hard for the fact that you never played the other position [receiver], so you have a huge road ahead of you to learn something at the highest level in the world to it. But the easy part was that you didn’t grow up wanting to go to the CFL. I grew up wanting to go to the NFL, having that dream,” he said.
