FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – The New England Patriots announced today that former wide receiver Julian Edelman has been voted into the Patriots Hall of Fame as the 37th inductee. Edelman joins Tom Brady (2024), Troy Brown (2012), Tedy Bruschi (2013), Kevin Faulk (2016), Ty Law (2014), Matt Light (2018), Willie McGinest (2015), Richard Seymour (2020) and Mike Vrabel (2023) as the 10th player to enter the Patriots Hall of Fame as a three-time Super Bowl champion with the team.
Edelman will join former head coach Bill Parcells, who was named as a contributor to the Patriots Hall of Fame by Chairman and CEO Robert Kraft during a media session at the annual league meetings in Palm Beach, Fla. The date and time for the 2025 Patriots Hall of Fame induction ceremony will be announced once details are confirmed with the inductees.
"Julian Edelman is one of the great success stories in our franchise's history," said Kraft. "There aren't many players who earn an NFL roster spot at a position they have never played before. Julian not only did that as a seventh-round draft selection, but he finished his career with the second-most receptions in franchise history and as a three-time Super Bowl Champion, including his last as Super Bowl MVP. No one was more committed to his craft and honing his skills than Jules. His explosiveness off the line, quickness in his cuts and elusiveness after the catch made him one of the hardest players to defend. His clutch catches in our biggest games and overall toughness made him a fan favorite."
Edelman spent his entire 12-year career with the Patriots after originally joining the team as a seventh-round draft pick in the 2009 NFL Draft out of Kent State. He is second in team history with 620 receptions, fourth with 6,822 receiving yards and ninth with 36 receiving touchdowns. He also had 58 rushing attempts for 413 yards, the most rushing attempts and rushing yards by a wide receiver in Patriots history. His 9,869 all-purpose yards are fourth in team history. Edelman also ranks third in NFL history with 118 postseason receptions, behind Travis Kelce (178) and Jerry Rice (151). His 1,442 postseason receiving yards also ranks third all-time, behind Rice (2,245) and Kelce (2,078). A member of three Super Bowl Championship teams, Edelman turned in key performances at crucial moments in all three Super Bowls wins. He was named Super Bowl LIII MVP after finishing with 10 receptions for 141 yards in the win vs. the Los Angeles Rams. Edelman finished with 5 receptions for 87 yards, including a miraculous 23-yard, diving, fingertip catch late in the fourth quarter of the win vs. Atlanta in Super Bowl LI. He also caught the game-winning, 3-yard touchdown pass with 2:06 left to play in the fourth quarter of the Super Bowl XLIX win vs. Seattle. A college quarterback who converted to wide receiver after entering the NFL, Edelman made his mark as a punt returner early in his career. Edelman totaled 177 punt returns for 1,986 yards and an 11.2-yard average, which is the 12th-highest in league annals (minimum 100 punt returns). He holds the team record with 4 punt returns for a touchdown and set a franchise record with a 94-yard punt return for a touchdown vs. Miami on Jan. 2, 2011. During the 2011 season, he was also called on to play defense and finished the season with 10 total tackles as a reserve in the secondary.
Beginning in 2007, the Patriots started a new tradition, inducting at least one player into the team's hall of fame each year. The process involves a panel of media, alumni and staff who collectively nominate the players or head coaches most deserving of induction. After the nominations are made, the committee votes, and the top three tallies become that year's finalists. The Patriots then give fans the opportunity to vote online to select each year's inductee. The Patriots are the only team in the NFL that allows its fans to make the final selection for enshrinement into the franchise's highest individual honor. In addition to the fans annually selecting a nominee for induction, a senior selection committee has added three members to the Patriots Hall of Fame, and Kraft has extended the honor to five contributors.
The New England Patriots held their annual nomination committee meeting on Thursday, April 3, to discuss, deliberate and vote for this year's candidates for induction into the Patriots Hall of Fame.
About The Patriots Hall of Fame presented by RTX
The Patriots Hall of Fame presented by RTX is the crown jewel of Patriot Place and one of the only sports and education experiences of its kind. Through a dazzling array of interactive multimedia exhibits and historical artifacts, the Patriots Hall of Fame presented by RTX showcases the tradition of the New England Patriots, explores the history of football in New England and promotes math and science education for the thousands of schoolchildren who visit each year. It is also home to the Patriots' six Lombardi Trophies. For more information, please visit www.patriotshalloffame.com.
The 32 former players who have been selected to the Patriots Hall of Fame are listed in alphabetical order below, with the year of induction listed parenthetically. In addition, the five people who have been added as contributors are listed in chronological order:
- Houston Antwine (2015)
- Bruce Armstrong (2001)
- Drew Bledsoe (2011)
- Tom Brady (2024)
- Troy Brown (2012)
- Tedy Bruschi (2013)
- Nick Buoniconti (1992)
- Gino Cappelletti (1992)
- Raymond Clayborn (2017)
- Ben Coates (2008)
- Sam Cunningham (2010)
- Bob Dee (1993)
- Julian Edelman (2025)
- Kevin Faulk (2016)
- Leon Gray (2019)
- Steve Grogan (1995)
- John Hannah (1991)
- Rodney Harrison (2019)
- Mike Haynes (1994)
- Jim Lee Hunt (1993)
- Ty Law (2014)
- Matt Light (2018)
- Willie McGinest (2015)
- Stanley Morgan (2007)
- Jon Morris (2011)
- Jim Nance (2009)
- Steve Nelson (1993)
- Vito "Babe" Parilli (1993)
- Richard Seymour (2020)
- Andre Tippett (1999)
- Mike Vrabel (2023)
- Vince Wilfork (2022)
Contributors by Year:
- William H. "Billy" Sullivan, Jr. (2009)
- Gil Santos (2013)
- Tracy Sormanti (2021)
- Dante Scarnecchia (2023)
- Bill Parcells (2025)
We take a look back at the career of Patriots Wide Receiver Julian Edelman (2009 - 2020). Edelman was selected by fans for induction into the Patriots Hall of Fame in 2025.
