For years, the New England Patriots had one of the most reliable pass-catchers in the game, especially in the playoffs or when the game was on the line.
We’re not talking about Rob Gronkowski but about Julian Edelman.
While not the fastest, biggest, and definitely not the most athletic wide receiver out there, Edelman was Tom Brady‘s escape valve and one of his favorite pass-catchers because of his relentless work ethic.
With that in mind, the legendary quarterback tipped his hat to his former teammate, raving about how hard work and competitiveness often outweigh talent or athleticism (via Impaulsive & Dov Kleiman):
“Those lesser-physical athletes who are competitive every day were champions. They won multiple Super Bowls. You know who’s a great example of that? Julian Edelman. Wasn’t the biggest, wasn’t the fastest, tough, competitive, grimy—three Super Bowls. There’s a lot of [more physically-gifted athletes] out there, but Julian’s a champion,” Brady said.
Inspirational: The legendary Tom Brady explains what made Julian Edelman great despite not being an elite athlete.
(via @impaulsive) pic.twitter.com/UC9a7rj0fi
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) May 11, 2025
Edelman entered the league as a quarterback and made the transition to wide receiver.
He had to earn his stripes the right way.
Then, he walked away from the game as a three-time Super Bowl winner, a Super Bowl MVP, and one of the most beloved, respected, and accomplished players in New England Patriots history.
Edelman was inducted into the Patriots Hall of Fame and was a member of the franchise’s All-2010s and All-Dynasty teams.
He also retired with the second-most receptions and receiving yards in NFL playoffs history.
He was never a superstar by any means, and you will most definitely find dozens of flashier players or guys with better stats, but no one can argue Edelman’s impact on one of the most dominant teams in NFL history.
It’s never about where you’re taken or whether you’re supposed to make it or not.
It’s all about hard work and wanting it more than everybody else.
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