Julian Edelman reveals father's initial reaction to retirement news
Edelman went down early in the 2020 season with a knee injury, and he knew the road to recovery would have been too long as an aging wide receiver. After three Super Bowl titles and a Super Bowl MVP, he finally made the decision to retire from the sport.
"I remember when I told my dad I was retiring. He told me, 'You finally smartened up,'" said Edelman. "And he said that because he said, 'It's kind of like a fighter pilot. You have to be willing to die doing your job. You have to be on that edge of reckless to go out and do what you have to do. And the day where you have to think about going to the reckless is the day you're done.'"
Edelman has been selected as the next inductee into the Patriots Hall of Fame.
He was one of the greatest postseason performers in NFL history, trailing on Jerry Rice and Travis Kelce in receptions (118) and receiving yards (1,442). Over a span of 12 seasons, he recorded 620 receptions for 6,822 receiving yards and 36 touchdowns with the Patriots.
Edelman had a career that saw him get hit numerous times, and he sacrificed his body to make incredible catches. He ended up becoming one of the Patriots' greatest receivers in franchise history, as well as a favorite target of legendary quarterback Tom Brady over the years.
Perhaps even more admirably, he knew when it was time to hang up the cleats.
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