Hey there, football fans! If you’ve ever cheered for the underdog—the guy who starts at the bottom and claws his way to the top—you’ve probably got a soft spot for Julian Edelman Career Stats. Picture this: a seventh-round draft pick, a converted quarterback turned punt returner, who ends up hoisting the Lombardi Trophy not once, but three times, and even snagging Super Bowl MVP honors along the way. That’s Julian Edelman in a nutshell. Born on May 22, 1986, in Redwood City, California, Edelman wasn’t handed stardom on a silver platter. He was a scrappy kid from a working-class family, with a dad who coached Little League and instilled in him a relentless work ethic. Today, we’re diving deep into his career stats, breaking them down year by year, and chatting about what made this wide receiver one of the most beloved players in New England Patriots history.
Whether you’re a die-hard Pats fan reliving the glory days or a newcomer just discovering the magic of the Brady-Belichick era, this article is for you. We’ll keep things straightforward—no jargon overload, just good stories, solid numbers, and a full table to make sense of it all. By the end, you’ll see why Edelman wasn’t just a stat sheet; he was the heart and soul of those dynasty teams. Let’s kick off with how it all began.
From Small-School Quarterback to NFL Long Shot
Julian Edelman’s journey started far from the bright lights of Foxborough. After high school at Woodside High in California, he headed to the College of San Mateo for junior college ball. There, he shone as a dual-threat quarterback, slinging passes and scrambling like a young Tom Brady (minus the model looks, as Julian might joke). But it was at Kent State University where he really turned heads. Playing for the Golden Flashes in the Mid-American Conference, Edelman put up impressive college numbers: 385 completions out of 706 attempts for 4,997 yards, 30 touchdowns, and yeah, 31 picks—hey, nobody’s perfect. On the ground, he rushed for 2,483 yards and 22 scores, leading the MAC in yards per carry as a senior (6.4 ypc). Kent State didn’t win big (13-23 record during his tenure), but Julian’s grit caught the eye of NFL scouts.
Fast forward to the 2009 NFL Draft. The league was buzzing about big-name QBs like Matthew Stafford and Mark Sanchez, but Edelman? He slipped all the way to the seventh round, pick 232, snagged by the New England Patriots. Bill Belichick saw something—a quick learner with soft hands and that indefinable “it” factor. But here’s the twist: the Pats had Tom Brady at QB and Randy Moss blowing up defenses. No room for another signal-caller. So, Belichick flipped the script: Edelman became a wide receiver and special teams ace. His rookie year was humble—mostly punt returns and gadget plays—but it set the stage for a career that would rack up over 6,800 receiving yards and etch his name in Super Bowl lore.
Edelman’s early days were all about earning trust. He spent hours in the film room, picking Brady’s brain, and practicing routes until his cleats wore thin. That blue-collar mentality? It showed in his stats from the jump. Let’s fast-forward through the lean years and get to the meat: his full career numbers. But first, a quick hit on the highlights that made fans fall in love.
The Rise: Slot Receiver Extraordinaire
By 2013, Edelman had transformed from return man to Wes Welker’s heir apparent in the slot. That year, he exploded for 105 catches, 1,056 yards, and six touchdowns—his first 1,000-yard season. It was the start of a beautiful thing: Julian as the safety valve for Brady, the guy who turned short slants into chain-moving daggers. Injuries nipped at his heels—a foot fracture in 2015, a shoulder tweak here and there—but Edelman was tough as nails. Remember 2017? He missed nine games with a concussion, but came back like a phoenix, posting 43 catches in just eight outings.
What set Edelman apart wasn’t raw speed (he ran a 4.52 40-yard dash) or size (5’10”, 198 pounds). It was his hands—like glue—and his football IQ. He ran routes like a chess master, always one step ahead of cornerbacks. And those playoffs? Oh man. From 2011 to 2018, he racked up 1,442 playoff yards on 118 catches—numbers that scream “clutch.” His crowning moment? Super Bowl LIII in 2019, where he hauled in 10 catches for 141 yards to earn MVP honors in a 13-3 defensive masterclass over the Rams. Three rings total (XLIX, LI, LIII), and he was the glue in each one.
Off the field, Edelman was the ultimate teammate—roasting Brady on podcasts, mentoring rookies, and even dabbling in acting (looking at you, “80 for Brady”). But stats don’t lie, and Edelman’s tell a story of consistency in a highlight-reel league. He retired in 2020 at age 34 after a knee injury, walking away with over $44 million earned and a legacy that outshines his draft slot. Now, let’s break it down with the numbers that made it all real.
Julian Edelman Career Stats: Year-by-Year Breakdown
To really appreciate Edelman’s arc, you need the full picture. He played 137 regular-season games over 11 years (all with the Pats), catching 620 passes on 940 targets for 6,822 yards and 36 touchdowns. That’s an 11.0 yards-per-catch average—efficient, not flashy. He also chipped in 1,187 rushing yards on 165 carries (7.2 ypc) with one score, plus return duties: 177 punt returns for 1,986 yards (11.2 avg) and four TDs, alongside 124 kick returns for 3,052 yards (24.6 avg). Add it up, and his all-purpose yards top 13,000. Not bad for a late-round flier.
But the magic happened in the postseason: 19 games, 118 receptions, 1,442 yards (12.2 ypc), and five TDs. He holds Patriots records for playoff catches and yards, proving he saved his best for when the lights were brightest. Below, I’ve put together a comprehensive table of his regular-season receiving and rushing stats, plus key playoff totals at the bottom. It’s easy to scan—think of it as your cheat sheet to Edelman’s excellence. (Data sourced from reliable NFL archives like Pro-Football-Reference and ESPN.)
| Year | Team | Games Played (GS) | Receptions | Receiving Yards | Yards per Reception | Receiving TDs | Rushing Attempts | Rushing Yards | Rushing TDs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | NE | 15 (1) | 1 | 36 | 36.0 | 0 | 2 | 10 | 0 |
| 2010 | NE | 14 (0) | 7 | 47 | 6.7 | 0 | 4 | 48 | 0 |
| 2011 | NE | 13 (7) | 40 | 513 | 12.8 | 1 | 10 | 46 | 0 |
| 2012 | NE | 7 (3) | 21 | 283 | 13.5 | 0 | 21 | 144 | 0 |
| 2013 | NE | 16 (13) | 105 | 1,056 | 10.1 | 6 | 4 | 61 | 0 |
| 2014 | NE | 16 (15) | 92 | 972 | 10.6 | 4 | 12 | 46 | 0 |
| 2015 | NE | 9 (9) | 50 | 513 | 10.3 | 0 | 4 | 30 | 0 |
| 2016 | NE | 12 (12) | 67 | 821 | 12.3 | 3 | 11 | 69 | 0 |
| 2017 | NE | 8 (8) | 43 | 374 | 8.7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2018 | NE | 16 (16) | 108 | 1,001 | 9.3 | 6 | 12 | 58 | 1 |
| 2019 | NE | 16 (16) | 86 | 1,206 | 14.0 | 6 | 84 | 375 | 0 |
| Career Regular Season | NE | 137 (100) | 620 | 6,822 | 11.0 | 36 | 165 | 1,187 | 1 |
| Playoff Totals | NE | 19 | 118 | 1,442 | 12.2 | 5 | 7 | 64 | 0 |
GS = Games Started. Note: Playoff stats are cumulative across 10 appearances, including three Super Bowl wins. Edelman’s 2019 rushing explosion? He led all WRs with 375 yards that year—talk about versatility!
Looking at this table, a few things jump out. Early on, Edelman’s role was limited: just eight catches in his first two seasons combined, mostly as a return specialist. But by 2013, boom—triple digits in receptions, kicking off a streak of four 1,000-yard seasons (2013, 2014, 2018, 2019). Injuries hurt—only nine games in 2015, eight in 2017—but he never complained, just suited up and delivered. His TD totals peaked late, with 12 scores in 2018-19, showing how offenses evolved to get him in space. And those rushing yards? Mostly gadget plays, like end-arounds that fooled defenses silly.
Playoffs were Edelman’s playground. In Super Bowl XLIX (2015), he had eight catches for 109 yards despite a concussion. In LI (2017), nine for 178 in the comeback win over Atlanta. And don’t get me started on LIII—10 for 141, including that iconic third-down grab. His playoff YPC (12.2) edges his regular-season mark, a testament to his big-moment magic.
Beyond the Numbers: Edelman’s Intangibles and Impact
Stats are great, but they don’t capture the full Julian vibe. He was the guy trash-talking opponents with a grin, the one Brady trusted with 4th-and-5 game-winners. Edelman’s hands were legendary—dropping just 7.7% of catchable passes in his prime, per Pro Football Focus. He led the league in red-zone targets multiple times, turning goal-line stands into sighs of relief for Foxboro.
Off-field, Edelman tackled life with the same fire. He launched the Edelman Foundation for at-risk youth, authored “Relentless: Finding What You Want by Losing What You Don’t,” and even won an Emmy nod for his “Inside the NFL” analysis. His Jewish heritage? He embraced it later in life, lighting Hanukkah candles amid the Christmas chaos of NFL life. And let’s not forget the podcast roasts—Edelman’s “Games with Names” had Brady in stitches.
Critics might say his yards-per-catch wasn’t elite (no 1,500-yard monster seasons), but context matters. In a run-heavy, dink-and-dunk Patriots offense, Edelman was the metronome, not the sledgehammer. His 61 Approximate Value score (per PFR) ranks him 1,035th all-time, but among WRs drafted after pick 200? He’s a unicorn.
Legacy: Why Julian Still Inspires
As of 2025, five years into retirement, Julian Edelman Career Stats hold up like fine wine. He’s in the Patriots Hall of Fame conversation, and whispers of Canton grow louder. For kids dreaming of gridiron glory, he’s proof: Draft position doesn’t define you; drive does. Imagine telling that seventh-rounder in 2009 he’d outcatch stars like Dez Bryant in playoffs. Wild, right?
