The New England Patriots will add Julian Edelman to their Hall of Fame, after the former wide receiver won a fan vote to become 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 10^th player to enter the Patriots’ hall as a three-time Super Bowl champion with the team. The former Kent State quarterback will be inducted alongside former head coach Bill Parcells, who was named as a contributor inductee by chairman and CEO Robert Kraft during the annual league meetings in Palm Beach earlier this year. The date and time for the 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,” Kraft noted. “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 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 favourite.”

Edelman spent his entire 12-year career with the Patriots after originally joining the team as a seventh-round pick in the 2009 NFL Draft. A college quarterback who converted to wide receiver after entering the NFL, he made his mark as a punt returner early in his career, totalling 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 four punt returns for a touchdown and set a franchise record with a 94-yard punt return for a touchdown against Miami in 2011, a season in which he was also called on to play defense, finishing the season with 10 total tackles as a reserve in the secondary.

By the time of his retirement, Edelman sat 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-winning teams, Edelman turned in key performances at crucial moments in all three victories. He was named Super Bowl LIII MVP after finishing with 10 receptions for 141 yards in the win over the Los Angeles Rams, two years after finishing with five receptions for 87 yards — including a miraculous 23-yard, diving, fingertip catch late in the fourth quarter — to turn the game against Atlanta in Super Bowl LI. He also caught the game-winning, three-yard touchdown pass with 2:06 left to play in the fourth quarter of Super Bowl XLIX against Seattle.

The Patriots have inducted at least one player into the team’s Hall of Fame each year since 2007. 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, to be voted on by the fans. This year, there were 11 nominees for the committee to whittle down, with Wes Welker, amongst others, missing out to leave Edelman, Adam Vinatieri and Logan Mankins as the options in the fan vote.