GLENDALE, Ariz. — Julian Edelman was in pain after the New England Patriots’ Super Bowl XLIX win and a long grueling season.
The wide receiver’s mother had to help him off his post-game podium Sunday night, as he grimaced at the thought of limping into the next room to do another interview.
The 5-foot-10, 200-pound receiver caught nine passes for 109 yards and one touchdown against an oversized, over-physical Seattle Seahawks secondary, which hit him hard and often throughout the Patriots’ 28-24 win at University of Phoenix Stadium.
The biggest hit of the game came in the fourth quarter, when Seahawks safety Kam Chancellor smacked Edelman with a helmet-to-helmet hit that should have drawn a penalty. Edelman wasn’t knocked unconscious, nor would he say if he had a concussion after the game. Edelman actually tried to get even more yards on the play when he didn’t know that his knee had touched the turf.
Edelman did seem a little dazed in his post-game interview, but that could have been the rush of post-Super Bowl win emotions coming over him. (He did refer to Seattle as St. Louis before quickly correcting himself.)
Edelman always talks glowingly about his mother, Angie, but his emotions nearly got the best of him when he was asked what it meant to celebrate with his father, Frank.
“It was unbelievable. My dad, he’s had my back since Day 1,” Edelman said. “He’s pushed me to heights that I never thought I could get to. My dad was just a little trailer-trash white dude who worked his tail off, didn’t have a dad. He started working at 14, didn’t get to play sports. He dedicated his life to his kids. To let us live our dreams. I love my dad.”
Edelman caught the winning touchdown pass and led his team in yards. He said last week that he has been dreaming about winning a Super Bowl since he was in diapers, and now it finally came true.
“It’s still unbelievable,” Edelman said. “I don’t know if it’s hit me yet. It’s unbelievable to see all the hard work you put in for this. To play in the last game of the year and win it. I’m so proud of everyone on this team. I’m so honored to be on this team, to play for Coach (Bill) Belichick, (owner) Mr. Robert Kraft. It’s a dream come true.”
Edelman didn’t win MVP — that honor went to Patriots quarterback Tom Brady — but to experience a win with his father was enough for him.
Thumbnail photo via Andrew Weber/USA TODAY Sports Images
