Julian Edelman, San Mateo County Native, Announces NFL Retirement

REDWOOD CITY, CA — Julian Edelman, a Redwood City native who won three Super Bowls and played 12 years as a star wide receiver with the New England Patriots, announced his retirement on Monday.

In a video posted to Twitter, the 34-year-old Edelman said he was retiring from football due to an injury sustained last year.

“You guys have welcomed me and my family to a region we didn’t know,” Edelman said, referring to Patriots fans. “But now, I am one of you. I’m going to leave you guys with two words: Foxboro forever.”

Edelman, who will likely be considered as a Hall of Fame candidate, grew up in Redwood City and was a star quarterback at both Woodside High School and the College of San Mateo. He also played quarterback at Kent State, but after being drafted in the seventh round by the Patriots in 2009, he transitioned to a wide receiver and blossomed into an unexpected star, catching touchdown passes from Tom Brady.

The wide receiver finished with the second most receptions in Patriots history, and is second all-time in postseason receptions and receiving yards.

Edelman’s work ethic came from tough drills and practices with his father, Frank, who owns an auto repair shop in Mountain View, as detailed in a 2019 documentary.

Despite his stature — according to a San Francisco Chronicle story from 2015, Edelman weighed less than 100 pounds as a high school freshman — Edelman’s coaches knew he had what it took to make the league.

“With that kid, anything is possible,” his varsity coach, Steve Nicolopulos, told the Chronicle. “I know how hard he worked.”