Watch: Julian Edelman Waves Green Flag To Start Daytona 500

Patriots receiver Julian Edelman was honored with a huge role for NASCAR’s greatest race. The Super Bowl LIII MVP was set to wave the green flag to announce the race.

“Julian Edelman is an incredible addition to the list of pre-race dignitaries for the Daytona 500,” said Daytona International Speedway President Chip Wile in a press release. “We’re honored to have such a superb athlete, who recently won on NFL’s biggest stage and was the Super Bowl MVP, wave the green flag for NASCAR’s premier event.”

William Byron was on the pole and Alex Bowman was starting alongside him on the front row. The Patriots receiver Edelman waved the green flag, and the 61th running of the Daytona 500 went on.

“I think these guys are absolutely insane,” said Edelman of NASCAR drivers. “First and foremost, they’re going 200 miles an hour around for three hours straight and able to focus in extreme conditions … The mental toughness and physical toughness to be able to go and perform for so long and stay in-tuned and any kind of mistake, ultimately, could be a big mistake that you don’t want to go down, which is very comparable to our sport. It’s a respect level for these guys who are clearly adrenaline junkies, just like we are. I always tell everyone: Football players, we’re missing screws. And these dudes certainly are too.”

Waving the green flag is awesome

Edelman is the latest NFL player to start The Great American Race. He joined the group of Kenny Stabler (1977), Troy Aikman (1994), Jim Kelly (1995), Dan Marino (1998), Brett Favre (1999), Terry Bradshaw (2001), Ray Lewis (2013), and LaDainian Tomlinson (2017). 

It is interesting to note that all NFL stars who served as honorary starters of the Daytona 500 are now part of the Pro Football Hall of Fame family. What a great honor!