Julian Edelman Reveals Team He Almost Left Patriots For

The New England Patriots lost Tom Brady to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and now they follow the leadership of a rookie quarterback. Brady spent a couple of decades in New England. He is one of the very few NFL players who spent most of their career with the Patriots. Former wideout Julian Edelman never left the Patriots. He retired as a Patriots player. Do you know that Edelman considered leaving Bill Belichick’s squad for another team?

The 2018 Super Bowl MVP joined Peyton and Eli Manning on their “Monday Night Football” broadcast. He talked about Mac Jones, his own experience with the Patriots, and the offer TB12 made right after inking a deal with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Edelman revealed that Brady tried to get him on his new team. The GOAT wanted to join forces with Jules and Rob Gronkowski. Big Gronk came out of his retirement to play with Brady, but leaving the Patriots was never an option.

Julian Edelman never left the Patriots

Imagine Edelman winning/losing games as a Giants player. You read it right. The former Patriots wideout considered joining the Giants. He did have better options with the Patriots.

“It was pretty close,” Edelman said. “I went and visited down there in Jersey and met with (Tom) Coughlin. I had nothing but respect for the organization and the Mara family and everything the Giants stood about. A very (good) organization. But I looked at my choices of going with the Pats, and Welker — thank you, Peyton, for taking Welker off our hands, giving me more opportunity. And the rest is history. I guess — you guys were saying, ‘Once a Giant, always a Giant’ — almost a Giant, always a Patriot.”

There’s more.

The Steelers wanted Edelman in the pre-draft process back in 2009. They weren’t an option because they wanted him on the defense.

Edelman was quarterback at Kent State and he didn’t see himself as a defensive player. He began as a special teamer but became the best wide receiver the Patriots have ever had. Jules helped them win three titles.