Former New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman told a story of Chicago Bulls legend Michael Jordan betting on him ahead of the team’s Super Bowl matchup against the Seattle Seahawks.
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“The week before the Super Bowl, I took my folks to dinner,” Edelman said. “And I roll up, and I see Derek Jeter and Michael Jordan. And I’m like super star-struck. I’m about to play in the Super Bowl. And I go up, and you could tell Jeter’s a very charming guy, welcoming. I go, ‘Mr. Jeter, Julian Edelman. I’m playing in the Super Bowl.’ I saw Jordan. He was kind of standoffish a little bit. And as soon as the conversation’s about to end, like five minutes in I’m about to leave, Jordan comes up to me, and he goes, ‘Hey, kid. I got a bunch of money on you. Don’t f— it up.’ And that’s the only thing he said to me. And I go, ‘Yes sir, Mr. Jordan.'”
Edelman ended up playing at a high level in the Patriots’ 28-24 Super Bowl victory. He finished with a team-high 109 receiving yards on nine receptions for the Patriots to go along with one receiving touchdown. Plus, his longest reception of the game was for 23 yards.
The wide receiver was fortunate to play alongside arguably the best quarterback in NFL history in Tom Brady, who also put up impressive numbers against the Seahawks. Brady racked up 328 passing yards and four touchdowns compared to two interceptions while completing 37 of his 50 passing attempts.
The Patriots’ Super Bowl win over the Seahawks marked the team’s fourth Super Bowl in franchise history. Edelman went on to win two more Super Bowls during his time as a member of the Patriots franchise.
Edelman and the Patriots beat the Atlanta Falcons in overtime in Super Bowl LI by a final score of 34-28. Then, in Super Bowl LIII, New England defeated the Los Angeles Rams by 10 points in what was a low-scoring Super Bowl, as the Patriots won by a score of 13-3.
Edelman ended up receiving the Super Bowl MVP award following the Patriots’ victory over Los Angeles.
The Patriots are tied with the Pittsburgh Steelers — who haven’t won a Super Bowl in over a decade — for the most Super Bowl victories of any NFL franchise with six.
The 37-year-old spent all 11 of his seasons in the NFL with the Patriots, with his last season coming during the 2020 season. He totaled 315 receiving yards on 21 receptions across six appearances and one start with the team during the regular season.
The wide receiver should be remembered by Patriots fans as one of the greatest wide receivers in team history. After all, he was an invaluable component of several Patriots teams that went on to win the Super Bowl, and his gambling story involving Jordan makes his performance against the Seahawks even more memorable.
