Julian Edelman Named Super Bowl 53 MVP

New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman wins Pete Rozelle Trophy As Super Bowl LIII Most Valuable Player.

New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman was voted the winner of the Pete Rozelle Trophy, awarded to the Super Bowl LIII Most Valuable Player.

Edelman had 10 receptions for 141 yards and added an eight-yard rush. He is the seventh wide receiver to be named Super Bowl MVP and the first since Pittsburgh wide receiver Santonio Holmes in Super Bowl XLIII.

The wide receivers to win the Super Bowl MVP are:

Desmond Howard was named MVP of for his play as a return specialist

 

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Julian Edelman has at least five receptions in 13 consecutive postseason games, the longest streak in playoff history. His 115 career postseason receptions rank second in NFL history. Pro Football Hall of Famer JERRY RICE, who had 151 career catches in the playoffs, ranks first all-time.

Julian Edelman Post-game Super Bowl Comments

Julian Edelman on if he could have imagined his season ending with a Super Bowl victory and MVP Award considering the way it began for him

"No, I wasn't really thinking about that. My head was down, just trying to go out and try to win ball games and help the team. It's pretty surreal. Tough times don't last. Tough people do. I preach that, and I guess you have to live to it."

Julian Edelman on how tough it was for him to see his team lose Super Bowl LII

"Injuries are psychologically so hard for an athlete because you don't get to do what you love to do. When your team is going out there and playing in the Super Bowl and you don't get to help or you were not a factor, it was definitely very tough, but we have it this year so we're good."

Julian Edelman on his relationship with Patriots QB Tom Brady

"He is like a brother to me. He has helped me so much. He has been a huge part of mentally kind of coaching me up just through his actions and how he is as a football player, as a professional, as a father and as a family man. It is an honor to get to play with a guy like that. He has six Super Bowls now so it is pretty insane."

Julian Edelman on if tonight's game was a matter of perservering and waiting to get on the scoreboard

"I think we just had to worry about one play at a time and just keep knocking at the door, and yes, it is being resilient and just keep on working. That's what our group did. It wasn't pretty, but I'll take that ugly win over a pretty loss any day."

Julian Edelman on producing early in the game

"Just try to get open. Your job as a receiver is to get open and catch the ball and block in the run game. My name was called, I was asked to make a couple plays and we were able to do that. There were a lot of plays by other guys. The defense was unreal holding that offense to three points. It is pretty crazy. They should be the MVP -- the whole [defense]."

Julian Edelman on if he ever dreamed he would be named Super Bowl MVP

"Honestly, I didn't. Whenever I start to get sidetracked from preparing for a game, I like to just kind of think about what I have to do to get ready and think about right now. Coach harped that if your mind gets wandering about anything, just think about right now. What do you have to do? What do you have to do? I just watch film and go over my gameplan and do all those types of things. Naturally, your mind wants to wander, but I didn't really think about that."

Julian Edelman on playing quarterback at Kent State and if he ever thought he would be an NFL wide receiver while in school

"My first game was against Minnesota, and we lost. Second part of the question, did I ever think I was going to be an NFL receiver? At that time, I didn't. I was just trying to go out and help Kent State win some ball games. I really wasn't thinking about after that."

Julian Edelman on winning his third Super Bowl and being named Super Bowl MVP after being drafted in the seventh round as a former quarterback

"It's hard to [imagine], that's for sure. I'm getting to live out a dream so it's pretty surreal right now. I think everything happens for a reason. I was always taught as a young boy that you always just have to work hard. Work as hard as you can, put in the extra time and we will see where it goes. Worry about what you have on your plate at that time. That's what I have tried to do."

Julian Edelman on how his playoff numbers compare to Pro Football Hall of Fame WR Jerry Rice and if he will consider his own legacy this offseason

"No, I will probably be thinking about trying to relax, and then start all over and be ready for the next year. It's an honor to be put in the same sentence with Mr. Rice, Jerry Rice, but I'm just worried about now. Just have to relax and get away."

Julian Edelman on his connection with Patriots QB Tom Brady in the first half and his embrace with Brady after the game

"I was just trying to get open and catch the ball. The hug was just two Bay Area boys that love football, love to compete and are living out our dreams. I think he held me. I didn't hold him."

Julian Edelman on when the team came together and made sure last year's Super Bowl loss wasn't the end of their story

"I don't think we ever thought about last year, because that was last year. It was a different team, a different year. We were just thinking about what we had to do to win each game each week. We went in and we lost to Miami, then we lost to Pittsburgh. Then we had legitimately two playoff games to get that bye. Guys were just worried about what we had to do to win each game, constantly trying to improve, constantly going out and practicing hard and having good weeks of practice. When you have good weeks of practice, you put yourself in the best position to have good results in games. We had a couple good weeks of practice. This week, we didn't get to do too much. It was a hard-fought game, but we got away with one, so that's all that matters."

 

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The MVP award is chosen by a panel of 16 comprised of members of the Pro Football Writers Association of America, selected members of the electronic broadcast media and by fans interactively through the National Football League's official website, NFL.com.

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