Julian Edelman has the best sort of high school story to tell. It’s not everyday you take the daughter of an NFL legend to prom.
Edelman, the former New England Patriot star, grew up in the Bay Area, back when Jerry Rice was catching passes from two 49er legends — Joe Montana, then Steve Young. Edelman probably knew most about Young to Rice.
And while he was in high school, Jerry’s oldest daugher, Jacqui, asked Edelman to her prom. He recalled that event Wednesday on the New Heights podcast, with Travis and Jason Kelce asking all the questions.
The Kelces first asked for confirmation on the prom date. “She took me to the prom, that is true.” And as he said that, a photo of high school Julian with Jacqui flashes on screen. It’s their prom shot, circa early 2000s.
And he had such a good relationship with Jacqui then he spent time hanging out in the Rice household, when Jerry wasn’t there.
“I did try on some of those rings. sorry Jer,” Julian Edelman said to the delight of the Brothers Kelce. (For the record, Rice owns three rings from 1989, 1990 and 1995 Super Bowls. He was Super Bowl MVP in the 49ers win over the Bengals).
Then Julian Edelman provided some more details.
“I used to go into his office all the time,” he said. “He was never there. I’d be over there playing with balls, Super Bowl balls. I saw jerseys, it was crazy. Jerry Rice, bro, I was a Bay Area kid. He was Jerry Rice, a fxxking legend. It was so crazy and they had such a cool house. Man.”
This confession prompted a long laugh from Jason Kelce. Travis Kelce giggled as well. Of course, Edelman had to throw it back to the day when he met the best NFL receiver, ever.
“He came out yoked up, six packed up with his chains on, dreads that are starting back here,” Edelman recalled. This was back when Rice had switched to the Oakland Raiders.
“He was old Jerry back then … Oakland Jerry. He intimidated the (f word) out of me. He wasn’t having it, which I understand. I have a daughter, I have a daughter. I’m a father of one.”
Julian Edelman was a high school quarterback. He also played QB at Kent State. However, he switched to receiver when the Patriots selected him in the seventh round of the 2009 NFL Draft.
Like Rice, Edelman owns three Super Bowl rings. Tom Brady was his quarterback. And Edelman said that once he turned pro, he and Rice developed a friendship.
“The family was awesome,” Julian Edelman said in an interview last month. “They were all cool, and still friends to this day. And then when I got to, you know, it was crazy, when I got to the league afterwards, we developed a relationship. It became cool. I still see him at the (Kentucky) Derby here and there. I see him out and about, and he’s been real cool as of late.”
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