How Julian Edelman Nearly Joined the Steelers

Julian Edelman is known for being one of the key receivers that helped Tom Brady and the Patriots in the 2010s reignite a dynasty that lay dormant for nearly a decade and win multiple Super Bowls while doing it. But the connection almost did not happen because Edelman nearly became a member of the Steelers.

Back when Edelman came out of Kent State as a quarterback, most teams were interested in him as either a wide receiver or defensive back. He was an athlete that could really play a lot of positions and offered flexibility. When the Steelers brought him in, though, it was as a defensive back.

So, when joining the New Heights Podcast with Jason and Travis Kelce, the brothers interviewed Edelman, and in the conversation, Edelman revealed that it was not far out of the realm of possibility that he could have joined the Steelers instead of the Patriots.

“I got worked out by the Steelers, a safety,” Edelman said. “The Patriots, man they ran me through it all. They worked worked me out as a running back, defensive back, and wide receiver. They worked me out three times, and that was really unheard of honestly. Every other workout outside of the Patriots and Steelers was as an athlete.”

That, of course would have changed how the AFC would have worked from there on out. The Patriots would have found someone else to try and fill the all-critical slot role. Meanwhile, who knows if Edelman would have stuck well as a safety in the league, even though he did play a limited game as a defensive back against the New York Jets with the Patriots. But anytime these stories come out this late, it is interesting to see how quickly football history could have changed with one simple decision by either side.