Julian Edelman’s dad used to tell him something morbidly motivational
Wide receiver Julian Edelman has spoken effusively about the powerful influence of his father, Frank. The 31-year-old, who has always been close with his “pops,” credits his dad with helping shape who he is as both a person and a player.
Some of his father’s quintessential lessons center around the importance of fundamentals and a strong work ethic, but a clip from America‘s Game: The 2016 Patriots revealed an interesting line that Edelman said he would hear as a youngster.
Seated on the bench during the AFC Championship game, Edelman told fellow wide receiver Malcolm Mitchell, “My dad used to tell me as a young boy, ‘When you got them down, you break their f—— neck.”
“That’s what he used to tell me,” he said. “I was like 12. I’m like, ‘Dad, that’s kinda… That’s a lot.’ It’s true. It’s why I am the way I am though.”
The unique saying certainly applied in the context of the conference title game, as the Patriots routed the Steelers, 36-17. When asked by one of the interviewers to further characterize himself and the way that he is, Edelman wasn’t totally sure how to articulate it.
“I don’t even know,” he said “I think I’m still trying to figure that out. But I think I’m that way. You gotta have that mentality, man.”
Linebacker Dont’a Hightower echoed that sentiment and confirmed that Edelman does, in fact, embody that drive.
“You gotta have that mentality,” Hightower said. “I feel like that’s the reason why he works so hard. Because when he gets you to that point, he’s going to finish you.”
