Relentless

The Super Bowl champion wide receiver for the New England Patriots shares his story of an underdog kid who became one of the NFL's most inspiring players.

When the Patriots were down twenty-eight-three in Super Bowl LI, Julian Edelman refused to believe they would lose. It wasn't only because of his belief in his teammates, led by his friend and quarterback Tom Brady, or the legendary Bill Belichick's coaching staff. It was also because he had been counted out in most of his life and career—and he had proved them all wrong.

Whether it was in Pop Warner football, where his Redwood City, California, team won a national championship; in high school where he went from a four'ten”, ninety-five-pound freshman running back to quarterback for an undefeated Woodside High team; or college, where he rewrote records at Kent State as a dual-threat quarterback, Edelman far exceeded everyone's expectations. When he was drafted by the Patriots in the seventh round, the five'ten” college quarterback was asked to field punts and play wide receiver, though he'd never done either. But gradually, driven by a tough coaching staff and countless hours of off-season training with Brady, he became one of the NFL's most dynamic punt returners and top receivers.

In Relentless, Edelman reveals his growing up with a demanding father, his near-constant fight to keep his intense competitiveness in check in high school and college, and his celebrated nine seasons with the Patriots. Edelman shares insights into his relationships and rivalries, and his friendships with teammates such as Brady, Wes Welker, Matt Slater, and Randy Moss. Finally, he reveals the story behind “the catch” and life on the inside of a team for the ages.