Legendary WR Recalls Playing in Oakland vs. Raiders

Former NFL wide receiver Julian Edelman is one of the greatest success stories the league has ever seen. 

Edelman, a former quarterback at Kent State, was a seventh-round draft selection in the 2009 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots. He switched to wide receiver in the NFL and caught 620 passes for 6,822 yards and 36 touchdowns in 11 seasons. 

Edelman won three Super Bowls with the Patriots and was named MVP of Super Bowl LIII. He was a consistent receiving threat for Tom Brady throughout his years in New England. 

Edelman also knows the Oakland Coliseum was one of the most challenging places to play when it was the former Las Vegas Raiders venue when they were the Oakland Raiders. It was a raucous environment week in and week out. 

Edelman joined Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby on the latest episode of his podcast, "The Rush with Maxx Crosby," and recalled memories of playing in Oakland.

“I loved it,” he said. “I grew up in the Bay, and it was my first time playing in the Bay as a pro. When I went there, it might have been my rookie year. We went there; I sprained my ankle; first off, that was terrible. High ankle -- the worst. Blocking. Guy rolled up on me. Gotta move your feet.”

Edelman then recalled a memory of his mother wearing his jersey into the stadium. 

“Boy, did she have some balls,” he joked. “It was crazy. You go to Oakland games; it was always -- you got Hell’s Angels, you got Bloods and Crips, you got Mexican mafia, you got the regular lawyer that’s dressed up like a wrestler guy, a plethora of people at an Oakland game was so fun. It was football. I just remember my mom went out there, she said people were trying to give her s---. She goes, ‘We’re from the Bay Area, but we’re Patriots now.’ And they were all cool with her, I guess.”

Edelman went 3-0 in three career games against the Raiders, catching 13 passes for 118 yards. He caught 10 passes for 84 yards in New England's victory over Oakland in Week 3 of the 2014 season. 

Click here to watch the full episode with Edelman and Crosby.

The NFL Draft will be held in Detroit, Mich., on April 25-27, 2024. The Las Vegas Raiders currently have the No. 13 overall pick.

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