Picture this: you're a high schooler picking up your date, and the person who opens the door is none other than NFL legend, Jerry Rice. That's exactly what happened to Julian Edelman, who once dated Rice's daughter and even accompanied her to prom.
Edelman recently shared his experience on Gilbert Arenas' podcast, admitting he was "absolutely terrified" of Rice. He described the first encounter: "Jerry came out, no shirt, ripped physique, wearing a chain, and just gave me a head nod. We barely spoke for the next two years. It was intimidating." Edelman, now a father himself, understands Rice's perspective: "I get it now. A young guy coming to the house, thinking he's dating your daughter..."
Despite the initial fear, Edelman says he still gets a little nervous talking about it, even after nearly two decades. "It's Jerry Rice, he's the GOAT," Edelman emphasized.
Thankfully, the relationship between Edelman and Rice has evolved over time. "The family was fantastic, they were all great, and we're still friends today," Edelman confirmed. "After I made it to the league, we built a connection. It became a cool relationship. I still see him around, at the Kentucky Derby sometimes, and he's been really good to me."
Back in high school, while harboring NFL aspirations, Edelman confessed to some youthful antics: "When Jerry wasn’t around, I’d try on his Super Bowl rings." Edelman, of course, went on to win three Super Bowl rings of his own.
