Julian Edelman has been inducted into the Patriots Hall of Fame, becoming the 37th member. The franchise made the announcement official.

Former wide receiver Julian Edelman has been inducted into the New England Patriots Hall of Fame. Fans paid tribute to the 38-year-old. The franchise made the announcement on Monday.

Edelman joins a group of stars who have won three Super Bowls and been inducted into the Hall of Fame. Only nine professionals have achieved this feat before him, including Tom Brady last year.

The wide receiver is the 37th inductee into the Patriots Hall of Fame. Chairman and CEO Robert Kraft described Edelman as “one of the greatest success stories in our franchise.”

Julian Edelman: A “fan favorite”

He goes on to gush: “There aren’t many players who secure a spot on an NFL roster at a position they’ve never played before. Julian not only did that as a seventh-round draft pick, but he also finished his career with the second-most catches in franchise history and as a three-time Super Bowl champion, most recently as Super Bowl MVP.”

For Kraft, one thing is certain: “No one was as dedicated and refined his skills as Jules (Julian Edelman). His explosive play, his quickness on cuts and his evasive skills after the catch made him one of the most difficult players to defend. His clutch catches in our most important games and his overall toughness made him a fan favorite.”

Edelman wore the Patriots jersey throughout his career, playing for the franchise for 12 years starting in 2009. During that time, he had 620 receptions, making the five-time AFC champion second in team history. He also had 6,822 receiving yards and 36 receiving touchdowns.

The Patriots introduced the new Hall of Fame tradition in 2007, and since then at least one former player has been inducted each year. The nominees are selected by a panel that includes media representatives and staff members. Fans then vote from the finalists to choose the player who will be inducted into the Hall of Fame.