Hard Work Really Pays Off

Brady Mullin

Relentless by Julian Edelman

In life, you can succeed with grit, determination, and hard work. This is the theme of the greatest memoir of all time, Relentless, by Julian Edelman - the wide receiver of the New England Patriots football team.

This memoir is all about Edelman’s driven life from back when he was a young, scrappy kid in California through winning Super Bowl 51. It highlights his hard work and determination through the ups and downs of his life. Though he was smaller than others his age, he never let his size affect him - nothing did.  The book started off with his early childhood. Julian was a crazy child: “Jason tells me I spent my early time rummaging through equipment bags on the sideline during practices, emptying out water bottles, throwing stuff around, and generally acting like a little troublemaker.” (Edelman 30). After that, we learn of Edelman playing football in high school where he transitioned to a star quarterback. He was the captain of his high school team and was known for always demanding the most out of his teammates. The coaches loved his ferocious attitude on and off the field. But sadly, no Division 1 colleges - which are for the top athletes - were looking at him, so he went to the Community College of San Mateo. During his year there, he was an absolute stud with: 1,253 rushing yards, 17 rushing touchdowns, 1,312 passing yards, and 14 passing touchdowns. These are amazing numbers for quarterbacks in community college.  Edelman demonstrated real talent. That is most likely why the next year, Kent State - a Division 1 school - recruited him. At Kent State, he was the backup quarterback but worked his way up to a starter even though his college career was plagued with injuries, including breaking his arm twice. After college, he trained for the NFL Combine where the top recruits try out for NFL teams, but he wasn’t invited. So he made the strategic decision to change his position to wide receiver. He trained for Kent State's “Pro Day” - a tryout for the recruits who didn’t get invited to the combine. He was a success and got a chance to play for the New England Patriots. The Patriots brought him in to be a punt returner, but he performed so superbly, he was moved to starting wide receiver. We then find out about the fate of the rest of his NFL career.

There is a boatload of ways I could ramble on about how this memoir is extraordinary. What I personally liked the most is the approach Edelman took to writing. He could have lied and said he was a superstar, didn’t have to work hard, and is the definition of God. But he is humble and not at all arrogant: “I did not play well.” (Edelman 85). A professional athlete might just cut that part out of his memoir, but Edelman didn’t. That makes him a relatable person who can admit to being less than perfect - not some Greek God that no one will ever measure up to.  I think it is probably because he is a genuinely good person. He doesn’t act nice for the cameras - he does it for himself.

Another element that draws you into this book is how Edelman makes you feel like you are with him for the whole story. Not one single page is boring or uneventful. “I got to the second level and started right, then cut it back around midfield for a ninety-six-yard touchdown.” (Edelman 69).  He takes you through plays like they are happening in that moment. This is interesting because it shows the world through his eyes and he doesn’t hold back; it allows the action to take over the driver’s seat. You want to read more because it’s so engaging. When he hurts you hurt; when he is victorious, you feel victorious.

Last but not least, this memoir is inspiring because it teaches a valuable lesson: work hard and you will succeed.  This is a universal rule which applies to everyone. From work to school, to sports: Working hard can get you far in life. After all, the only person you can disappoint in life is yourself. Edelman teaches us this by example - the way he would field 500 ground balls a day in his early life, to working unrelentlessly to get drafted and signed by the Patriots. Edelman never gave up and he was determined to meet his goals. This memoir makes you want to succeed at your own goal even more than you did when you started; it really changes your mindset for the better.

I would recommend this memoir to any sports fan who wants an inspirational, motivating, and entertaining read - except for maybe Falcons fans, considering they lost the Super Bowl to him! This book is recommended to all readers, whether you read five books a day or five books a year. It is similar to Heart Over Height, by Nate Robinson, where a professional athlete describes his life and how he succeeds with a strong work ethic. This is my book of the year recommendation: 1,000,003.4 stars out of 1,000,003.4 stars!