Former New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman added a new title to his repertoire in 2016: dad.
The retired football player welcomed his daughter Lily in November 2016 with Swedish model Ella Rose.
Now, Lily is 8 years old and has a close bond with her father. For her 7th birthday in November 2023, Edelman penned a sweet message to Lily on X (formerly Twitter).
“My Lily bug turns 7 today,” he wrote. “Watching you grow into a silly, kind, loving, compassionate person has been the joy of my life. Love you baby girl, happy birthday!”
From attending football games to Taylor Swift concerts with her dad, here’s everything to know about Julian Edelman’s daughter, Lily.
She was born in November 2016
Edelman and Rose welcomed their first child together, Lily, on Nov. 30, 2016. The former athlete introduced his little girl to the world a week later with a sweet post on Instagram, alongside a photo of him cradling the newborn.
“my biggest #wcw of all time, happy to welcome a new squirrel to the tree, my baby girl lily #proud,” he wrote in the caption.
Edelman prioritizes time with his daughter above all else
When Lily was born, Edelman was still playing with the Patriots, meaning he had a very busy schedule. Though he’s retired now, Edelman still struggles to balance his career with his daughter — but his little girl always comes first, he told Haute Living in July 2019.
“Fatherhood is such a huge challenge especially with [Ella’s] profession and my profession being able to give my daughter the time and energy that she desires and that she needs,” he said.
He added that balancing the two was a “fine line,” but he gave it the best he could.
“You have your craft, and you’re working towards being the best you can possibly be, something that you’ve been working towards your whole life since you were 8 years old, and then all of a sudden, your priorities change,” Edelman told the outlet.
He continued, “You’re not living for yourself anymore, you’re living for your little girl now. That’s how my parents lived for me, so that’s all I really know.”
Edelman is cautious when it comes to bringing a possible stepmom into Lily’s life
While Edelman is open to dating, he told Haute Living that it would take someone special for him to introduce her to Lily — and his daughter’s approval is most important.
“It’s a little different now that I have a little girl. When I go out and meet a fine young lady, I don’t get to just think about me,” he said. “I’ve got to think about [Lily], so that one’s tricky. But I am dating and [she 100% needs to be stepmom material]. If she doesn’t mess with Lil, then she can’t mess with me.”
Lily has been by Edelman’s side during important career moments
Lily was just 2 years old when the Patriots defeated the Los Angeles Rams in the 2019 Super Bowl, but she was there to support her dad on the big day. After their win, Edelman held up his daughter, who was dressed in Patriots gear, complete with a red tutu.
Lily also attended a number of Patriots games when her dad was on the team, and the father-daughter duo continued to attend games even after he retired in 2021.
Lily is a fan of Taylor Swift
Edelman is the ultimate girl dad, and for him, that means attending Taylor Swift concerts with his daughter. In February 2024, Edelman shared on an episode of Mythical Kitchen’s Last Meals that he even wears a special accessory Lily made him in honor of the singer.
“What do you think this is?” Edelman asked Chef Josh Scherer, pointing to his wrist. “This is my best friend bracelet from my daughter.”
He added, “We went to the concert, she made me a little bracelet, so I gotta wear it.”
Her godmother is Selling Sunset star Emma Hernan
Lily’s godmother is none other than Selling Sunset’s Emma Hernan, who joined the show in September 2021. Hernan is close with Lily’s mom, often going on vacations and celebrating holidays like Easter together.
Hernan was by Rose’s side when she delivered Lily and has been a mainstay throughout the little girl’s life since. In honor of Lily’s 5th birthday in 2021, Hernan wrote a sweet message to her on Instagram alongside photos from her birthday party.
“I remember snuggling you the first night you were born!” she captioned the carousel of images. “I am so lucky to be your fairy godmother, and watch you grow up into the smart, beautiful, fun loving little girl you have become!! I promise to always be there for you when you need me and love you forever!!”
Source: People
