Julian Edelman, Bill Belichick Celebrate Super Bowl Victory on ‘Tonight'
“You just gotta believe,” Edelman told Jimmy Fallon
By Liz Lane ••
Jimmy Fallon chats with Julian Edelman and Bill Belichick on the ‘Tonight Show’ after the New England Patriots’ comeback Super Bowl win.
The New England Patriots won Super Bowl LI, and now? They celebrate.
On Monday, Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman and head coach Bill Belichick joined Jimmy Fallon on “The Tonight Show” to talk about their team’s fifth championship victory.
After walking onstage, Belichick took a moment to appreciate the enthusiasm from the studio audience. “I think’s that’s the loudest cheer I’ve ever heard from New York for us, instead of Boston,” he said, which only led to more deafening screams and claps.
Fallon, with both excitement and bewilderment in his voice, pressed the coach and his player for their take on the game’s seemingly unlikely outcome.
“You just gotta believe,” Edelman said simply.
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LeBron James, Tom Brady and Simone Manuel had memorable comebacks in 2016-17.
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Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors shot to a three-games-to-one lead over the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2016 NBA Finals. No team in basketball had ever lost after taking that big of a lead in a final series, and the Warriors were the best regular season team ever.
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Cavaliers star LeBron James blocks a shot by Andre Iguodala of the Golden State Warriors in Game 7 of the 2016 NBA Finals at Oracle Arena on June 19, 2016, in Oakland, California. With the game tied and less than two minutes to go, James ran the length of the court to make the block. The Cavaliers went on to win the game 93-89, sealing the historic comeback.
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“I came back for a reason," said LeBron James. "I came back to bring a championship to our city. I knew what I was capable of doing. I knew what I learned in the last couple years that I was gone, and I knew if I had to — when I came back, I knew I had the right ingredients and the right blueprint to help this franchise get back to a place that we’ve never been. That’s what it was all about.”
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American swimmer Simone Manuel came back to win gold in the 100-meter freestyle sprint at the Rio Olympics after being down 0.47 seconds halfway through the race.
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The 20-year-old Olympian looks up in disbelief after tying for first. Not only was the race a come-from-behind victory, it held historical significance: Manuel became the first African-American woman to win an Olympic gold medal in an individual swimming event.
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“This medal is not just for me, but for a whole bunch of people who came before me and have been an inspiration to me,” the Sugar Land, Texas, native told NBC after the race while wiping away tears. “I just want to be inspiration to others that you can do it."
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Pitcher Andrew Miller (center left) led the Cleveland Indians to a dominating performance in Game One of the 2016 World Series, winning 6-0. The Indians would go on to hold a three-to-one lead in the series over the Cubs. No baseball team had rallied from that deficit in the World Series in the last 30 years.
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But the Cubs pulled out two straight wins to even the series and go to Game 7 in Cleveland. After a fierce back-and-forth, the game was tied through nine innings, but eventual World Series MVP Ben Zobrist hit a RBI double in the 10th inning to seal the Cubs' comeback win, 8-7.
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"We had a meeting when there was a rain delay and the guys just said, 'Hey we're the best team, we're gonna pull this out, keep your heads up, play for each other," World Series MVP Ben Zobrist said.n"It was huge. It's a great team, a great bunch of guys and I'm blessed to be a part of it."
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Quarterback Jalen Hurts (left) led the Alabama Crimson Tide to a strong start through the first three quarters of the College Football National Championship in Tampa, Florida. The Crimson Tide were returning champions and favored to win the game, and rolled up a 10-point lead entering the fourth quarter.
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Capping a stunning rally, Tigers wide receiver Hunter Renfrow caught a 2-yard touchdown pass to put Clemson up 35-31. The play was made with one second left in the game, sealing the comeback victory.
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Clemson safety Isaiah Simmons celebrates after the team defeated Alabama and secured its first national championship title in 35 years.
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Atlanta Falcons WR Julio Jones makes a leaping catch over Eric Rowe of the New England Patriots during Super Bowl 51 at NRG Stadium on Feb. 5, 2017, in Houston, Texas. At the half, the Falcons lead the Patriots, 21-3, despite being the underdog heading into the game. No team had ever come back from more than 10 points in a Super Bowl.
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But an incredible second half performance that featured this fourth quarter circus catch by Julian Edelman powered the Patriots to victory, erasing a 25-point deficit that stands as the largest overcome in Super Bowl history. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
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"I think it was just a great team performance, a great way to really culminate the season," said Tom Brady. "It took kind of a miraculous effort to do it. I'm just so happy we were able to get it accomplished."
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A newspaper is held up on the field at NRG Stadium in Houston after the Patriots' fifth Super Bowl win.
The “Tonight Show” host even joked about Belichick's intense game face. “You intimidate me when I watch you,” he said. “Right now, I’m a little scared.”
The coach explained that his face shows his extreme focus on the task at hand — in this case, winning the Super Bowl. “Every time we’re working on football it’s serious. And were trying to get better. And that’s every day.”
Fallon’s interview wouldn’t have been complete without asking Edelman about that one catch that had everyone on the edge of their seats in the fourth quarter. Fallon called it the “greatest catch in the history of the Super Bowl.”
“After it all happened, I was kind of disappointed in my route,” Edelman admitted.
“Yeah,” Fallon agreed, “we were all feeling that.”
“It was probably 70 percent luck,” Edelman added before Fallon joked he should open a chain of seafood restaurants called “Edelman’s Catch.”
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Musician Luke Bryan and NFL player Eli Manning attend Super Bowl 51 at NRG Stadium Feb. 5, 2017 in Houston, Texas.
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Former Major League Baseball player Alex Rodriguez looks on prior to Super Bowl 51.
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Rupert Murdoch looks on prior to Super Bowl 51 between the Atlanta Falcons and the New England Patriots at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas.
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Former Houston Rocket and NBA Hall of Famer Yao Ming walks on the sideline before Super Bowl 51.
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Olympic Swimmer Michael Phelps is seen during Super Bowl 51 between the Atlanta Falcons and the New England Patriots at NRG Stadium on Feb. 5, 2017 in Houston, Texas.
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Lady Gaga performs during the Pepsi Zero Sugar Super Bowl 51 Halftime Show at NRG Stadium on Feb. 5, 2017 in Houston, Texas.
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Singers of the cast of Hamilton, Phillipa Soo, right, Rene Elise Goldsberry, center, and Jasmine Cephas Jones, sing "God Bless America" before the NFL Super Bowl 51 football game between the New England Patriots and the Atlanta Falcons, Sunday, Feb. 5, 2017, in Houston.
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Luke Bryan sings the National Anthem prior to Super Bowl 51 between the New England Patriots and the Atlanta Falcons at NRG Stadium on Feb. 5, 2017 in Houston, Texas.
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Former President George H.W. Bush and his wife, Barbara, arrive on the field for a coin toss before the NFL Super Bowl 51 football game between the Atlanta Falcons and the New England Patriots, Feb. 5, 2017, in Houston.
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Lady Gaga poses on the field for a picture before the NFL Super Bowl 51 football game between the New England Patriots and the Atlanta Falcons, Feb. 5, 2017, in Houston.
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Country star Luke Bryan sang the national anthem before kickoff at Super Bowl LI at NRG Stadium, Feb. 5, 2017, in Houston, Texas.
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Astronaut Buzz Aldrin during the first half of the NFL Super Bowl 51 football game between the Atlanta Falcons and the New England Patriots, Sunday, Feb. 5, 2017, in Houston.
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Usher poses for photos before the NFL Super Bowl 51 football game between the New England Patriots and the Atlanta Falcons, Feb. 5, 2017, in Houston.
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Rapper Lil Jon poses before the NFL Super Bowl 51 football game between the New England Patriots and the Atlanta Falcons, Feb. 5, 2017, in Houston.
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Seattle Seahawks' Michael Bennett, left, takes a selfie with actor Mark Wahlberg before the NFL Super Bowl 51 football game, Feb. 5, 2017, in Houston.
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Rapper 2 Chainz looks on prior to Super Bowl 51 between the New England Patriots and the Atlanta Falcons at NRG Stadium, Feb. 5, 2017, in Houston, Texas.
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TV personality and former NFL player Michael Strahan looks on prior to Super Bowl 51 between the New England Patriots and the Atlanta Falcons at NRG Stadium, Feb. 5, 2017, in Houston, Texas.
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Donatell Versace posted a photo on Instagram saying "I am ready for the #kickoff! #SB51"
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Olympics Gymnast Simone Biles posted a photo of herself and NBA superstar Shaquille O'Neal on Twitter.
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Harry Connick Jr. looks on prior to Super Bowl 51 between the New England Patriots and the Atlanta Falcons at NRG Stadium, Feb. 5, 2017, in Houston, Texas.
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Actor Rob Riggle looks on prior to Super Bowl 51 between the New England Patriots and the Atlanta Falcons at NRG Stadium on Feb. 5, 2017 in Houston, Texas.
The wide receiver said the big victory is taking time to sink in: “Once you get to get back and go to Boston and get towards that parade, have a couple of cold ones with the boys, that’s when it starts to become the real thing.”
Belichick agreed that, at first, his team’s win didn’t feel like reality. He said that after returning to his hotel for the night, he had to watch the replay on TV to make sure it wasn’t all just a dream.
The Patriots head to Boston on Tuesday for their celebration parade, which kicks off at 11 a.m. from the Hynes Convention Center.
