At the Super Bowl on Sunday, no one will be rooting harder for Julian Edelman and the New England Patriots than quarterback Dejah Rondeau.
Rondeau, a seventh grader, was named the starting quarterback for the Exeter Seahawks in Exeter, New Hampshire, last season after the team’s starter was injured.
But, despite finding success on the field, Rondeau was bullied off of it for being a girl who was playing football.
After being alerted about the young New England fan’s plight, the Patriots invited Rondeau to Foxborough for a tour of the trophy room at Gillette Stadium with team owner Robert Kraft and a game of catch with Edelman.
“I heard about your story, about going out there and having a challenge, of dealing with adversity because people not accepting this, that,” Edelman told her. “My respect level for you is just through the roof because you just ignored all the noise and you played the game we all love and that’s football.”
7th grade quarterback Dejah Rondeau wears no. 11 in honor of @Edelman11.
When he heard she was getting bullied at school, he had a #SuperBowlSurprise for her. pic.twitter.com/NVyhkfv8Hr
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) January 29, 2019
Rondeau, who wears No. 11 on the field in honor of Edelman, had another surprise coming her way courtesy of the quarterback-turned-wide receiver.
“We’re gonna bring you to the Super Bowl, too, if that’s cool,” Edelman said as he handed her two tickets to Super Bowl LIII in Atlanta. “Do you have any plans next Sunday?”
Now she does – rooting for the Patriots in person at Super Bowl LIII.
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