New England Patriots receiver Julian Edelman received something special to add to his collection of three Super Bowl rings.
A college diploma.
Thirteen years after he entered Kent State with a year of community college under his belt, Edelman was back in Ohio on Saturday, walking in the graduation ceremony and later posing for photos with his proud parents.
Edelman shared on Instagram earlier in the week that he had earned his degree and would put on the cap and gown.
"It is important to me that I make my parents proud as I fulfill a promise that I made to them that I would, one day, be a college graduate," he said. "I also want to set a great example for my daughter, so that when I talk about the importance of a college degree, I can show her that earning my degree was important to me."
He was back on social media Saturday, sharing a photo of himself flanked presumably by his parents, that read: "Kent State class of 2019... we did it!" followed by a graduation cap emoji and "#13YearSenior."
Teammates and friends had their fun with Edelman on social media.
"Who ever knew it could take 14 years to graduate college?" Tom Brady commented.
Edelman, a Jewish Super Bowl MVP, who turns 33 later this month, played quarterback for the Golden Flashes for three seasons, completing 54.5 percent of his passes for nearly 5,000 yards with 30 touchdowns and 31 interceptions.
The Patriots selected Edelman in the seventh round of the 2009 NFL Draft.