New England Patriots Say Farewell to Veteran Center David Andrews
The New England Patriots have decided to separate from one of their longstanding leaders, marking a significant shift in their roster. David Andrews, a veteran who has served as team captain eight times and secured two Super Bowl victories, is set to be released by the Patriots on Thursday, according to multiple sources reported by ESPN. The 32-year-old center is currently recovering from shoulder surgery which restricted him to just four games last season. Should Andrews choose not to extend his career with another team, it is anticipated that the Patriots will host a retirement ceremony to celebrate his numerous contributions to the franchise.
Throughout his career with New England, Andrews has participated in 124 regular-season games, starting in 121, and played 12 playoff matches with 10 starts. He was notably selected for the Patriots’ All-Decade Team for the 2010s, demonstrating his significant impact on the team. Rising from undrafted free agent status in 2015 to a rookie starter by Week 1, his journey has been hailed as one of the Patriots’ most inspiring underdog narratives. A University of Georgia graduate, Andrews frequently expressed his gratitude to former coach Bill Belichick for affording him the opportunity in the NFL, noting Belichick was the sole head coach to personally work with him before the 2015 draft.
Alongside long snapper Joe Cardona, Andrews was among the most tenured players with the Patriots. He was heading into the last year of his contract in 2025 with a planned base salary of $4 million. In May 2024, the Patriots extended his contract through the 2025 season, including $8 million guaranteed. Despite starting the first four games last season, a shoulder injury necessitating surgery placed him on injured reserve. Over the last five months, he has been diligently working on his recovery. Reflecting on his 2024 season struggles, Andrews remarked, “I did everything I could to try to play [in 2024], and it didn’t go well.” Filling Andrews’ shoes will be a challenging task for the Patriots.