One of the last ties to the Bill Belichick-Tom Brady dynasty era is leaving New England.
The Patriots on Thursday released longtime center and eight-time captain David Andrews, who won two Super Bowls with the team.
Andrews has been with the team since 2015 and was tied with long snapper Joe Cardona for the longest-tenured player тιтle, according to ESPN.
“David Andrews’ career success is a shining example of what every NFL prospect should strive to achieve,” Patriots owner Robert Kraft said in a statement. “His leadership, work ethic, and dedication to the team earned him the respect and admiration of his coaches and teammates, who elected him as an eight-time team captain. The importance of his leadership during his career cannot be overstated.”
The Patriots are entering their new era under Mike Vrabel, and Andrews represented the last standout player from the Brady-Belichick years.
Andrews, 32, won Super Bowls 2015 and 2017 and spent 10 years with the franchise, though he did not play in 2019.
He started 11 games his rookie season en route to the championship triumph over the Seahawks, and started 121 of 124 games during his career.
Andrews only appeared in four games this past season after undergoing season-ending shoulder surgery, and ESPN indicated it’s possible he played his final down in the NFL.
“I did everything I could to try to play [in 2024], and it didn’t go well,” Andrews said after the season ended. “I had to make a tough decision, knowing the surgery might not go well, and it might lead to more problems. But thankfully that went well.
“Look, I know this is a tough business; the organization might come to me and tell me it’s time to move on. I might get into OTAs or training camp and know I can’t do it. If the organization decides to go in a different way, that’s their choice and I hope that’s not the case. I want to play football. I’ve done this for a long time — 26 years — and I’d like to make it 27 and see where it goes from there. I’m going to try to do it.”
Andrews signed a one-year, $6.5 million extension through the 2025 season last May, and the Patriots will save $2.7 million against the cap by moving on from the veteran.
“David is a true professional, and his impact on this organization will be felt for many years to come,” Kraft continued. “On behalf of the entire Kraft family and the New England Patriots, I want to express my deepest graтιтude for his countless contributions, and we look forward to celebrating his remarkable career.”
