Longtime New England Patriots Center, David Andrews, Announces Retirement from NFL
The Skinny on David Andrews' NFL Retirement
David Andrews, a stalwart center for the New England Patriots for a whopping ten years, is unfortunately hanging up his cleats after a decorated career.
Apparently, a retirement press conference has been planned for the 32-year-old on Monday. The Pats announced his impending retirement on a Wednesday and interestingly, they had a guaranteed $8 million left on his contract [1].
Andrews, who started his NFL journey as an undrafted free agent from Georgia in 2015, played a total of 124 games (121 starts) and 12 playoff games (10 starts) [1].
Regrettably, injuries marred his later career, keeping him sidelined for the whole 2019 season and limiting him to only four games in 2024 before a rotator cuff surgery [1].
Patriots owner Robert Kraft recognized Andrews' exceptional leadership, work ethic, and dedication in a statement. Kraft praised him as an eight-time team captain whose importance to the franchise couldn't be overstated [2].
Over the course of his career, Andrews provided stability on the offensive line for the Pats, peppering his performances with standout moments such as starting every game during the 2016 and 2018 seasons [3]. He proved himself as a valuable player, lining up across from legends like Tom Brady, Jimmy Garoppolo, Cam Newton, Mac Jones, and Drake Maye [2].
In 2017, Andrews shone particularly brightly, earning an impressive 83.5 Pro Football Focus (PFF) overall grade [2]. He was no stranger to Super Bowl glory, contributing to two Patriots triumphs: Super Bowl LI (2017) and Super Bowl LIII (2019) [1][2].
Although his retirement is undoubtedly a loss for the Patriots, his impact on the team will leave a lasting impression for years to come. The fact that he's the last remaining player from the franchise's two-decade dynasty also highlights the closure of a significant chapter in New England's history [5].
Despite the disappointing circumstances of his retirement, Andrews' professionalism and reliability resonated throughout the locker room and among Patriots fans [4]. His retirement conference will no doubt serve as a celebration of his unique contributions to the team.
Sources:[1] Field Level Media[2] New England Patriots[3] CBS Sports[4] Boston Globe[5] Patriots Wire
- David Andrews, a esteemed member of the New England Patriots for a decade, will bid farewell to American football, specifically NFL and football, at a retirement press conference planned for Monday.
- As a coach might appreciate, Andrews leaves behind an impressive legacy, having played in 124 games with 121 starts and 12 playoff games with 10 starts during his six-year tenure in the NFL.
- After proving his worth on the field, he lined up across from venerable quarterbacks like Tom Brady, Jimmy Garoppolo, Cam Newton, Mac Jones, and Drake Maye, forging a significant part of NFL sports history.
- A viable candidate for a Super Bowl MVP title, Andrews proudly contributed to two Super Bowl triumphs, Super Bowl LI (2017) and Super Bowl LIII (2019), cementing his place amongst NFL legends.
