A Storied Career Comes to an End
After two Super Bowl victories and a decade with the New England Patriots, David Andrews has decided to retire. The 32-year-old center, who was released by the Patriots in March, officially announced his retirement on Wednesday. New England plans to hold a retirement news conference for Andrews on Monday.
A Key Player in the Patriots’ Dynasty
Andrews was a cornerstone of the Patriots’ offensive line throughout their dynasty, starting in three Super Bowls. He played an integral role in securing Lombardi Trophies for the franchise with victories over the Atlanta Falcons in Super Bowl LI and the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl LIII.
Although he was never selected to the Pro Bowl, Andrews was a highly regarded center from 2017 through 2022. He earned his career-best 83.5 overall grade from Pro Football Focus in 2017 during the Patriots’ Super Bowl LII run, which ended in a loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.
Over the course of his career, Andrews snapped the ball to several quarterbacks, including Tom Brady, Jimmy Garoppolo, Jacoby Brissett, Cam Newton, Mac Jones, and the latest addition to the franchise, Drake Maye.
A Career Marked by Injuries
Andrews’ career, however, was marred by injuries. He played in 124 games with 121 starts but faced significant setbacks along the way. He missed the entirety of the 2019 season due to blood clots and was sidelined for multiple games in both 2020 and 2022. Last season, he appeared in just four games before requiring rotator cuff surgery.
With his retirement, free-agent Garrett Bradbury or rookie Jared Wilson is expected to take the reins at center for the Patriots in the 2025 season, as the team enters a new era under head coach Mike Vrabel. Andrews’ final game was a Week 4 loss to the San Francisco 49ers last year.
From a Strong Start to a Final Goodbye
Andrews’ first career game was a 2015 season-opening victory against the Pittsburgh Steelers, which kicked off a campaign that saw the Patriots advance to the AFC Championship Game. He began his career during the height of the Patriots’ dynastic success and is now retiring amid a rebuild for the franchise.
Andrews expressed being “a little shocked” by his release in March and mentioned he would need time to think about his future. However, the time has now come for him to officially end his playing career.
