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The New England Patriots have released captain and center David Andrews, the final player with connections to their Super Bowl dynasty, the team announced on Thursday (March 13).
Andrews, 32, initially signed with the Patriots as an undrafted free agent in 2015 and won Super Bowls LI and LIII, making 121 starts in 124 appearances during his 10-year NFL career.
"David Andrews' career success is a shining example of what every NFL prospect should strive to achieve," said Patriots Chairman and CEO Robert Kraft in a statement shared on the team's official website. "As a rookie free agent, David earned a starting assignment at center in his NFL debut, a position he anchored for the next decade. 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. David is a true professional, and his impact on this organization will be felt for many years to come. On behalf of the entire Kraft family and the New England Patriots, I want to express my deepest gratitude for his countless contributions, and we look forward to celebrating his remarkable career."
Andrews served as a team captain for eight seasons and started at center for a top 10-ranked offense during each of his first four seasons between 2015 and 2018, having also been named to the Patriots All-2010s team. The former University of Georgia standout was, however, limited to just four appearances in 2024 due to injury.
The Patriots won six Super Bowls, which is tied with the Pittsburgh Steelers for the most by an NFL franchise, and 17 division titles during the 20 shared seasons between former quarterback Tom Brady and head coach Bill Belichick, but have only made the playoffs once since Brady's departure in 2020.