The Patriots parted ways with the longtime captain last week.
Following a season-ending shoulder surgery, David Andrews stood at his locker at the conclusion of the 2024 season and acknowledged his future in New England may not be up to him.
Roughly three months later that is what unfolded, as the Patriots released the veteran center last week.
A former undrafted free agent who took over as full-time starting center in 2016, Andrews became a foundational player for the organization. Over the course of his career with the club, he started a combined 131 regular season and playoff games and helped the Patriots win two Super Bowls.
Despite all his accomplishments, he knew that there was a possibility his run with the team was nearing an end: set to turn 33 in July and coming off a season-ending shoulder injury, the call did not come entirely unexpected.
That said, as he pointed out on his Quick Snap Podcast this week, that did not make it any less of a surprise.
“You’re a little shocked by it,” Andrews told co-host Brian Hoyer.
“I’ve been so blessed. I got 10 years and I’ve never been fired. I was living the pipe dream that I would hopefully make the decision myself. What did Bill [Belichick] say? ‘There’s a light at the end of the tunnel, and you’re hoping it’s not a train.’ I was hoping it wasn’t a train, but it was a train.”
After suffering a torn rotator cuff early in Week 4, Andrews opted for surgery instead of playing through the injury — a move that was made to allow him a chance to play in 2025 instead of potentially ending his football career.
Making that return remained his goal especially after the hiring of offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, who overlapped with Andrews from 2015 to 2021 in New England.
“I wanted the opportunity to try to play, and see if I can get back to play football. I was super excited for the opportunity with Josh and the new coaches, and getting to know them,” he said.
“I knew the offense really well and had a lot of success in that offense; it fits my play style well — how I like to play, what I like to do. I’ve had a lot of success and was excited for that reunion. I’ve had a great relationship with Josh and was excited to see Vrabel and what he brought to the table as a football coach. But I knew that was part of it.”
When the Patriots officially released Andrews last week, they did so with a failed physical designation — a sign that he is not yet at a point in his recovery from shoulder surgery where he can compete at the necessary level.
His medical status in combination with his age and a new coaching staff coming aboard made a release a real possibility this offseason. Andrews himself was not oblivious to that fact either, regardless of the surprising nature of the eventual decision being made.
“I knew that this was a possibility. Teams start seeing that age and surgeries, and things like that, that’s a really possibility,” he said. “They’re trying to do what’s best for the football team, and we’ve been told that for a long time. You respect that as a player. Obviously, I thought there were some things I could do to help and provide value. But I understand their decision at some level. …
“If you’re a competitor, you’re not like, ‘Great.’ Nobody wants to get fired, even in the real world. But I definitely respect their decision. Do I like it? No. I think I could provide value. I was hoping that I could try to play and just trying to get the ship in the right direction and help the organization and the community and whatever you want to say.”
After joining the Patriots as a UDFA in 2015 and cementing his spot on the roster in the preseason finale, Andrews went on to start 11 games his rookie season. Following the year, Andrews was named a captain for the first time en route to the Patriots winning Super Bowl LI.
Andrews went on to win one more Super Bowl in New England in 2018 as the team’s starting center and was an eight-time captain as he became a key leader on and off the field. He should one day be fitted for a red jacket.
And despite his feelings on his ability to still contribute, he harbors no ill-will toward the team as he heads toward an uncertain future for the first time in a decade.
“Still love the organization, still love the community,” he said. “We’re still here. We don’t have any plans to make any drastic moves right now, depending on different situations. It is our home right now.”