The 2015 draft choice held the longest tenure on the roster.
The longest tenure left in Foxborough has reached its end.
The New England Patriots announced the release of long snapper Joe Cardona on Tuesday, ending a run that spanned 10 campaigns as well as Super Bowl LI and LIII rings.
Thank you for your commitment and dedication, Joe pic.twitter.com/UxbBvzHTcJ
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) April 29, 2025
Cardona, 33, arrived in the fifth round of the 2015 NFL draft at No. 166 overall. The Navy Midshipmen product would go on to appear in 160 games in the regular season, amassing 1,435 snaps on special teams along with 20 tackles and a forced fumble. The stay also featured 13 playoff games.
A member of the Patriots All-Dynasty team and a past recipient of the Salute to Service Award, Cardona was named a captain for the first time following the retirement of perennial Pro Bowl gunner Matthew Slater in 2024. He missed one game due to a calf injury during his final fall with the club that called his number.
Cardona, an officer in the U.S. Naval Reserve who holds the rank of Lieutenant, stood midway through his second four-year contract extension with New England. Cap numbers of $1.594 million and $1.643 million were ahead for the 6-foot-2, 245-pound specialist, per OverTheCap.com.
Now, a new era in the kicking game is.
Head coach Mike Vrabel’s draft room selected former Vanderbilt and Furman long snapper Julian Ashby in the seventh round at No. 251 overall last weekend. The 22-year-old rookie successor’s collegiate career included 57 appearances from the FCS to the SEC.