Andrew DePaola Bio
Andrew DePaola Jr., pronounced dee-PAW-lə, is an American professional football long snapper for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL). Standing 6 feet 1 inch tall and weighing about 227 pounds, he has built a reputation as one of the league’s most reliable specialists since reaching the pros. Over the course of his career, he has also played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Chicago Bears, Oakland Raiders, and Carolina Panthers. His rise from walk-on quarterback at Rutgers to multi-year All-Pro long snapper is a story of patience, persistence, and steady craft.
Early Life and Background
Andrew DePaola Jr. was born on July 28, 1987, in Sparks, Maryland, a small community in Baltimore County. He grew up in the Parkton area and entered Hereford High School in 2001, where he arrived with an early love for baseball. Football soon took over, and he joined the Bulls, moving up to the varsity squad during his sophomore year. That season, he helped Hereford capture the Maryland 2A state football championship, a foundational moment for a young athlete still learning the game.
By his senior year, DePaola had become the team’s starting quarterback. He completed 68 percent of his passes, threw 22 touchdowns against only 7 interceptions, and piled up 2,092 passing yards. The Bulls set a state record for single-season scoring with 636 points, although they finished as state-runner-up that year. For his play, The Baltimore Sun named him Baltimore County Offensive Player of the Year, and he earned all-Metro and All-State recognition. He also continued to play baseball, batting .527 with a 3-1 record on the mound in his final season and earning all-Metro honors. His high school career wrapped up at the Good Samaritan Bowl, played at the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Maryland.
Path to Professional Football
After graduating, DePaola joined the Rutgers University football team as a walk-on, beginning a college journey that would eventually redirect his career. He was redshirted as a freshman and spent his first two seasons on the roster as a third-string quarterback, helping the Scarlet Knights prepare for games in practice. As a junior, he took on the role of holder on field goals and did not drop a single snap. During that 2007 season, a play against then-No. 2 South Florida, in which he caught a field-goal attempt and threw a 15-yard touchdown pass, was even featured on ESPN SportsCenter.
Heading into his fourth year, DePaola moved to wide receiver, but the path changed again when starting long snapper Jeremy Branch suffered a leg injury. DePaola stepped into the snapping role and held it for the final four games of that season and all of his fifth year, playing in every game as a senior. Despite that breakthrough, he went undrafted by an NFL team after completing his college career with the Rutgers Scarlet Knights.
Andrew DePaola Career
Early Career and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2012-2016)
DePaola did not join an NFL roster immediately after college. He spent the next two years working as a bartender and taking other odd jobs while waiting for his chance. His first opportunity came in early August 2012, when he signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as a long snapper during training camp. After three weeks, he was waived on August 27, 2012. The Buccaneers signed him to a futures contract on January 3, 2013, but he was released again during the next training camp in favor of veteran long snapper Andrew Economos.
DePaola finally secured a starting role on May 14, 2014, signing a two-year contract to become Tampa Bay’s long snapper. He made his on-field debut against the Carolina Panthers on September 7, 2014, handling two snaps on successful extra-point attempts and recording a tackle assist. He went on to serve as the Buccaneers’ long snapper for three full seasons, from 2014 through 2016. After re-signing with Tampa Bay in August 2017, he was released during final roster cuts on September 1, 2017.
Chicago Bears, Oakland Raiders, and Carolina Panthers (2017-2019)
On September 3, 2017, DePaola was claimed off waivers by the Chicago Bears, giving him a brief stop in the NFC North. He later signed a four-year contract with the Oakland Raiders on March 16, 2018, looking to settle into a long-term role. That plan unraveled quickly, as a torn ACL in Week 1 forced him to injured reserve on September 12, 2018. The Raiders released him on August 25, 2019, before the start of the regular season.
Three days later, on August 28, 2019, DePaola was signed by the Carolina Panthers. He was released during final roster cuts on August 30, 2019, and ended up sitting out the entire 2019 NFL season. In August 2020, he had a tryout with the Houston Texans, but a roster spot did not materialize there either.
Minnesota Vikings Era (2020-Present)
On November 21, 2020, DePaola was signed to the Minnesota Vikings’ practice squad, providing a fresh start in the NFC North. He was elevated to the active roster for games against the Dallas Cowboys and Carolina Panthers in Weeks 11 and 12, and was promoted to the active roster on December 2, 2020. From that point on, he became a fixture in Minnesota’s special teams unit, settling into a role he has held ever since.
The recognition followed. After the 2022 season, DePaola earned his first Pro Bowl selection and a first-team All-Pro nomination as long snapper. On March 14, 2023, he signed a three-year contract extension with the Vikings, and followed that with a second straight Pro Bowl selection and a second-team All-Pro nod for 2023. On November 4, 2024, the Vikings announced he would undergo surgery to repair a hand injury, cutting his season short. Even so, he was named first-team All-Pro once more and added a third consecutive Pro Bowl honor, becoming the first long snapper in league history to earn three straight Pro Bowl selections.
Driving Style and Strengths
As a long snapper, DePaola’s value is built on consistency, accuracy, and quiet week-to-week reliability. He has thrived in cold-weather and indoor environments alike, and his background as a quarterback and holder has given him a strong understanding of kicking-game tempo and timing. His partnership with Vikings kickers and punters has produced a smooth operation on field goals, extra points, and punts, with very few notable mis-snaps across his Minnesota tenure.
Notable Events and Milestones
DePaola’s most celebrated milestones have come in a Minnesota uniform. He earned his first Pro Bowl and first-team All-Pro honors after the 2022 season, then added two more Pro Bowl selections and another All-Pro nod over the next two years. In 2024, despite a hand injury that required surgery, he became the first long snapper ever named to three consecutive Pro Bowls, cementing his place among the NFL’s all-time specialists at the position.
Andrew DePaola Career Achievements
Andrew DePaola Jr.’s professional resume is defined by longevity and postseason recognition. He has been selected to the Pro Bowl three times, in 2022, 2023, and 2024, and has earned All-Pro honors in each of those seasons, including first-team All-Pro in 2022 and 2024, and second-team All-Pro in 2023. Across more than a decade in the league, he has appeared for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Chicago Bears, Oakland Raiders, Carolina Panthers, and Minnesota Vikings, building a career that has spanned both coasts and several conference divisions.
Vikings Highlights
Since joining Minnesota in 2020, DePaola has emerged as one of the faces of the Vikings’ special teams. His first Pro Bowl selection came after the 2022 season, and he has added two more in 2023 and 2024. The 2024 season was shortened by a hand injury that required surgery in November, but he still earned first-team All-Pro honors, capping a run of three consecutive Pro Bowl nods, a first for a long snapper.
Andrew DePaola Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Andrew DePaola Jr. grew up in the Parkton area of Baltimore County, Maryland, where he attended Hereford High School and starred in both football and baseball. Public details about his immediate family, including parents, spouse, and children, are limited, and he has generally kept his personal life out of the spotlight while focusing on his NFL career. His path from small-town Maryland athlete to a multi-year All-Pro long snapper reflects the steady support system that helped him through the years of odd jobs and roster moves early in his professional journey.
2025 Season Outlook
Andrew DePaola Jr. is scheduled to be under contract with the Minnesota Vikings through 2026 after signing a three-year extension in March 2023. As he continues to recover from the hand surgery announced in November 2024, his primary goals for the 2025 season will be full health and another year of consistent snapping on field goals, extra points, and punts. With three consecutive Pro Bowl selections already on his resume, the 2025 campaign offers him a chance to extend that streak and further cement his standing as one of the top long snappers in the NFL.