Andrew Tarbell Bio
Andrew Gifford Tarbell, born on October 7, 1993, is an American professional soccer player who plays as a goalkeeper. Born and raised in Mandeville, Louisiana, Tarbell developed his craft through youth soccer before starring at Clemson University, where he became one of the top collegiate goalkeepers in the country. He entered Major League Soccer as a high draft pick and has since built a professional career across multiple clubs, including the San Jose Earthquakes, Columbus Crew, Austin FC, and Houston Dynamo. Tarbell is recognized for his command of the penalty area, his penalty-saving ability, and a competitive résumé that includes an MLS Cup winners’ medal and a U.S. Open Cup title.
Early Life and Background
Andrew Gifford Tarbell was born on October 7, 1993, in Mandeville, Louisiana, in the United States. He attended Fontainebleau High School, where he was a multi-sport athlete, playing soccer and baseball while also competing in javelin. Those early sporting experiences helped him develop the coordination, aerial ability, and competitive habits that later defined his goalkeeping style.
Alongside his high school career, Tarbell joined the Mandeville Soccer Club Lakers, continuing his development within the local youth system. During his junior and senior years at Fontainebleau, he also played for the New Orleans Jesters, a Premier Development League side, gaining exposure to higher-level competition as a teenager. This blend of scholastic, club, and semi-professional soccer gave him a strong foundation heading into college.
Path to Professional Soccer
Tarbell took his game to the collegiate level with the Clemson Tigers, where he spent his entire college career representing Clemson University. He became the program’s starter and featured in 55 matches across four seasons, emerging as one of the top goalkeepers in the Atlantic Coast Conference. He was named to the All-ACC First Team on two occasions, reflecting his consistency and the trust placed in him by the Clemson coaching staff.
In 2014, Tarbell helped lead Clemson to an ACC Tournament title. The following season, he guided the Tigers to the NCAA National Championship game in 2015, where they ultimately fell to Stanford, and his performances earned him a place on the College Cup All-Tournament Team. Following that campaign, Tarbell elected to leave Clemson early and signed a Generation Adidas contract with Major League Soccer, a path that made him eligible for the MLS SuperDraft and opened the door to his professional career.
Andrew Tarbell Career
Early Career (2010–2015)
Tarbell’s earliest senior appearances came with the New Orleans Jesters between 2010 and 2011, where he gained valuable minutes while still in high school. Those outings allowed him to test his abilities against experienced professionals and helped accelerate his development as a goalkeeper.
At Clemson University, Tarbell grew into one of the most reliable shot-stoppers in college soccer. His four-year run included two All-ACC First Team selections, an ACC Tournament crown in 2014, and a runner-up finish in the 2015 NCAA Championship. By the end of his Tigers career, he had established himself as a top professional prospect and signed a Generation Adidas deal to enter the MLS pipeline.
San Jose Earthquakes Breakthrough (2016–2019)
Andrew Gifford Tarbell was selected 8th overall in the 2016 MLS SuperDraft by the San Jose Earthquakes. He made his professional debut on August 27, 2016, entering a match against the Columbus Crew in relief of an injured David Bingham. Although the match ended in a 2–0 loss, the appearance marked the start of his Major League Soccer journey.
During the first half of the 2017 season, Tarbell did not feature for San Jose and was instead loaned to United Soccer League affiliate Reno 1868. After returning, he earned his first start for the Earthquakes in a U.S. Open Cup match on June 16, 2017, keeping a clean sheet in a 2–0 win over the San Francisco Deltas. He followed that with a career-high eleven saves in a U.S. Open Cup semifinal against Sporting Kansas City, including saving Benny Feilhaber’s penalty in sudden death, performances that earned him his first MLS start on August 12 against the Houston Dynamo. In that match, Tarbell saved a penalty from Cubo Torres and won MLS Save of the Week, adding a second Save of the Week honor against Toronto FC on September 9, 2017. He ended the season undergoing surgery for a sports hernia, and in 2018 he was given the captain’s armband for the first time, earning praise for leading one of the best performances of the Earthquakes’ campaign. His final San Jose appearance came on June 20, 2019, in a U.S. Open Cup loss to Los Angeles FC.
Columbus Crew Era (2020)
In February 2020, Tarbell was traded to the Columbus Crew in exchange for $75,000 in allocation money. He made his Crew debut during the 2020 MLS is Back Tournament. His most significant run came during the 2020 MLS Cup Playoffs, when he stepped into the starting role after incumbent goalkeeper Eloy Room missed time due to COVID-19 protocols.
Tarbell responded with consecutive clean sheets against Nashville SC and the New England Revolution in the Eastern Conference semifinals and finals, respectively. He was on the bench for the MLS Cup final as Columbus defeated Seattle 3–0 to claim the championship, earning his first major professional trophy. Following the title run, Columbus declined his contract option, opening the door for his next move.
Austin FC Era (2021–2022)
On December 23, 2020, Tarbell signed with expansion side Austin FC ahead of their inaugural 2021 season. He made his debut for the club on September 29, 2021, in a 3–0 road loss to the Colorado Rapids. The following year, on April 30, 2022, he replaced an injured Brad Stuver in the 8th minute and helped Austin to a 2–1 victory over the Houston Dynamo.
Tarbell was released by Austin FC following the conclusion of the 2022 season, after which he became a free agent. His time in Austin, though brief, added further top-flight experience and kept him in the spotlight as a dependable shot-stopper.
Houston Dynamo Era (2023–Present)
On November 23, 2022, Andrew Gifford Tarbell signed a two-year deal with the Houston Dynamo ahead of the 2023 campaign. He became the starting goalkeeper for a side that lifted the 2023 U.S. Open Cup, serving as captain during a 1–0 fourth-round win over Sporting Kansas City while playing a man down.
Tarbell started the first four matches of the 2025 season before suffering a knee injury that required season-ending surgery. Houston subsequently declined his contract option at the conclusion of the 2025 season, marking the end of his tenure with the club.
Driving Style and Strengths
In an interview with MLSsoccer.com, Tarbell described himself as a goalkeeper who carries a strong presence, covers a large area, and commands his penalty area aggressively off his line on crosses and through balls. He has pointed to consistency in his kicking and technique as areas of continued growth, while his performances in big matches, including penalty saves and multi-save cup displays, have highlighted his shot-stopping reflexes and mental composure.
Notable Events and Milestones
Tarbell’s career milestones include an MLS Cup winners’ medal with Columbus Crew in 2020, a U.S. Open Cup title with Houston Dynamo in 2023, two MLS Save of the Week honors in 2017, and a career-high eleven saves in the 2017 U.S. Open Cup semifinal against Sporting Kansas City.
Andrew Tarbell Career Wins
Andrew Gifford Tarbell has collected team trophies across multiple Major League Soccer stops, headlined by an MLS Cup title with Columbus Crew in 2020 and a U.S. Open Cup championship with Houston Dynamo in 2023.
Major League Soccer Highlights
Tarbell’s most significant MLS moment came with the Columbus Crew in 2020, when he started consecutive playoff clean sheets against Nashville SC and the New England Revolution before earning an MLS Cup winners’ medal as the Crew defeated Seattle 3–0 in the final. He also served as San Jose Earthquakes captain in 2018 and contributed to multiple Save of the Week awards during the 2017 season.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond his MLS achievements, Tarbell starred in cup competitions, most notably keeping a clean sheet and captaining Houston Dynamo to a 1–0 fourth-round U.S. Open Cup victory over Sporting Kansas City in 2023, the same tournament the club went on to win.
Andrew Tarbell Family
Family Background and Soccer Lineage
Tarbell grew up in Mandeville, Louisiana, where he developed his game through the Mandeville Soccer Club Lakers before progressing to the New Orleans Jesters and eventually Clemson University.
Personal Life
Public information regarding Tarbell’s personal life, including marital status, children, and residence, is not widely documented in verified sources.
2025 Season Performance
Andrew Gifford Tarbell opened the 2025 season as Houston Dynamo’s starting goalkeeper and featured in the first four matches of the campaign. His season was cut short when he sustained a knee injury that required surgery, forcing him to miss the remainder of the year.
Following the conclusion of the 2025 season, Houston declined his contract option, ending his time with the club. As Tarbell evaluates his next move, his 2023 U.S. Open Cup success and his track record of stepping up in high-pressure moments remain central to his profile as he looks ahead.