David Andrews Bio
James David Andrews, known professionally as David Andrews, is an American former professional football player who played center for the New England Patriots of the National Football League (NFL). Standing 6 feet 2 inches tall and competing at roughly 300 pounds, Andrews spent his entire NFL career in New England after signing with the Patriots as an undrafted free agent in 2015. He announced his retirement on May 28, 2025, closing the book on a decade-long tenure that included two Super Bowl championships and recognition on the New England Patriots All-2010s Team.
A dependable center and team captain, Andrews anchored one of the most successful offensive lines of his era. Following his playing career, Andrews joined NBC Sports Boston as an analyst and launched a football podcast called The Quick Snap with former teammate Brian Hoyer, which debuted in September 2025.
Early Life and Background
David Andrews was born on July 10, 1992, in Johns Creek, Georgia. He grew up in the Atlanta suburbs and attended Wesleyan School in Peachtree Corners, Georgia, where he developed into a hard-nosed two-way lineman. In his sophomore year, Andrews helped Wesleyan win the 2008 GHSA Class A state championship, an early taste of team success that shaped his competitive approach.
Across his junior and senior seasons, his coaches credited him with more than a hundred knockdown blocks while not allowing a single quarterback sack. Andrews was named the 2010 Gwinnett County Offensive Lineman of the Year and earned All-County First-team Offense honors from the Gwinnett Daily Post. Regarded as a three-star recruit by Rivals.com and ranked as the No. 9 center prospect in the class of 2011, Andrews drew early scholarship offers from Duke and Michigan.
Despite those options, Andrews described himself as a lifelong die-hard Bulldogs fan and waited for the University of Georgia to offer a scholarship. He committed practically on the spot in February 2010, choosing to stay close to home and continue his football journey with the Georgia Bulldogs.
Path to Professional Football
Andrews arrived at the University of Georgia as a true freshman and appeared in ten games during his first season, earning Athletic Director’s Honor Roll distinction for the fall semester. As a sophomore, he stepped into the starting center role after the graduation of Ben Jones and started all 14 games, protecting quarterback Aaron Murray. His work against Auburn in early November earned him Southeastern Conference Offensive Lineman of the Week honors after he graded out at 88 percent with six dominator blocks and three knockdowns.
During his junior year, Andrews landed on the preseason watch list for the Rimington Trophy and started all 13 games at center, helping Georgia rank second in passing in the SEC. After his senior spring practice, he was named Offensive MVP and selected as a third-team All-SEC pick by Phil Steele. He started all 13 games as a senior, finishing his college career with 50 total starts, and won Georgia’s Vince Dooley Most Valuable Player Award while being chosen second-team All-SEC by the Associated Press. He was also named one of six finalists for the Rimington Trophy.
Andrews went undrafted in the 2015 NFL Draft but signed with the New England Patriots as a free agent on May 8, 2015. His early development under head coach Bill Belichick quickly turned an undrafted rookie into a building block for one of the league’s most consistent offensive lines.
David Andrews Career
Early Career (2015-2016)
Andrews stood out at Patriots training camp and played more than expected in the preseason, starting every exhibition game because of injuries to starter Bryan Stork and reserve center/guard Ryan Wendell. He made the 53-man roster and started at center in Week 1 against the Pittsburgh Steelers, going on to start every game through Week 10 and playing every offensive snap over the first half of the season. Although he was not selected to the 2016 Pro Bowl, Andrews finished in the top two in fan voting at center, and his heavy snap count combined with a modest salary produced a performance-based pay bonus of $237,427.11, the second-highest on the team behind cornerback Malcolm Butler.
In 2016, Andrews beat out Bryan Stork for the starting center job during camp, a competition that ended with Stork’s release from the team. He started all 16 regular-season games on an offensive line that led the Patriots to a 14-2 record and helped the team reach Super Bowl LI against the Atlanta Falcons.
Super Bowl Era (2017-2018)
On May 12, 2017, Andrews signed a three-year contract extension with the Patriots running through the 2020 season. The deal carried a base value of $9.6 million, a $1.6 million signing bonus, and up to $2.1 million in incentives. On September 5, 2017, he was named a Patriots captain for the first time in his career. He started 17 of 19 games that season, including New England’s Super Bowl LII loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.
Andrews started all 16 games at center in 2018, helping the Patriots reach their third consecutive Super Bowl after playoff wins over the Los Angeles Chargers and Kansas City Chiefs. In Super Bowl LIII, New England defeated the Los Angeles Rams 13-3, and Andrews recovered a fumble in the victory, capturing his second Super Bowl championship.
Injury Years and Return (2019-2021)
On August 26, 2019, Andrews was diagnosed with a pulmonary embolism, placing his season in serious doubt, and he was placed on season-ending injured reserve on August 31. He returned to the starting lineup in 2020 but underwent thumb surgery and was placed on injured reserve on September 26 before being activated on October 24.
On March 22, 2021, Andrews re-signed with the Patriots on a four-year deal, reaffirming his role as the team’s offensive cornerstone heading into the next phase of his career.
Final Seasons and Retirement (2022-2025)
Andrews remained the Patriots’ starting center during the 2022 and 2023 seasons, providing steady leadership on the offensive line. On October 4, 2024, he was placed on season-ending injured reserve after suffering a shoulder injury in Week 4 against the San Francisco 49ers. The Patriots released Andrews on March 13, 2025, ending a ten-year run with the team. He announced his retirement on May 28, 2025, and took part in a retirement ceremony at Gillette Stadium on June 2.
Driving Style and Strengths
Andrews built his reputation on durability, intelligence, and consistent technique rather than elite athleticism, thriving in New England’s zone-run and play-action heavy scheme. His communication and recognition skills made him the offensive line’s traffic cop, and his partnership with quarterbacks Tom Brady and later Mac Jones gave the Patriots a reliable anchor in the middle of the line.
Notable Events and Milestones
Andrews started at center in Super Bowl LI, the first overtime game and largest comeback in Super Bowl history, as the Patriots rallied from 28-3 down to beat the Atlanta Falcons 34-28. He added a second ring in Super Bowl LIII with a 13-3 win over the Los Angeles Rams, recovering a fumble in the process. He was also recognized on the New England Patriots All-2010s Team and named a team captain in 2017.
David Andrews Career Wins
Across his ten NFL seasons, David Andrews compiled two Super Bowl championships, multiple division titles, and a reputation as one of the most dependable centers of his generation. Although his statistical portfolio at center is measured less in gaudy numbers and more in reliability, his two Super Bowl rings stand as the headline achievements of his career.
Super Bowl Highlights
Andrews earned his first Super Bowl title as the starting center in Super Bowl LI, a 34-28 overtime victory over the Atlanta Falcons that remains the largest comeback in Super Bowl history. He added a second championship in Super Bowl LIII, a defensive 13-3 win over the Los Angeles Rams in which he recovered a fumble to help seal the victory.
Other Wins and Performances
Andrews helped the Patriots to multiple AFC East titles during his tenure and was named second-team All-SEC in 2014 during his senior season at Georgia. He earned Southeastern Conference Offensive Lineman of the Week after a strong performance against Auburn in his sophomore year and was a Rimington Trophy finalist as a senior.
David Andrews Family
Family Background and Football Lineage
Andrews comes from a family with deep NFL ties. His late uncle, Dan Reeves, was a longtime NFL player and coach, lending Andrews a direct connection to the league’s history and traditions. That football lineage helped shape his early development and reinforced his commitment to the sport from a young age.
Personal Life
David Andrews married his wife, Mackenzie Andrews, on April 8, 2017, and the couple has two sons. Beyond his family, Andrews has long been active in charitable work throughout the New England area, including hosting a yearly celebrity bowling event called Strikes for Tykes that benefits organizations supporting children’s physical and mental health. He has also participated in Saving by Shaving for cancer research, animal adoption drives, and visits to sick children in hospitals.
2025 Season and Beyond
The 2025 calendar year marked the end of David Andrews’ playing career and the beginning of his next chapter in media. Released by the Patriots on March 13, 2025, after a shoulder injury cut short his 2024 campaign, Andrews formally announced his retirement on May 28 and was honored with a retirement ceremony at Gillette Stadium on June 2.
Shortly after stepping away from the field, Andrews joined NBC Sports Boston as an analyst, lending his perspective on the Patriots and the broader NFL. In September 2025, he and former teammate Brian Hoyer debuted their football podcast, The Quick Snap, while Andrews also makes weekly Monday appearances on the Zolak and Bertrand show to break down New England’s games.
With his playing days behind him, Andrews transitions into a broadcasting and content role that keeps him connected to the game and to Patriots fans, offering the insight of a two-time Super Bowl champion and longtime team captain.