Patriots release longtime center David Andrews

The former undrafted free agent became a critical component of the Patriots' offensive line during multiple Super Bowl wins.

FILE - New England Patriots center David Andrews (60) during the second half of an NFL preseason football game against the Washington Commanders, Aug. 25, 2024 in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/George Walker IV, File) George Walker IV/AP Photo

By Hayden Bird

March 13, 2025

2 minutes to read

The Patriots and David Andrews: An era has ended in New England, with the Patriots moving on from the team’s longtime starting center and two-time Super Bowl winner.

David Andrews, 32, was released by the Patriots on Thursday, as was originally reported by ESPN’s Mike Reiss. The veteran offensive lineman is in the process of recovering from shoulder surgery that ended his 2024 season after just four games.

Update (10:25 am): The Patriots have officially announced that Andrews has been released.

“If he chooses not to pursue extending his career elsewhere, the expectation is that the Patriots would hold a retirement ceremony for him to honor his widespread contributions to the franchise,” Reiss noted.

Andrews had one year remaining on his contract, carrying a $6.67 million cap number.

The Georgia native first joined the Patriots as an undrafted free agent in 2015, crediting Bill Belichick for giving him a chance at the NFL level. Andrews repaid Belichick’s faith, starting Week 1 at center as a rookie and quickly becoming a crucial component of the team’s offensive line.

He became a team captain in 2017, holding the role for eight seasons.

Replacing him will be a challenge, and will add to the already lengthy list of Patriots needs on the offensive line.

Along with helping the Patriots win Super Bowls LI and LIII on the field — and providing leadership off of it — he has been an active member of the community (winning the Ron Burton Community Service Award recipient in 2020).

Trivia: David Andrews started at center for the Patriots in Super Bowl LI. Can you name the team’s other four starting offensive linemen from that famous game?

(Answer at the bottom).

Hint: All four were Patriots draft picks (one 1st rounder from 2011, a 3rd rounder from 2016, a 4th rounder from 2015, and a 5th-round pick from 2011).

Scores and schedules:

The Celtics lost to the Thunder 118-112 on Wednesday in a clash of two of the league’s elite teams. Boston will play the Heat in Miami on Friday at 7 p.m.

The Bruins face the Senators tonight in Ottawa at 7 p.m.

And the Red Sox will play the Mets in a spring training game today at 1:10 p.m.

More from Boston.com:

The trailer: Netflix’s “Year with the Red Sox” will be available on April 8.

On this day: In 2017, Brad Marchand scored a hat-trick in a 6-3 Bruins win over the Canucks.

Daily highlight: Brandon Mountour scored the fastest overtime goal in NHL history (just four seconds) to give the Kraken a 5-4 comeback win over the Canadiens.