David Andrews thanks Patriots, teammates and game of football in emotional retirement speech
"I hope each and every one of you know —when I stepped on the field, I gave everything I had.”
It came as little surprise that a player who played with his heart on his sleeve in David Andrews fought back tears as he addressed his former teammates, coaches, and the media on Monday afternoon.
The 32-year-old Andrews officially announced his retirement from the NFL on Monday, ending a 10-year pro career that was entirely spent with the Patriots.
Signed as an undrafted free agent out of Georgia in 2015, Andrews developed into a foundational piece in the Patriots dynasty’s final years — while later serving as a stabilizing veteran presence on a roster going through plenty of growing pains in the post-Brady era.
“When I knew this day was coming, I was thinking about what I wanted to say. As you can see, there’s a lot of emotions,” Andrews said during a farewell speech that contained several stoppages as the former center composed himself. “The one that kept sticking out to me was gratitude. When I look back on the 26 years I’ve been blessed to play this game, that’s really all I can think about.”
A two-time Super Bowl champion, Andrews opted to finally hang up his spikes this month after the Patriots announced that they were going to release him in March.
While Andrews forged a decade-long career withstanding the punishment that comes with battling at the line of scrimmage, a severe shoulder injury suffered during the 2024 season proved to be too much to overcome.
Andrews could have tried to keep his NFL career going with another NFL team, but ultimately opted to avoid the arduous rehab process after years of pain.
“I wasn’t healthy,” Andrews said. “And once I got away from the game, I obviously still wanted to play, but I didn’t want to go do it for another organization. That wasn’t really what I had in mind to finish my career. I wanted to finish it here, and I did.”
Several of Andrews’ former Patriots teammates were on hand for Monday’s ceremony — including Mike Onwenu, Cole Strange, Drake Maye, Rob Ninkovich and many more.
Former Patriots offensive line coach Dante Scarnecchia was also present, while an extended video message saw other New England standouts like Tom Brady, Joe Thuney, Nate Solder, Julian Edelman, Rob Gronkowski, James White, Devin McCourty, Matthew Slater, Duron Harmon, and others all give Andrews his flowers.
“The Super Bowls, they’ll remain the same forever, but the relationships will mean more to you at the end of the day than the rings and trophies and all of that,” Andrews said “That’s got to be the biggest gift.
“I’ve got lifelong friends, guys I know I can call on when I need something, and that’s the most important thing at the end of the day. … “I hope each and every one of you know —when I stepped on the field, I gave everything I had.”
Ahead of Andrews’ speech, Patriots owner Robert Kraft also commended the Georgia native for his essential role as a leader in New England for 10 years. Over those 10 seasons, Andrews was a team captain on eight occasions
“David Andrews has been the heart and soul of our offensive line for the past decade and helped us achieve two Super Bowl championships,” Kraft said. “David’s leadership, work ethic, and dedication to the team earned the respect and admiration from his coaches, teammates, and fans.
“We are deeply grateful for everything he has given to this organization, both on and off the field. We know his impact on this franchise will be felt for years to come. We wish David and his family all the best in all his future endeavors.”
Andrews’ speech doled out gratitude for the many who helped him achieve his football dreams — be it Bill Belichick and the Patriots’ front office, his teammates, his wife, Mackenzie, and the rest of his family.
But in closing, Andrews opted to thank the game of football itself for all that it has offered him over the years.
“This game has given me so much over the last 26 years,” Andrews said. “I’ve met some amazing people, been places I’d never imagined, and done things I’d never dreamed of. You’ve taught me so much about myself and life, while letting me get to play a child’s game and call it a job. You’ve been so good to me and I think I’ve been pretty good to you.
“If there’s any parents on the fence about letting your kids play the game, I promise you, you won’t regret it. There’s no better teacher of the game of life than the game of football. I wouldn’t change one thing about my 26 years playing this game, but it’s time to say goodbye. As (the Bible) says in 2 Timothy 4:7, ‘I fought the good fight, I finished the race, and I have kept the faith.’ Thank you all.”
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