Offensive linemen are rarely in the spotlight, but David Andrews very much deserved the one he enjoyed on Monday.
The Patriots center officially announced his retirement after 10 seasons in New England in an emotional 12-plus minute speech inside the GP Atrium at Gillette Stadium. He struggled to hold back tears periodically throughout his message, pausing frequently to regain his composure.
Anyone who knows Andrews understood that his reactions were genuine because that’s exactly how he played the game from the moment he arrived in Foxborough as an undrafted free agent in 2015.
“Gratitude,” Andrews began. “For 26 years I’ve been blessed to play this game and that’s all I could think about is gratitude. Especially for an offensive lineman where it’s not about you, it’s about the team.”
Joined by his wife Mackenzie and sons Ford and Worth as well as his parents, Andrews spoke eloquently. He discussed the camaraderie of the locker room, his relationships with teammates, all the special moments and what it meant to him to be a Patriot.
“Getting to work for what I believe is the best organization in pro sports has truly been a dream come true,” Andrews said.
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