Pats Pulpit
The Patriots’ longtime team captain has officially put a wrap on his 10-year career in the NFL.
Even though he had written his remarks down in order to make the whole procedure easier, it did not take long for the emotions to take over. It was a sign of things to come: the David Andrews retirement press conference at Gillette Stadium’s GP Atrium on Monday afternoon was raw, real and a fitting way to end what had been a remarkable 10-year career in the NFL.
“I wouldn’t change one thing about my 26 years playing this game,” Andrews said during his opening statement, “but it’s time to say goodbye. As it says in Second Timothy, Chapter 4, Verse 7: I fought the good fight, I finished the race, and I’ve kept the faith.”
The full 40-minute press conference is worth rewatching as a celebration of Andrews and his journey from undrafted free agent to New England Patriots franchise legend. As a tl:dr version, though, here are our takeaways from the event.
Andrews stepping away from the game less than two months before his 33rd birthday was preceded by the Patriots releasing him. The organization, which had undergone significant change off the field over the last two seasons, decided to turn the page at center after the longtime starter had suffered a season-ending shoulder injury last September.
His injury played a part in that decision — he was cut with a failed physical designation — as well in his own to call it a career.
“I wasn’t healthy,” Andrews explained. “And once I got away from the game, obviously I still wanted to play the game. But I didn’t want to 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.”
Between joining the team as a free agent after the 2015 draft and his Week 4 injury last fall, Andrews started a combined 131 regular season and playoff games for the organization. He helped the Patriots win two Super Bowls.
The overarching theme of Andrews’ farewell presser was less his accomplishments on the field, but rather the relationships he cultivated throughout his journey in football. He did not waste any time to point that out either, spending the first 10 minutes of his remarks — his entire opening statement, in fact — to recognize those who have supported him and allowed him to have a standout career.
The list of people mentioned was vast. It included coaches from the start of his career to its end — among those mentioned by name was ex-Patriots head coach Bill Belichick — as well as teammates, various support staffers in New England, and obviously his family: his wife Mackenzie and their sons Ford and Worth.
Building relationships was a big part of Andrews’ time as a Patriot, and something that set the tone on Monday as well.
“The Super Bowls...
