Pats' Andrews on retiring: 'Wanted to finish it here'

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Longtime New England Patriots halfway David Andrews said Monday that helium retired from the NFL aft 10 seasons due to the fact that helium lone wanted to play for 1 team.

"I didn't privation to spell bash it for different organization. That wasn't what I had successful caput to decorativeness my career. I wanted to decorativeness it present and I did," helium said.

Andrews won 2 Super Bowl championships successful New England aft joining the squad arsenic undrafted escaped cause retired of the University of Georgia successful 2015 and was named a skipper successful his last 8 seasons. He was released successful March with a failed carnal designation aft being constricted to 4 games successful 2024 owed to a important enarthrosis wounded that required surgery.

The 32-year-old Andrews overflowed with emotion during a status ceremonial hosted by the squad astatine Gillette Stadium connected Monday. Owner Robert Kraft, who earlier successful the time had attended memorial services for Colts proprietor Jim Irsay successful Indianapolis, introduced him aft a tribute video from erstwhile teammates, including Tom Brady, played connected the videoboard.

When Andrews archetypal arrived astatine the interrogation dais, helium mentioned that helium wrote his code down due to the fact that helium was acrophobic helium wouldn't marque it done without breaking down. Then helium stopped to cod himself arsenic tears flowed.

"As you tin see, there's a batch of emotions," helium said. "The 1 that kept sticking retired to maine was gratitude. When I look backmost connected the 26 years I've been blessed to play this game, that's truly each I could deliberation about. Especially playing O-line since I was 6 years old, you larn precise rapidly that it's not astir you, it's astir the team. For my full career, I've been surrounded by the champion squad anyone could inquire for. So today, I'd similar to amusement my gratitude to those who sacrificed and helped me."

Andrews' parents Jeff and Patricia, his woman Mackenzie, sons Ford and Worth, and agents Rich Rosa and Noel LaMontagne watched from the beforehand row. Several existent Patriots players, including backmost Drake Maye, besides attended, arsenic did caput manager Mike Vrabel.

Andrews, who grew up successful Johns Creek, Georgia and is the nephew of precocious NFL manager Dan Reeves, said his household is settling successful New England full-time. In the past, helium has expressed involvement successful becoming a scout oregon coach, but for present plans to give the bulk of his clip to his household and playing golf.

Of the relation of shot successful his life, Andrews said: "This crippled has fixed maine truthful much. I've met immoderate astonishing people. Been places I've ne'er imaged and done things I've ne'er dreamed of. You've taught maine truthful overmuch astir myself, portion getting to play a child's crippled and telephone it a occupation ... determination is nary amended teacher of the crippled of beingness than football."