Andre Dillard

Andre Dillard's Biography

Dedicated, dynamic, yet often overlooked, Andre Clyde Dillard, known as Andre Dillard in the realm of professional American football, is indeed a force to reckon with. Born on October 3, 1995, Dillard has paved his path in the world of professional football, holding the position of an offensive tackle for the Green Bay Packers, a team he signed with in April 2024 that competes in the National Football League (NFL).

Dillard’s journey started in the heart of Washington State, where he first discovered his love for this American game. Growing up in Woodinville, Washington, football was not just a mere passion but a family affair. His father, Mitch, was an offensive lineman for Washington State Cougars from 1983 to 1986, and his mother Jennifer Bollinger, motivated him throughout his journey.

Dillard began playing football during his college years at Washington State. In the initial year, he redshirted, which is a practice of keeping a player out of competitions for a year to improve his skills and extend his period of eligibility. However, in his freshman season, he only played three games as a left tackle. It was before his junior year when strength coach Marco Candido identified his potential and repositioned him as the replacement for the very position his father used to play, the left tackle.

His progression on the field was remarkable. For the next two seasons, Dillard became a permanent name in the 26 games he started, all of which were played as a left tackle.

In the 2019 NFL draft, Dillard’s exceptional achievements were recognized by the Philadelphia Eagles, who drafted him as their 22nd overall pick. In his rookie year, Dillard showcased his resilience by participating in all 16 games, starting four of them in place of injured team members.

Entering 2020, Dillard was expected to be the starting left tackle after training camp, but a torn bicep injury on August 27 sidelined him for the rest of the season. Consequently, he was placed on injured reserve on September 3, resulting in a year filled with physical and mental challenges.

In 2021, Dillard sought to come back stronger and reclaim his position in the team. However, the competition was stiff against Jordan Mailata, a fellow tackle. Despite starting the season as a backup player, a sudden absence of Lane Johnson set Dillard into the chance of chalk mark, where he got to start four games from week 3 to week 6.

However, adversity returned in the form of coronavirus, and he had to be placed on the COVID list on December 20, 2021. Nine days later, he was taken off the list.

Following the 2021 season, on May 2, 2022, the Eagles opted not to renew Dillard’s contract for a fifth year, thereby making him a free agent after the season. However, the season didn’t quite go as planned, and Dillard landed on the injured list again on September 6. He only returned to the field on October 15.

Committed to his game, Dillard caught the attention of the Tennessee Titans, who signed him on a three-year contract worth $29 million on March 20, 2023. Thrust into the position of starting left tackle, he started a respectable 10 out of 16 games. Unfortunately, this association with the Titans only lasted a year, and he was released on March 15, 2024.

A month later, Dillard found a new home with the Green Bay Packers. Despite the ups and downs in his career, Dillard continued to press forward, demonstrating the same environmental grit that had taken him from his college games in Washington State to the national stage of the NFL.

His journey shows that no matter the setbacks, unyielding determination, resilience, and love for the game are the driving forces behind his success and will remain the key defining qualities of his inspiring football career.