Andrew DePaola

Andrew DePaola's Biography

Andrew DePaola Jr., better known as Andrew DePaola in the professional American Football circuit, was born on July 28, 1987 in Sparks, Maryland. Venturing into the professional world of American Football, he now serves as a long snapper for the Minnesota Vikings, a team in the renowned National Football League (NFL). His foray into professional Football began on September 7, 2014, when he conquered the field with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Reflecting on his early life, DePaola stepped into Hereford High School in Parkton, Maryland in 2001. Baseball initially formed the backbone of his athletic interests, only to later bow down to his burgeoning love for Football. As part of the “Bulls”, his high School’s football team, he made his way to the varsity squad in his sophomore year. His contributions led to the team’s victorious journey to the 2A state football championships in that same year.

DePaola’s high school years were dotted with successes, with him as an integral part of the team throughout. His senior year witnessed another run to the state championships, but to differing results. Despite the defeat, DePaola’s performance was stellar, with him as the team’s quarterback. He well-rounded off his senior year with impressive stats as 2,092 passing yards, 22 touchdowns with just 7 interceptions. A state record of 636 points for single-season scoring was the collective achievement of his team.

Beside these laudable statistics, He was awarded the “Baltimore County Offensive Player of the Year” by The Baltimore Sun in his senior year. He was further recognized with all-Metro and All-State accolades. Notably, the last game of his high school career was the Good Samaritan Bowl, held at the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Maryland. Alongside football, DePaola also continued playing baseball in high school with an impressive .527 batting average and a 3–1 record as a pitcher, earning him additional all-Metro honors.

After high school, DePaola’s sports career took him to Rutgers University. Here he joined the university football team as a walk-on. It’s beginning years were a learning period, employed as the third-string quarterback. He was first acknowledged by the wider football community in his third season when he completed a remarkable fifteen-yard pass for a touchdown against the University of South Florida. ESPN SportsCenter featured his play, significantly boosting his popularity.

In his fourth season, an unexpected injury to the team’s starting long snapper, Jeremy Branch, suddenly propelled DePaola into the role. This leadership position became his in the final four games of that season and continued into his fifth season, leading to him participating in every game.

Completing his college years, DePaola was initially undrafted by any professional teams. However, he found his breakthrough in August 2012 when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers scooped him as a long snapper during their training camp. Though cut after three weeks, the team resigned him in a future contract in January 2013. As one of the final cuts in the training camp, he was replaced by Andrew Economos. The eventual milestone appeared in May 2014 when DePaola re-signed a two-year tenure with the Buccaneers.

DePaola’s professional debut came against the Carolina Panthers on September 7, 2014. He went on to be the long snapper for the Buccaneers for three seasons from 2014 to 2016.

Further, he was claimed by the Chicago Bears in 2017, only to sign a four-year contract with the Oakland Raiders in 2018. This journey too, was interrupted by an ACL injury during Week 1, and DePaola briefly joined the Panthers in 2019. He also had a brief trial with the Houston Texans in 2020.

Andrew’s tide turned when he was signed to the Minnesota Vikings’ practice squad on November 21, 2020. With the passage of time, his sporting prowess cemented his place in the active roster by early December. His role in the team bore fruits quickly, earning him All-Pro with the Vikings for two successive years in 2022 and 2023. The effective dynamism he brought to the team was rewarded with a three-year contract extension with the Vikings on March 14, 2023. Through his trials and tribulations, Andrew DePaola’s journey to football stardom cements his position as an institution in the sport, continually driving his team to new heights.