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Andrew DePaola

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Andrew DePaola
refer to caption
DePaola with the Buccaneers in 2016
No. 42 – Minnesota Vikings
Position:Long snapper
Personal information
Born: (1987-07-28) July 28, 1987 (age 37)
Parkton, Maryland, U.S.
Height:6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight:229 lb (104 kg)
Career information
High school:Hereford
(Parkton, Maryland)
College:Rutgers (2008–2011)
Undrafted:2012
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Roster status:Active
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of 2023
Games played:123
Total tackles:20
Fumble recoveries:1
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Andrew DePaola Jr. (dee-PAW-lə; born July 28, 1987) is an American professional football long snapper for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL). He made his professional debut with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on September 7, 2014.[1] He played football and baseball in high school before playing college football for the Rutgers Scarlet Knights. He also played for the Chicago Bears, Oakland Raiders and Carolina Panthers in the NFL.

Early life and college

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DePaola was born in Sparks, Maryland, a town in Baltimore County.[2] In 2001, DePaola entered Hereford High School in Parkton, Maryland as a freshman with a passion for baseball, but soon shifted his focus to football.[3] DePaola quickly became an integral part of the school’s football team, the Bulls, and was promoted to the varsity squad his sophomore year. That same year, DePaola helped the Bulls win the 2A state championship in football. DePaola’s success continued into his senior year, in which he again led the football team to the state championship but ultimately lost. As the team’s quarterback, DePaola completed his senior year completing 68% of his passes, throwing 22 touchdowns, 2,092 passing yards, and allowing only 7 interceptions, leading his team to set a state record for single season scoring of 636 points.[4] In addition to receiving the Baltimore County Offensive Player of the Year award from The Baltimore Sun, DePaola also received honors as an all-Metro and All-State player.[3] The last football game DePaola would play during his high school career would be the Good Samaritan Bowl hosted at the Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Maryland.[5] While DePaola did make football his athletic focus during his high school career, he continued to play baseball earning all-Metro honors his senior year after batting .527 and posting a 3–1 record as a pitcher.[6]

After high school, DePaola went on to Rutgers University and joined the football team as a walk-on.[7] His first year, DePaola was redshirted, a technique in player management for college sports in which students may practice with the team while attending classes, but not play in any games.[3] During his first two seasons on the team, including his redshirt season, DePaola served as the team's third string quarterback, helping the team prepare for games during practices. DePaola served as the team's holder on field goals during his third season, not once dropping the ball. It was during this season in 2007 when DePaola was featured on ESPN SportsCenter for a play in which DePaola received the ball for a field goal against the then #2 Ranked University of South Florida, but instead completed a fifteen-yard pass for a touchdown.[3] DePaola began his fourth season with Rutgers as a wide receiver, but became the team's long snapper when the starting long snapper Jeremy Branch sustained a leg injury.[7] During the final four games of that season and for the entirety of his fifth season, DePaola served as the team's starting long snapper, playing in every game that final season.[3] DePaola went undrafted by a professional team after completing college.

Professional career

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Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
6 ft 0+5⁄8 in
(1.84 m) 		215 lb
(98 kg) 		4.72 s 1.67 s 2.68 s 4.28 s 6.88 s 33.0 in
(0.84 m)		 9 ft 1 in
(2.77 m)		 20 reps
All values from Pro Day[8]

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

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DePaola was not immediately drafted after college, and would spend the next two years after graduation working as a bartender and other odd jobs before he'd get his break on an NFL roster.[9][10] DePaola first signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as a long snapper in early August 2012 during training camp, but after three weeks he was waived on August 27, 2012.[11] On Thursday January 3, 2013, DePaola was signed to a future contract by the Buccaneers, meaning that at the start of the upcoming season DePaola would sign with the Buccaneers and be added to the active roster.[11] DePaola was one of the final cuts in training camp in favor of long snapper Andrew Economos.[12] DePaola secured a starting role on May 14, 2014, signing full-time with the Buccaneers under a two-year contract.[13] DePaola made his on-field debut against the Carolina Panthers on September 7, 2014, with two snaps on successful extra point attempts and one tackle assist.[14] He went on to be the long snapper for the Buccaneers for three seasons from 2014 to 2016.

On August 22, 2017, DePaola re-signed with the Buccaneers, only to be released on September 1, 2017 during final roster cuts.[15][16]

Chicago Bears

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On September 3, 2017, DePaola was claimed off waivers by the Chicago Bears.[17]

Oakland Raiders

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On March 16, 2018, DePaola signed a four-year contract with the Oakland Raiders.[18][19] In Week 1, DePaola suffered a torn ACL and was placed on injured reserve on September 12, 2018.[20]

On August 25, 2019, DePaola was released by the Raiders.[21]

Carolina Panthers

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On August 28, 2019, DePaola was signed by the Carolina Panthers.[22] He was released during final roster cuts on August 30, 2019.[23]

After sitting out the 2019 NFL season, DePaola had a tryout with the Houston Texans on August 20, 2020.[24]

Minnesota Vikings

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On November 21, 2020, DePaola was signed to the practice squad of the Minnesota Vikings.[25] He was elevated to the active roster on November 21 and November 28 for the team's weeks 11 and 12 games against the Dallas Cowboys and Panthers, and reverted to the practice squad after each game.[25][26] He was promoted to the active roster on December 2, 2020.[27] DePaola earned both a Pro Bowl selection and first-team All-Pro nomination as long snapper with the Vikings for the 2022 season.[28]

On March 14, 2023, DePaola signed a three-year contract extension with the Vikings.[29] He was awarded his second consecutive Pro Bowl selection and second-team All-Pro for the 2023 season.[28]

On November 4, 2024, it was announced that DePaola would undergo surgery to repair a hand injury.[30]

References

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  1. ^ "Andrew DePaola". Archived from the original on February 2, 2015. Retrieved December 9, 2014.
  2. ^ "Andrew DePaola". NFL. Retrieved December 9, 2014.
  3. ^ a b c d e "Andrew DePaola". Hereford High School. November 6, 2013. Retrieved December 9, 2014.
  4. ^ "The DePaolas: Hereford High Family Legacy Comes to an End". April 28, 2011. Retrieved December 9, 2014.
  5. ^ "Having 'fun' for last time, East wins in football, 35-23". The Baltimore sun. June 12, 2005. Retrieved December 9, 2014.
  6. ^ "Andrew DePaola". CBS. Retrieved December 9, 2014.
  7. ^ a b "The Long Snapper (a Rutgers tale)". Retrieved December 9, 2014.
  8. ^ "2010 Draft Scout Andrew DePaola, Rutgers NFL Draft Scout College Football Profile". draftscout.com. Retrieved February 2, 2023.
  9. ^ Cronin, Courtney (November 27, 2021). "From family bar to Best Buy to the No. 2-ranked long-snapper: A Viking lives out his NFL dream". Retrieved November 30, 2024.
  10. ^ Young, Lindsey (February 8, 2023). "Behind the Pro Bowl Scenes with Andrew DePaola". Retrieved November 30, 2024.
  11. ^ a b "Bucs Ink 10 to Future Deals". January 3, 2013. Archived from the original on September 23, 2015. Retrieved December 9, 2014.
  12. ^ "Andrew DePaola cut; Andrew Economos wins longsnapper competition". August 31, 2013. Retrieved December 9, 2014.
  13. ^ "Andrew DePaola". Retrieved December 9, 2014.
  14. ^ "Game Center". Archived from the original on December 7, 2014. Retrieved December 9, 2014.
  15. ^ Smith, Scott (August 22, 2017). "Bucs Bring Back DePaola, Waive Adjei-Barimah". Buccaneers.com. Archived from the original on August 22, 2017. Retrieved August 22, 2017.
  16. ^ Smith, Scott (September 1, 2017). "Bucs Start Roster Trim with D-Line Moves". Buccaneers.com. Archived from the original on September 2, 2017. Retrieved September 1, 2017.
  17. ^ Mayer, Larry (September 3, 2017). "Bears claim three players off waivers". ChicagoBears.com. Archived from the original on September 4, 2017. Retrieved September 4, 2017.
  18. ^ Alper, Josh (March 16, 2018). "Raiders sign LS Andrew DePaola to four-year deal". ProFootballTalk.NBCSports.com.
  19. ^ "Raiders Sign Long Snapper Andrew DePaola". Raiders.com. March 16, 2018. Archived from the original on March 18, 2018. Retrieved March 18, 2018.
  20. ^ "Raiders sign Bryant and Sieg; place DePaola on IR and waive Hatcher". Raiders.com. September 12, 2018.
  21. ^ "Raiders sign Liuget and Allen-Williams; release DePaola and place Doug Martin on IR". Raiders.com. August 25, 2019.
  22. ^ Williams, Charean (August 28, 2019). "Panthers place Destiny Vaeao on IR, sign Andrew DePaola". Pro Football Talk. NBC Sports.
  23. ^ Henson, Max (August 30, 2019). "Panthers announce first wave of 2019 roster cuts". Panthers.com. Retrieved August 30, 2019.
  24. ^ @AlbertBreer (August 20, 2020). "Today's tryout/visit list" (Tweet). Retrieved August 21, 2020 – via Twitter.
  25. ^ a b "Vikings Activate FB C.J. Ham, Announce Roster Moves". Vikings.com. November 21, 2020. Retrieved December 27, 2020.
  26. ^ @Vikings (November 28, 2020). "The #Vikings have elevated practice squad LS @andrewdepaola and TE @B_Dillon44 to the active roster for tomorrow's game. @swervinirvin_ has been downgraded to out" (Tweet). Retrieved January 7, 2021 – via Twitter.
  27. ^ "Vikings Activate Adam Thielen from Reserve/COVID-19 list; Announce Roster Moves". Vikings.com. December 2, 2020.
  28. ^ a b Young, Lindsey (January 12, 2024). "Vikings Long Snapper Andrew DePaola Named to All-Pro 2nd Team". Retrieved November 30, 2024.
  29. ^ Young, Lindsey (March 14, 2023). "Andrew DePaola & Vikings Agree to Terms to Return All-Pro Long Snapper". Vikings.com.
  30. ^ "Vikings lose All-Pro long snapper DePaola for at least a month, might need a sub for kicker Reichard". cbsnews.com. Retrieved November 8, 2024.
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