Andrew DePaola returns to the Vikings for his ninth season in the NFL and fourth with Minnesota in 2023. With Minnesota in 2022, he appeared in all 17 games, helping the club tie an NFL record for game-winning field goals (5), record the 10th-best net punting average (42.5) and the eighth-lowest opponent punt return average (7.7). Last season, DePaola earned an Associated Press First-Team All-Pro nod and was named to the Pro Bowl, his first of each honor. The Parkton, Maryland, native originally entered the league as an undrafted free agent with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2012, where he spent the first five seasons of his career. He has appeared in 106 career games, playing for Tampa Bay, Chicago, Las Vegas and Minnesota.
• Married to high school sweetheart Amy, couple has a daughter, Grace, and son, Andrew III.
• Earned degree in labor relations from Rutgers.
• Sister, Ashley, was a Baltimore Ravens cheerleader.
• Teammates at Rutgers with younger brother, Nick.
• Brother, Vince, played football at Towson.
• Between leaving Rutgers in 2010 and making an NFL roster in 2014 he worked as a bartender at his family pub and at Best Buy.
• Handled long-snapping duties for Chicago in 2017 after spending 3 seasons (2014-16) with Tampa Bay.
• Spent the 2012 and 2013 training camps with the Buccaneers prior to serving as the primary long snapper from 2014-16.
• Entered NFL in 2012 as a rookie free agent with Tampa Bay.
• Appeared in 7 games and had 1 special teams tackle in 2020 after becoming the Vikings everyday long snapper in Week 11.
• Signed to the Vikings practice squad on 11/21.
• Made his Vikings debut vs. Dallas after being elevated from the practice squad for the Week 11 matchup (11/22).
• Standard elevation from practice squad to active roster on 11/28, the day before playing vs. Carolina.
• Served as the Vikings long snapper as K Dan Bailey went 2/2 on FGs and PAT attempts and P Britton Colquitt averaged 51.0 yards on 3 punts vs. Carolina (11/29).
• Signed to Vikings active roster on 12/2.
• Made lone special teams tackle of season at Detroit (1/3).
• Was not on an NFL team in 2019.
• Spent offseason and training camp with Oakland, released on 8/25.
• Signed on 8/28 by Carolina and released 8/30.
• Had season-ending ACL tear in season opener, going on Injured Reserve on 9/13.
• Signed as a free agent with Oakland on 3/16.
• Played in all 16 games for Chicago after spending all of training camp and preseason with Tampa Bay.
• Pat O'Donnell set career highs in punts (87), yards (4,7087) and average (47.0), finishing in the top-10 in the league in each category.
2016: TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
• Played in all 16 contests for the 3rd consecutive season.
• Snapped for K Roberto Aguayo in his rookie season as he connected on 32-of-34 PATs.
• Bryan Anger finished 3rd in the league with 37 punts inside the 20 in his 1st season with the Buccaneers.
2015: TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
• Played in all 16 contests and recorded 4 special teams tackles for the 2nd straight year.
• Jake Schum set career high with 56 punts for 2,348 yards.
• Recorded 1 special teams tackle vs. Tennessee (9/13).
• Made 1 tackle and snapped for 7punts at Houston (9/27).
2014: TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
• Played in all 16 games and had 4 special teams tackles.
• Made NFL debut and had 1 tackle vs. Carolina (9/7).
• Registered 1 stop on special teams vs. both New Orleans (10/5) and Minnesota (10/26).
• Made 1 tackle on special teams at Carolina (12/14).
2013: TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
• Spent offseason and training camp with team.
2012: TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
• Signed as a free agent 8/12, released 8/27.
• Appeared in 39 games during his career at Rutgers (2005-09), including every game his final 3 seasons.
• Rutgers went 36-16 during his tenure, winning 4 straight bowl games, playing under head coach Greg Schiano.
• While serving as holder in 2007, threw a 15-yard TD pass vs. South Florida on a fake FG.
• Recorded 5 tackles (5 solo) during the 2009 season, his lone season as the full-time long snapper.
• Was on depth chart as a QB early in college career, moving to WR in 2008 and took over long snapping duties when regular snapper was injured.
• Served as the primary holder for FGs from 2006-08.
• Redshirted as a true freshman in 2005.
• Helped Hereford High School in Parkton, Md., to the 2A state title as a sophomore and runner-up finish as a senior.
• Was a 3-year starter at QB.
• Threw for 2,092 yards with 22 TDs as a senior, earning All-Metro and All-State honors.
• Earned All-County honors twice and County Offensive Player of the Year by the Baltimore Sun.
• Earned All-Metro honors as a baseball player.
