Joe Andreessen is ready to be more than just a fun story.
The Buffalo Bills’ linebacker became the talk of the town last summer when, as a rookie undrafted free agent who originally joined the team as a tryout player, he made the 53-man roster.
That alone would be impressive enough, but being from Depew and graduating from Lancaster High School and the University at Buffalo gave Andreessen’s journey a Hollywood feel.
“Really cool to see. Truly a dream come true,” tight end Dawson Knox said of Andreessen’s path to the NFL. “I think everyone in this locker room had a dream come true, but his is on a different level.”
Buffalo Bills OTA (copy)
Bills linebacker Joe Andreessen knows a roster spot isn't guaranteed as he heads into the 2025 season. Derek Gee, Buffalo News
Andreessen played in 13 games in the regular season and all three of the Bills’ playoff contests, developing into a key piece on special teams. His lone start came in the regular season finale, which didn’t have an impact on the Bills' playoff seeding.
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He played 64 of his 114 defensive snaps for the season – 13.7% of the team’s total – in that Week 18 loss at New England. He was also in on 71.3% of the Bills' special teams plays in the regular season, 246 in all.
“It's been a long journey,” Andreessen said. “I'm blessed for what the past year has given me. I'm grateful for what the community has done for me and what I mean to them. I think it's hard to know unless you're from this area how tight-knit Buffalo is. What they've done for me, the support they've shown me, truly exemplifies Buffalo.”
Along the way, Andreessen made fans not just in the community, but in the Bills’ locker room as well.
“He works as hard as anyone in this building. He's got a great energy about him,” Knox said. “Made some huge plays on special teams. It's just energizing to see that. To know he was tailgating out here two years ago, wearing a Matt Milano jersey, I think. He definitely brings a certain amount of energy and life to this team. It's fun to watch people rally behind that. We love him in this locker room.”
Don’t get him wrong: Andreessen is genuinely appreciative of everything that has come his way. The “Buffalo Joe” nickname. The sight of fans wearing his jersey.
It’s just that now, he’s got his sights set higher.
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“I think a good way to put it is, I was thankful and grateful and blessed to make the team and do all that, but now it's time to set new goals and show that I truly belong in this league,” he said. “They can call on me to play defense. They can have that trust in me to put me out there and there is not going to be a falloff in production or anything like that.”
At last week’s organized team activity, Andreessen was clearly the No. 2 middle linebacker behind starter Terrel Bernard. As coach Sean McDermott made clear, depth charts aren't set in stone in May or June. Still, it’s a pretty good indication that the staff has trust in Andreessen.
Though the sample sizes were small, Andreessen made the most of the opportunity that came his way so far. It started in last year’s rookie minicamp, then continued into the preseason, when he made 12 tackles in a game against the Steelers. Against the Patriots in Week 18, Andreessen led the defense with nine tackles and one quarterback hit.
“Him being here isn't just because he's from Buffalo. It's because he earned it,” Knox said. “He's a great player. It's extremely hard to earn a roster spot in the NFL. He did it, and it had nothing to do with him being from Buffalo. His development over the course of the year has been awesome, and I think he's going to continue to build on it.”
The team’s linebacker room is unchanged from a season ago. Bernard and Milano are back as the expected starters. Dorian Williams – who filled in last year while Milano was injured and actually finished as the team leader with 117 tackles, despite returning to a reserve role – is also back. So is Baylon Spector, now a fourth-year pro, and Edefuan Ulofoshio, a 2024 fifth-round pick. The latter two are Andreessen’s main competition for a roster spot.
Spector has had his chances, but injuries have been a problem for him in Buffalo. Ulofoshio, a fifth-round pick a year ago, appeared in just four games.
To Knox’s point, however, Andreessen being from Buffalo doesn’t mean his spot is guaranteed. He’ll have to prove again, through the rest of the spring and into training camp, that he’s the team’s best option if Bernard were to miss time. Andreessen has shown a knack for being around the football – a must for any linebacker – and has NFL-level instincts. He’s also a better athlete than he might initially get credit for.
“I have to get back to what I've been doing my whole life, which is working,” Andreessen said. “A lot more growing needs to be done within the game. I think the coaches here have done a tremendous job of that this past year, and there is still so much more to accomplish and do.”
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