A two-time Super Bowl champion and Navy officer, Joe Cardona has balanced an NFL long-snapping career with active military service since 2015.
Joe Cardona built a reputation in New England as one of the most reliable long snappers in football while simultaneously serving as a Navy officer. After a decade with the Patriots, he has continued that career elsewhere, snapping duties never interrupted by his service commitments.
Path to the league
Cardona played long snapper at the Naval Academy and was drafted by the New England Patriots in the fifth round, 166th overall, in the 2015 NFL Draft, making him just the fourth pure long snapper ever drafted. The Navy and the Patriots worked out an arrangement allowing him to play in the league while fulfilling his military obligations through the Navy Reserves.
Career highlights
Cardona spent 10 seasons with the Patriots, winning Super Bowls LI and LIII, and was promoted to lieutenant in the Navy in a 2019 ceremony at Gillette Stadium. By the time New England released him in April 2025, he was the longest-tenured player on the roster and the last remaining member of the Super Bowl LIII championship team.
2025 season recap
Cardona signed with the Miami Dolphins in May 2025, replacing longtime snapper Blake Ferguson, and handled snapping duties for Miami throughout the season while continuing his work as a Navy supply and logistics officer.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Joe Cardona
- Pro Football Reference: Joe Cardona
Player Profile
Background
- Position
- Long Snapper
- Group
- specialTeam
- College
- Navy
- Hometown
- El Cajon, CA, USA
- Age
- 34
- Status
- active
