Height 1.88 m Weight 107 kg | Roster status: Active Name Joe Cardona | |
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Date of birth: (1992-04-16) April 16, 1992 (age 23) NFL draft: 2015 / Round: 5 / Pick: 166 Parents Margaret Cardona, Patrick Cardona Profiles | ||
Joe cardona patriots 2015 nfl draft selection long snapper
Joseph Cardona (born April 16, 1992) is an American football long snapper for the New England Patriots of the National Football League (NFL). As a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, Cardona is also an officer in the U.S. Navy; As of the 2016 season, Cardona is one of only two active NFL players who is also an active member of the United States Armed Forces, alongside fellow Navy graduate Keenan Reynolds.
Contents
- Joe cardona patriots 2015 nfl draft selection long snapper
- Joe cardona long snapper 2010 san diego kicking snapping
- Early life
- College career
- 2015 season
- 2016 season
- References

Cardona was drafted in the fifth round (166th overall) of the 2015 NFL draft. He played college football for Navy. He is only the fourth player designated as a long snapper ever to be drafted, and the second highest-drafted long snapper in NFL history, after Ryan Pontbriand. With the Patriots, he won Super Bowl LI over the Atlanta Falcons.

Joe cardona long snapper 2010 san diego kicking snapping
Early life

Cardona grew up in El Cajon, California, the son of Patrick and Margaret Cardona. Joe has two older siblings Arthur and Adrienne Hernandez, and one younger sister Sophia Cardona. He attended Granite Hills High School, lettering two years in football and four years in lacrosse, earning conference lacrosse MVP as a senior. He graduated in 2010.
College career

After high school, Cardona attended the Naval Academy Prep School for one year before enrolling in the Naval Academy, where he majored in economics. At Navy, he was a four-year starter in football as a long snapper, where he was not charged with a single bad snap. During his four years at Navy, the Midshipmen compiled a 30–21 record, including four wins over arch-rival Army, and played in three bowl games.
2015 season
On May 2, 2015, the New England Patriots selected Cardona in the fifth round (166th overall) of the 2015 NFL draft, making him the fourth pure long snapper to be drafted in NFL history (and the second drafted by the Patriots, after Jake Ingram). His Naval assignment has been delayed until after the 2015 NFL season so that he will be able to play in the NFL. The Patriots officially signed Cardona to his rookie contract on June 4, 2015. The structure of his contract is unusual, reflecting the uncertainty of his availability in future seasons. The signing bonus of $100,000 is less than the expected bonus of about $190,000 expected for his draft slot, but he can earn $100,000 in roster bonuses if he is on the 53-man roster or an injury list at any point in 2015, 2016, and 2017 seasons.
On Thursday night, September 10 in the league's opening game of the 2015 season, Cardona made his official NFL debut as long snapper in the Patriots' 28-21 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers.
2016 season
On May 13, 2016, United States Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus approved Cardona's request (and the request of Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Keenan Reynolds) to play in the NFL for the 2016 season.
For the second consecutive season, Cardona played in all 16 games for the Patriots. He was part of both Patriots' playoff wins, and went on to play in Super Bowl LI on February 5, 2017. He was a contributor to the Patriots as they defeated the Atlanta Falcons by a score of 34–28 in overtime. Cardona had an active role in the game on seven special teams plays.