Joe Andreessen Prepares for His Dream NFL Debut with the Buffalo Bills

For many kids, dreaming of playing in the NFL is a childhood fantasy. Joe Andreessen is living that dream today as he gets ready to don his hometown team’s colors, the Buffalo Bills, in his first preseason game against the Chicago Bears on August 10.

“Yeah, it’s been quite the experience to say the least,” Andreessen shared. “Coming out here and seeing the love that Buffalo has shown me, especially from the fans, has been incredible. But there’s a lot of work to be done, and I’m pushing to be my best every day.”

Andreessen came to the Bills as an undrafted free agent after impressing the team in rookie minicamp. After showing his skills during OTAs and making significant improvements throughout training camp, his teammates have started to take notice.

Veteran linebacker Terrel Bernard commented, “You could tell he put in a lot of work over the summer after OTAs. Now, he’s really detailed in what he’s doing and where he’s supposed to be, and it shows on the field. It’s been fun to watch him progress.”

Hailing from Depew, New York, Andreessen isn’t a stranger to the Western New York football scene. He transferred to the University at Buffalo for his graduate season after spending five seasons at Bryant University. His high school coach, Eric Rupp, remembers him fondly as a standout player for the Lancaster Legends.

Coach Rupp said, “He was the type of player who could do anything on the field. In his senior year, he led us to a New York State Championship game. His work ethic and football IQ were remarkable. He always rose to the occasion, no matter the game’s size.”

In high school, Andreessen had impressive stats, notching 118 tackles and 17 touchdowns in his senior year alone. He also excelled in wrestling and was a consistent honor roll student.

Bernard has seen how eager Andreessen is to learn. They’ve had conversations about Andreessen’s childhood memories of attending games as a kid. “You can tell he’s really grateful for this opportunity,” Bernard said. “He approaches every practice like a pro and it’s great to have him on the team.”

Although Andreessen has previously played at Highmark Stadium, Saturday’s game will be the first time he takes the field for the Bills in a real match. He’s excited but knows that once the game starts, it’s all about business.

“I can only imagine how awesome it will be walking out of that tunnel and seeing all the fans,” Andreessen noted. “But once the ball is snapped, it’s all about football. I just want to make the most of my chances and hopefully make the team.”