Joe Andruzzi

Joe Andruzzi is a former NFL offensive guard recognized as a three-time Super Bowl champion with the New England Patriots. An undrafted rookie free agent, Andruzzi was first signed by the Green Bay Packers and later played in NFL Europe before being released after three seasons. He then joined the New England Patriots, where he played five seasons and contributed to three Super Bowl victories. Andruzzi was a key member of the Patriots' offensive line during their championship run and was named to the Patriots' All-Decade Team. After his tenure with New England, he signed with the Cleveland Browns, concluding a decade-long NFL career.

Off the field, Andruzzi has demonstrated a strong commitment to community service. The son of a New York City police officer and brother to three New York City firefighters, he organized a trip for 100 New York firefighters to attend a Jets vs. Patriots game at Gillette Stadium, with his family serving as honorary game captains. Andruzzi received the Ed Block Courage Award and the inaugural Ron Burton Community Service Award. Inspired by meeting C.J. Buckley, a young patient with an inoperable brain tumor, Andruzzi helped launch a pediatric brain cancer research fund at Boston Children's Hospital.

Andruzzi faced a significant personal challenge when he was diagnosed with an aggressive form of non-Hodgkin's Burkitt's lymphoma, which ended his NFL career. He underwent chemotherapy at Dana Farber Cancer Institute and Brigham and Women's Hospital and was later declared cancer-free. Andruzzi and his wife, Jen, co-founded the Joe Andruzzi Foundation, a nonprofit organization that provides financial support to New England cancer patients and their families. The foundation has granted nearly $8 million in assistance, impacting 30,000 patients and families, and has donated over $850,000 to the C.J. Buckley Pediatric Brain Cancer Research Fund at Boston Children's Hospital.

Andruzzi's commitment to helping others was further demonstrated during the Boston Marathon bombing, when he assisted victims near the finish line. He received the Man of the Year award from the Walter Camp Football Foundation in recognition of his contributions on and off the field. Andruzzi also completed his college degree at Southern Connecticut State University after leaving the school for the NFL. He remains active in the cancer community, regularly visiting patients at hospitals across New England and promoting the importance of a positive attitude throughout treatment.