Joe Cardone has been signed by the Los Angeles Rams to serve as their long snapper for the next two years. This offseason acquisition has made him the third-highest-paid long snapper in the NFL, with a salary of $1.725 million, which represents a significant raise of over $300,000 from his previous earnings.
Long snappers often go unnoticed in football, only drawing attention when mistakes occur. Despite this, they play a crucial role on the team. Cardone's journey to the NFL began with his father, a Navy veteran, who instilled discipline in him and coached him in football.
Cardone credits his father for teaching him the importance of specializing in a position that would give him an advantage in pursuing a football career.
After attending the Naval Academy, where he focused on long snapping, Cardone was drafted by the New England Patriots in the fifth round of the 2015 draft. He became one of the few long snappers to be drafted and enjoyed a successful ten-year tenure with the Patriots, participating in four Super Bowls.
Following his release from the Patriots, he briefly signed with the Miami Dolphins before joining the Rams.
The Rams needed a reliable long snapper after issues arose with Alex Ward, who struggled last season. Head coach Sean McVay brought in Jake McQuaide to finish the previous year, but with McQuaide nearing 39, the Rams sought a long-term solution in Cardone.
