Andrew DePaola got a record-breaking contract

Andrew DePaola. Peter van den Berg-USA TODAY Sports

Backup QB-turned-All-Pro long snapper Andrew DePaola getting a record-breaking contract

By Andrew Kulha | Last updated 3/14/23

A good long snapper wants to be anonymous, and for good reason. Typically if you know the long snapper's name, especially at the NFL level, something has gone very wrong.

The good news for Minnesota Vikings long snapper Andrew DePaola is he just found the only other reason anyone in his position would want to make the news. It's being reported by Adam Schefter that the Vikings are bringing DePaola back on a new deal — and he's going to be getting paid.

Vikings and All-Pro long snapper Andrew DePaola reached agreement on a three-year, $4.025 million deal that includes $2.265 million guaranteed, the largest guarantee given to a long snapper, per his agent @seanstellato.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 14, 2023

In NFL terms, $2.265 doesn't seem like a ton of cheddar, but in the world of long snappers, DePaola has just become an icon. It's also a nice chunk of change for playing a only handful of snaps per game and largely being free of any contact. It's likely that the offense linemen to the left and right of DePaola on special teams wish they got that kind of special treatment.

DePaola is a great story. He played college ball as a walk-on at Rutgers and while he became known as a stellar holder and long snapper, he did once have the designation as the Scarlett Knights' third-string quarterback. He was undrafted out of college but had stints as a long snapper with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Chicago Bears, Oakland Raiders and Carolina Panthers before really catching on with Minnesota.

DePaola was named an All-Pro long snapper last season, so he's earned his money.

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