While there are plenty of overreactions going around about the Buffalo Bills' bad preseason week one performance to the Chicago Bears, it’s important to remember that it’s just that, preseason. Numerous things need to be improved upon, as head coach Sean McDermott said no matter what time of year it is the Buffalo Bills standard needs to be met, which it was not in that game. There were bright spots as well, however. No matter that it was just preseason, one of those bright spots was that of a Buffalo local, Joe Andreessen, achieving a lifelong dream.
The Lancaster New York alum, and lifelong Bills fan, got to suit up and play his first professional game for his favorite team in Orchard Park. How much did it mean to him to don the Bills red white and blue? He showed up to the stadium pregame wearing an early career Cornelius Bennet Jersey, showing homage to a now fellow Buffalo Bills linebacker.
Andreessen's High School Career
The 6’0 220lbs linebacker graduated from Lancaster High School in 2018. He played two seasons of varsity football for the Lancaster Legends, starting as their middle linebacker. Andreessen helped lead Lancaster to a Section VI Class AA Championship in his junior season, and a 12th-raked team in New York State (NYS). He would follow that up in his senior season, winning another championship and helping lead his team to a fifth overall ranked NYS team.
Andreessen posted a whopping 221 total tackles in his two years on varsity. In his senior season, he registered 5.5 sacks and 18 tackles for loss. He also contributed on offense, scoring double-digit touchdowns. Andreessen was named an All-State Linebacker and a two-time All-Western New York Linebacker. The Erie County resident was a legend long before he made his Bills debut over the weekend.