Joe Andreessen executes the substance of a legendary story in Bills vs. Steelers

Everyone knows that being a Buffalo Bills fan is more than just that simple word people who like a team call themselves. The word derives from the much longer term, “Fanatic,” which is defined as “a person who is extremely interested in something, to a degree that some people find unreasonable.” That is exactly what it means to be a Buffalo Bills fan, someone whose lifestyle revolves around their Bills and they bleed blue and red. Being a Bills fanatic is something all Bills fans have in common, especially those hailing from Western New York. However, not many if any at all can say they have ever had the chance to play for their beloved Bills. Buffalo native, Joe Andreessen, can, and boy does he have a tale to tell after the team's preseason game against the Steelers.

Andreessen has been making headlines since he made his debut and achieved his lifelong dream of playing for the Bills last Saturday against the Bears. This week, the headlines are going to look much different. Andreessen is no longer just a “good for you man you got to suit up and play a game for your favorite team since you were born and say you once made it.” Instead, he just flipped the script and put himself dead smack in the middle of the beginning of a legendary story on Saturday night when he took the field against the Steelers.

With starting middle linebacker Terrel Bernard being held out of the game, the man his teammates call, “Buffalo Joe,” got the start at the MIKE position. That already tells you how the coaching staff is feeling about him. The Depew, New York-born and raised local did not squander the opportunity, he balled out. He was all over the field, shedding blocks, making open-field tackles, and sniffing out plays. For anyone out there thinking, “Well, it was just preseason,” he started against the Pittsburgh Steelers starting offense, loaded with multi-year NFL veterans, in only his second live game action in the big leagues.

Andreessen himself looked like a vested veteran out there. He recorded 12 total tackles, seven solo tackles, and two tackles for loss in only 3 quarters. He blew up numerous plays and the film will speak for itself. With only one preseason game left to go, Andreessen has a real chance to make the team, especially with Matt Milano going to be missing at least three-quarters of the season. Turning from an awesome feel-good story to the possible beginning of a prophecy that will be echoed around Western New York for ages. How did Andreessen, a former member of Bills’ Mafia (possibly the now most popular member) get here?

Andreessen's journey from Lancaster High School in New York to the Buffalo Bills

Andreessen has been playing the linebacker position very well in New York since he was a kid. The Lancaster High School alumni who graduated in 2018, was a two-year varsity starter who was named a two-time all-New York State linebacker and a two-time All-Western New York linebacker. Andreessen helped lead the Lancaster Legends to two straight Section VI Class AA Championships. Andreessen was a tackling machine in high school, notching 221 total tackles in his varsity career. As a senior, he recorded 92 tackles, 5.5 sacks, 18 tackles for loss, 3 passes defended, 2 fumble recoveries, and averaged 7.7 tackles a game.

Following his success in high school, the Erie County native went to Bryant University in Rhode Island, to play on the collegiate level. He appeared in 11 games as a true freshman, mainly on special teams, and fell victim to an injury-riddled sophomore season. Andreessen began to come on strong in the Spring of 2021 as a junior. He would follow that up with an impressive senior season that saw him named as a First Team All-NEC player. He recorded 80 tackles, eight tackles for loss, and an NEC-leading three interceptions. As a graduate in 2022, he was named an AP Second Team All-American after breaking a school record for tackles in a season with 116.

After his local Buffalo Bulls took notice of his career 256 tackles, 37.5 tackles for loss, seven sacks, 15 passes defended, and five interceptions, he transferred there for a final season on the collegiate level. Andreessen declared for the NFL Draft after an impressive season for the Bulls that saw him start 12 games, with 90 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, a sack, and two pass breakups. Unfortunately, the 6’1” 232lbs linebacker went undrafted. However, that didn’t stop him.

Andreessen received an invitation to try out for the Buffalo Bills at their May rookie minicamp. He did what he has done best since he was a kid, play linebacker. He earned himself a spot on the team's roster heading into training camp. He made his dreams a reality last week and impressed enough to earn a start in the second week of preseason and exploded onto the scene. Bills Mafia tends to pick one or two underdogs they fall in love with during the summer that they root extra hard for to make the team. This year it’s an easy one in one of their own, and you can surely expect to see a massive wave of Andreessen jersey sales. The Legend of Lancaster’s storybook-level tale is off to an unreal start.