Patriots’ Cardona promoted to lieutenant in Navy

9:03 am | June 6, 2019 | Go to Source | Author:

12:43 PM ET

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      Field Yates has previous experience interning with the New England Patriots on both their coaching and scouting staffs. A graduate of Wesleyan University (CT), he is a regular contributor to ESPN Boston’s Patriots coverage and ESPN Insider.

New England Patriots long-snapper Joe Cardona, a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, was promoted to the rank of lieutenant in the Navy on Thursday morning in an event at Gillette Stadium.

The event took place on the 75th anniversary of D-Day. Cardona was promoted from lieutenant junior grade.

“Congratulations to Lieutenant Joe Cardona on his promotion,” said Patriots coach Bill Belichick, whose father coached for 33 years at the Naval Academy. “And obviously a day to remember our World War II veterans on D-Day. The 75th anniversary, that’s kind of a big one for us. I want to recognize all the things that they did.”

It was a special moment for Cardona, who has spent his four-year NFL career balancing his football and active-duty commitments, including time in nearby Rhode Island at the Naval Preparatory Academy.

“[We’re] happy to recognize Joe on this day,” Belichick said. “It just makes it a special day for all of us.”

The 27-year-old Cardona, selected by the Patriots in the fifth round of the 2015 NFL draft, has never missed a game in his career, joining Dallas Cowboys quarterback Roger Staubach as the only graduates of the Naval Academy to win multiple Super Bowls.

Cardona, whose father also served in the Navy, has been a reliable player for the Patriots and someone admired by Belichick.

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