Joseph Andreessen Bio
Joseph Andreessen is an American professional football linebacker for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Bryant Bulldogs before playing his final year for the Buffalo Bulls. After going undrafted in the 2024 NFL draft, Andreessen earned a spot on the Buffalo roster through a strong rookie minicamp tryout and has since developed into a depth contributor on defense and special teams.
Standing 6 ft 1 in and listed at 232 lb, Andreessen brings a tackling-focused, run-defending profile to the linebacker room. He has become a popular presence in his hometown organization thanks to a memorable preseason debut and a nickname coined by quarterback Josh Allen.
Early Life and Background
Andreessen was born on February 7, 2000, in Depew, New York, a village in the Buffalo–Niagara Falls metropolitan area. He grew up in the same Western New York region that he now represents as a professional, and his early football experiences were rooted in the local youth game.
He attended Lancaster High School in Lancaster, New York, where he played varsity football and developed the work ethic that has followed him through every stage of his career. During his prep years, Andreessen earned accolades including Defensive Player of the Year honors in Western New York, establishing himself as one of the top high school defenders in the region.
Coming out of high school, Andreessen received a football scholarship offer from only one program, Bryant University. He accepted and joined the Bryant Bulldogs, beginning a college path that would eventually lead him back home to Western New York.
Path to American Football
Andreessen enrolled at Bryant University in 2018, where he spent five seasons with the Bryant Bulldogs of the Northeast Conference. As a multi-year starter at linebacker, he quickly became one of the program’s defensive leaders and a two-time First-team All-Northeast Conference selection in 2020 and 2021.
During the 2022 season, Andreessen delivered his most productive college year. He set a Bryant school record with 112 tackles, ranked eighth in the FCS in tackles that season, and finished third in career tackles in Bryant Bulldogs history. His performance earned Associated Press FCS Second-team All-American recognition and First-team All-Big South Conference honors as Bryant transitioned conferences.
Seeking a final year closer to home, Andreessen transferred to the University at Buffalo as a graduate student for the 2023 season. He started 12 games for the Buffalo Bulls and led the team in tackles, completing his college career with back-to-back strong seasons at two different programs.
Joseph Andreessen Career
Early Career (2018–2022)
Andreessen’s college career began at Bryant University, where he was the only linebacker recruit in his class to receive a scholarship. He developed into a tackling machine for the Bryant Bulldogs, anchoring the middle of the defense and earning First-team All-Northeast Conference recognition in both 2020 and 2021.
His senior campaign in 2022 marked the high point of his Bryant tenure. Andreessen set the program’s single-season tackles record with 112 stops, finished third on Bryant’s all-time career tackles list, and earned Associated Press FCS Second-team All-American honors as Bryant competed in the Big South Conference for the first time.
Buffalo Bulls Breakthrough (2023)
After graduate transferring to his hometown University at Buffalo, Andreessen stepped into an immediate starting role for the Buffalo Bulls. He started all 12 games during the 2023 season and led the team in tackles, providing veteran leadership and steady production in the middle of the defense.
His lone season with the Bulls reinforced the tackling reputation he had built at Bryant and put him on the radar of NFL evaluators in Western New York. The proximity to the Buffalo Bills organization also gave him an early look at the professional scheme he would later join.
Buffalo Bills Era (2024–Present)
Andreessen signed with the Buffalo Bills on May 11, 2024, after a successful rookie minicamp tryout as an undrafted free agent. He was assigned jersey number 44, a number historically reserved but not retired in honor of Bills AFL-era receiver Elbert Dubenion. Andreessen opened the preseason as a long shot to make the roster, with the number traditionally issued to players not expected to break camp.
His outlook changed in the second preseason game, when injuries and precaution sidelined Matt Milano and Terrel Bernard. Andreessen started against the Pittsburgh Steelers’ starters and second-stringers and delivered a team-high 12 tackles, including two tackles for loss, one of which was a fourth-down sack of Justin Fields. Quarterback Josh Allen nicknamed him “Buffalo Joe” after the performance, a nod to Andreessen’s hometown roots. He was later named to the NFL’s “All Preseason team” and made the Bills’ initial 53-man roster alongside fellow UB alumnus Ja’Marcus Ingram.
Driving Style and Strengths
Andreessen plays a physical, downhill linebacker style built on tackling volume and run-defense reliability. His instincts around the line of scrimmage, combined with disciplined gap control, translate well between the FCS, FBS, and NFL levels. He has shown special teams value and has earned defensive snaps as a reserve when injuries have thinned the Bills’ linebacker rotation.
Notable Events and Milestones
Andreessen’s signature moment came in his second preseason game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, where his 12 tackles and a fourth-down sack of Justin Fields announced his arrival. He became the first player in recent memory to wear number 44 into the regular season for the Bills, breaking a long-standing tradition that reserved the number for preseason use. Through his rookie regular season he played primarily on special teams and stepped into a larger defensive role in a Week 17 blowout win over the New York Jets, leading the Bills in tackles in that game.
Joseph Andreessen Career Wins
Andreessen’s win totals come from his contributions as a starter and rotational defender rather than as a primary statistical headliner. He has recorded 61 total tackles in his NFL career through the 2025 season statistics checkpoint. The bulk of his individual recognition came at the college level, where he earned All-American and multiple all-conference honors across two programs.
NFL Highlights
Andreessen’s NFL highlights include a preseason debut against the Pittsburgh Steelers in which he posted a team-high 12 tackles and a fourth-down sack. He made the Buffalo Bills’ initial 53-man roster as an undrafted rookie in 2024 and appeared on special teams throughout his first regular season. In a Week 17 blowout win over the New York Jets, he led the Bills in tackles while filling an expanded defensive role.
College Honors and Performances
Andreessen was a two-time First-team All-Northeast Conference selection in 2020 and 2021, a First-team All-Big South Conference pick in 2022, and an Associated Press FCS Second-team All-American in 2022. He set a Bryant single-season record with 112 tackles that year and finished his Bryant career ranked third in program history in career tackles.
Joseph Andreessen Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
There is no publicly verified information about Andreessen’s parents or extended family beyond his upbringing in Depew, New York. His path to professional football has been shaped by his Western New York roots, where he grew up playing little league football before advancing through Lancaster High School.
Personal Life
Andreessen is a native of Depew, New York, and remains closely tied to the Buffalo–Niagara Falls region. There is no publicly verified information about a spouse, partner, or children. His nickname “Buffalo Joe,” given to him by quarterback Josh Allen, reflects the strong connection he maintains with his hometown community.
2025 Season Performance
Andreessen enters the 2025 season coming off a rookie year in which he transitioned from a preseason sensation to a trusted depth linebacker and special teams contributor. His 61 total tackles through the 2025 statistics checkpoint show that he continues to be productive when called upon on defense, especially in run-support situations.
With Matt Milano and Terrel Bernard ahead of him on the depth chart, Andreessen’s role is expected to revolve around special teams snaps and spot defensive duty. His experience against AFC East offenses, including his expanded role in the Week 17 win over the New York Jets, gives the Bills flexibility if injuries arise again.
Looking ahead, Andreessen’s continued development, paired with his locker room popularity and “Buffalo Joe” persona, position him as a steady rotational piece for the Bills. His story of going undrafted, earning a roster spot through a preseason breakthrough, and representing his hometown team remains one of the more compelling development arcs in Buffalo’s recent linebacker room.