Western New York native Joe Andreessen makes Bills roster

It’s played out like a Hollywood script — Western New York native Joe Andreessen making the roster of his hometown Buffalo Bills.  

What a ride it’s been for the Lancaster High School and University at Buffalo product. 

Andreessen went from undrafted rookie tryout player to making the team he grew up rooting for, amidst all the hoopla around town the past few weeks for the player now nicknamed “Buffalo Joe.”

“It’s been cool,” Andreessen said Wednesday, a day after learning he was on the initial roster. “You know I love this city. I love Western New York. Going to Bryant (University), you could ask my teammates there. I’m always talking about Buffalo and stuff like that. I grew up here. I have a special attachment here. Seeing that stuff is cool. Just like the blue-collar mentality of Buffalo. I think that’s what makes it great.”

General manager Brandon Beane, one of the key decision-makers to keep Andreessen on the roster, points out when it was his time to shine, Andreessen made the most of it. The kid who grew up 10 miles from Highmark Stadium is easy to root for, Beane said. 

“Man, where do you start? ‘Buffalo Joe.’ What a story. Really cool story for Joe,” Beane said. “Every step of the way he just checked the box, checked the box. Kept himself in play. Never worried about whether he got five reps in practice or 15.”

Andreessen always believed he could play in the NFL, even through times of self-doubt and now that he’s on the Bills, he plans to lock in to prove it.

“God willing, if I’m out there on Sunday, I’m going to have to make plays for this team. I’ve been a fan of this team for a while, so there’s even more maybe than the average player I, want this team to win. I want this organization to win, no doubt,” he said.

Andreessen was asked who his favorite Bills player was growing up, and he laughed and said recently it’s been fellow Bills linebacker Matt Milano, now his teammate. 

Just another chapter in an unlikely story that continues to unfold for “Buffalo Joe.”