The Los Angeles Rams continued the overhaul of their most problematic unit from last season with two-time Super Bowl champion Joe Cardona.
Cardona, 33, spent last season with the Miami Dolphins. However, he began his career as an undrafted free agent with the New England Patriots. He helped their franchise notch its two most recent Super Bowl victories.
He is bringing his proficiency from the East Coast out West.
Rams Sign 2-Time Super Bowl-Winner Joe Cardona
GettyJoe Cardona of the New England Patriots looks on before a game against the Carolina Panthers.
“From the former Patriots department; Long snapper Joe Cardona is set to continue his NFL career with the Rams, agreeing to a 2-year deal,” ESPN’s Mike Reiss reported in a post on X on March 6.
Cardona, an El Cajon native, is also a graduate of the Naval Academy and was commissioned as a lieutenant in the Naval Reserve, per Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio.
Cardona, taken 166th overall by the Patriots in 2015, has appeared in 177 games in his career.
He has 13 postseason appearances, including the two Super Bowls with New England in 2016 and 2018, and another appearance in 2017. Cardona and the Patriots defeated the Rams in the veteran’s second Super Bowl victory.
Cardona, who the Rams hope will help keep their special teams running smoothly, has been refining his game for some time.
The Rams’ special teams units were problematic for head coach Sean McVay in 2025.
Rams Shake Up Special Teams Again
GettyJake McQuaide #47 of the Minnesota Vikings leaves the field after defeating the Chicago Bears.
Cardona marks the third long snapper the Rams will have rostered to handle the primary duties since the start of last season. They began the campaign with Alex Ward and replaced him during the season with Jake McQuaide.
Cardona will now replace McQuaide, a two-time Pro Bowler.
McVay also changed kickers from Joshua Karty to Harrison Mevis and fired special teams coordinator Chase Blackburn, replacing him with assistant Ben Kotwica on an interim basis.
This offseason, the Rams hired Bubba Ventrone to replace Kotwica on a permanent basis. The Rams need their special teams to match the proficiency that their offense and even their defense have shown.
LA ranked first offensively and 17th offensively.
There are no publicly available metrics for long snappers, but errant snaps and missed blocking assignments are good ways to end up on a coach’s bad side.
Despite McVay having to make multiple changes to his special teams units last season, the Rams still won 12 games and reached the NFC Championship Game. Cleaning up their special teams gaffes, with Cardona and others, could help the Rams inch out another win or two.
That could be the difference between another road trip and home-field advantage in the playoffs.
Joe Cardona Had Early Vision for Football Career
GettyJoe Cardona of the New England Patriots attends the 13th annual NFL Honors.
Like most players, Cardona played multiple positions as a youth, but decided early on to hone his long-snapping skills. He credited his father with helping him through that process, which has led to an extended career.
Cardona also joked about his father loving to tell people about his son’s outlook in high school.
“I was very fortunate that my father had the foresight to teach me a specialty,” Cardona said, per Erick Scalavino for Patriots.com in September 2022, adding that he “probably didn’t have the genetics to be in the NFL unless I learned something different. I probably didn’t have the genetics to be a college football player, to be honest. Fortunately, I got a good head start.
“I was kind of a small kid going into high school. Fortunately, I hit some growth spurts and was a decent football player.”
Rams Replace Veteran Pro Bowler With Super Bowl Champion