Joe Cardona was the last Super Bowl LIII-winning team member and the longest-tenured player on the Patriots roster. However, on April 29, 2025, the Patriots released him after 10 seasons.
He is marrying his longtime girlfriend, Lily Katherine, on May 10, 2025.
Joseph Cardona is a professional football long snapper and U.S. Naval Reserve officer. He played football and Lacrosse in high school and joined the Naval Academy Preparatory School.
Joseph was a four-year-long snapper and led his team to four wins over the arch-rival Army. They also played three bowl games.
The New England Patriots selected him in the fifth round (166th overall) of the 2015 NFL draft, but his contract structure was unusual, reflecting the uncertainty of his availability in future seasons.
He debuted as a long snapper in a winning game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on September 10, 2015. Moreover, he was a part of the Patriots that won Super Bowl LI.
On February 7, 2024, Joseph earned the 13th annual Salute to Service award and became a team captain for the Patriots’ 2024 season.
Sadly, after ten seasons with the team, the New England Patriots have released long snapper Joe Cardona, officially parting ways with the final player from the franchise’s Super Bowl-winning era.
Patriots release LS Joe Cardona: https://t.co/N4WWa5jaww pic.twitter.com/gsikJcxFwZ
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) April 29, 2025
Joe Cardona And Lily Katherine Are Planning To Get Married
Joe Cardona and his fiancée, Lily Katherine, are set to marry on May 10, 2025, marking the next chapter in their low-key yet enduring romance.
While the couple has largely kept their relationship out of the spotlight, Lily has remained steadfast in Joe’s career.
Lily was with Joe during his emotional Salute to Service Award recognition at the 13th Annual NFL Honors in February 2024.
Unlike many high-profile NFL relationships, they have opted for privacy, rarely publicly sharing details about their romance.
However, Lily has been spotted supporting the athlete at various events, including the NFL Honors ceremony in Las Vegas, where the Patriots’ long snapper was honored for his military service and dedication to the armed forces.
Joe, a U.S. Naval Academy graduate and Lieutenant in the Navy Reserve, balances his NFL career with military commitments, making Lily’s support all the more significant.
Despite staying away from social media fame, her appearances alongside Joe reveal a strong, supportive partnership.
Netizens are eager to see glimpses of the celebration, and their wedding date is approaching fast. Their ceremony is expected to be an intimate affair with Joe’s disciplined background and their privacy preference.
The extended families, close friends, and possibly some of Joe’s Patriots teammates will be on the guest list.
Although Lily avoids the public eye, she has proven to be a grounding force in the life of the two-time Super Bowl champion.
Furthermore, Joe was previously linked to Samantha Brennan in 2016. Samantha lived in San Diego, Knoxville, balancing a career in sports business with a cancer battle.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Joe Cardona, the son of Patrick and Margaret Cardona, was born on April 16, 1992, in San Diego, California.
- He is of Mexican heritage and graduated from Granite Hills High School in 2010.
- He was a Command Duty Officer at the Naval Academy Preparatory School and was promoted to lieutenant in a ceremony at Gillette Stadium on June 7, 2019.
- He is the department head of Maritime Expeditionary Security Squadron Eight, based at Naval Station Newport in Newport, Rhode Island.
