news-engine

Andy Borregales will look different when the New England Patriots begin their season Wednesday night against the Seattle Seahawks. The second-year kicker officially changed his jersey number from No. 36 to No. 8, according to ESPN’s Mike Reiss. The Patriots’ official roster also has been updated to reflect the change. The number became available following Stefon Diggs’ departure from New England, but Borregales did not choose it simply because it once belonged to one of the NFL’s most recognizable receivers. No. 8 carries a personal connection that dates back to the beginning of Borregales’ football career. “It was the first number I ever wore when I started playing football at five years old,” Borregales told reporters Sunday, according to Reiss. Borregales explained that he waited to see whether another player would claim the number. When it remained available, the kicker decided to return to the jersey he wore until middle school. After that, Borregales transitioned to numbers in the 30s, partially because of his older brother, José Borregales. That continued at the University of Miami and during his first NFL season, when Andy Borregales wore No. 36 for the Patriots. Now his football journey has come full circle. Borregales will wear the same number in the NFL that he wore when he first began playing the sport as a five-year-old. New Number Comes With Major Expectations For Borregales The change may be sentimental, but Borregales enters his second season with much more than a jersey number to consider. New England selected him in the sixth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, making him the 182nd overall pick. Borregales responded by converting 27 of his 32 regular-season field-goal attempts and 53 of 55 extra points. He also made all four of his attempts from at least 50 yards and finished with 134 points, the most by a rookie in Patriots history. (patriots.com) Borregales delivered several pressure kicks during his first season. His biggest came in Buffalo, where he converted a 52-yard field goal with 15 seconds remaining to give the Patriots a 23-20 victory. His first performance of the 2026 preseason was not nearly as encouraging. Borregales missed three kicks against the Indianapolis Colts, briefly raising questions about his consistency entering Year 2. MORE: When Is Patriots' First Game? Schedule, Date, Time for 2026 Season Opener vs. Seahawks However, he did not miss another kick over New England’s final two preseason games, according to Pats Pulpit. Special teams coordinator Jeremy Springer also expressed confidence in Borregales’ preparation and ability to respond to a difficult performance. That resilience could be tested immediately. The Patriots will open their season in one of the NFL’s loudest environments when they visit Lumen Field. A close game against Seattle could leave Borregales responsible for deciding the outcome. The No. 8 jersey will attract attention because of its most recent owner, but Borregales now has an opportunity to give the number a completely different identity in New England. Diggs wore it as a receiver. Borregales will wear it as the player entrusted with finishing drives and delivering when the Patriots need points most. More importantly, he will wear it as a reminder of where his football career began.