FOXBORO - Andy Borregales is going back to where it started.
The New England Patriots kicker, entering his second season, will swap from No. 36 to No. 8 before Week 1 against the Seattle Seahawks. It’s the same number Borregales wore as a kid, long before he settled into the 30s during his college and early pro days.
“I was five years old the first time I put that number on,” Borregales said Sunday in the locker room. “It was the first number I ever wore when I started playing football at five years old.
I kind of waited until the end. If anyone was going to get it, go get it.
I saw it was still available, so I was like, 'I might as well just try to get,' and here we are.”
Borregales said No. 8 was his number until middle school, when his older brother Jose got to high school and wore No. 30. Andy followed his lead and made the move into the 30s, a stretch that carried all the way through his rookie year in New England.
The change won’t come with any financial drama. Borregales said it was simple, and he didn’t want to create extra work for the training staff by changing his practice jersey, which will stay No. 36.
“For me, it was nothing,” Borregales said. “If someone else had it and I asked them for it, that'd be a different story.”
The number switch arrives as Borregales tries to build on a season in which he made 31 total field goals in 21 games. He also comes into the opener after what the source described as a shakier-than-expected preseason, though special teams coordinator Jeremy Springer sounded confident Sunday.
“He's ready to go,” Springer said. “I don't have any doubts in Andy being ready to go.”
Borregales is also the first Patriots player to wear No. 8 since wide receiver Stefon Diggs last season. Diggs was released in March and is now with the Washington Commanders, but Borregales still spoke warmly about him.
“I had a great relationship with him,” Borregales said. “I hope he's doing good in Washington, and I do believe he's going to be doing good.
I mean, he was a great guy. I mean, he was a good locker room guy.”
For a Patriots franchise that has seen kickers like Adam Vinatieri, Stephen Gostkowski and Nick Folk thrive in single-digit numbers, Borregales now gets his own shot at making No. 8 matter.
“I’m super excited. Super excited to just get things started,” he said. “It's a long time coming.”
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