Daniel James Amendola, a standout at Texas Tech, began his NFL career after being passed over in the draft, signing with the Dallas Cowboys as a rookie free agent. While bouncing between the Cowboys’ and Eagles’ practice squads, he showed signs of potential but struggled to find stability.
Amendola then landed a long-coveted role with the St. Louis Rams and shined for four seasons. When he moved to the dominant New England Patriots, Amendola’s talent blossomed and rose to prominence, contributing to two Super Bowl triumphs during his five-year tenure. His skills later helped the Dolphins, Lions and Texans before he joined the Las Vegas Raiders’ staff as a coach in 2023, becoming an assistant with a focus on punt returns.
Danny Amendola Early Life and Education
Danny Amendola, born November 2, 1985 in The Woodlands, Texas, attended The Woodlands High School where he played football under coach Weldon Willig. He led his team to its first-ever Texas state championship game, recording 1,045 receiving yards, 129 rushing yards and eight touchdowns during his senior year, though they ultimately lost to North Shore High School.
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Personal Information |
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Born |
November 2, 1985 (age 38) |
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Place of birth |
The Woodlands, Texas, USA |
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Height |
5 feet 11 inches (1.80 m) |
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Weight |
84kg |
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Career information |
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position |
Wide receiver |
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Secondary school |
The forests |
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college |
Texas Tech (2004–2007) |
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Not drafted |
2008 |
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Professional background |
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Dallas Cowboys |
2008* |
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Philadelphia Eagles |
2008–2009* |
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St. Louis Rams |
2009–2012 |
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New England Patriots |
2013–2017 |
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Miami Dolphins |
2018 |
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Detroit Lions |
2019–2020 |
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Houston Texans |
2021 |
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Las Vegas Raiders (Coach) |
2023 (Coaching Assistant/Returnee) |
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Career highlights and awards |
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2× Super Bowl winner |
XLIX, LI |
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Leading NFL kickoff return yards |
2009 |
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New England Patriots All-2010s Team |
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Second team All-Big 12 |
2007 |
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Career NFL Stats |
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Receptions |
617 |
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Reception courtyards |
6,212 |
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Touchdowns received |
24 |
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Return yards |
5,450 |
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Passing Yards |
83 |
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Pass touchdowns |
2 |
Source | Pro Football Reference
His father, Alfred “Willie” Amendola, is a football coach at Concordia Lutheran High School in Tomball, Texas. While coaching at Dekaney High School in 2011, Willie Amendola was involved in a viral incident in which an unmanned car struck him after his team won the 5A Division II Texas state championship. He later sued the stadium for over $1 million for negligence.
Danny, of half Italian, half Irish descent, is the first NFL player signed by Ford Models in 2017 and walked for designer Philipp Plein at New York Fashion Week. He also appeared alongside Julian Edelman on the NFL Network special NFL Going Global. In 2023, Amendola competed in the reality show Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test. Most recently, he was announced as a contestant on Dancing with the Stars in 2024, alongside professional dancer Witney Carson.
Danny Amendola Career and Retirement
Danny Amendola had a remarkable football career before retiring in 2022. He played college football at Texas Tech, where he received 204 passes for 2,246 yards and 15 touchdowns. Amendola also excelled as a punt returner, ranking third in school history with 1,283 return yards.
After going undrafted in 2008, he signed with the Dallas Cowboys but spent the season on the practice squad. He later moved to the Philadelphia Eagles before playing regular season with the St. Louis Rams in 2009. Amendola developed into a dynamic receiver and return specialist and led the NFL in all-purpose yards in 2010.
In 2013, Amendola signed with the New England Patriots and played a key role in their victories in Super Bowl XLIX and Super Bowl LI. Known for his decisive performances in the postseason, he was nicknamed “Danny Playoff.”
After stints with the Miami Dolphins, Detroit Lions and Houston Texans, Amendola retired in July 2022. He briefly switched to coaching and joined the Las Vegas Raiders as an assistant and returners coach in 2023, but they parted ways in February 2024.
Amendola’s legacy includes his critical contribution to two Super Bowl titles and his reputation for excellence in high-pressure situations.
Danny Amendola Career Statistics
Amendola has been frequently compared to former Texas Tech star Wes Welker due to their similar playing style and physique. Both served as slot receiver and punt returner, with Welker standing at 5’10” and 195 pounds while Amendola is 6’10” and 195 pounds. Here are his full career stats:
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Regular season |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Year |
team |
Games |
Reception |
Rush |
Kickoff return |
Punt return |
Mistake |
||||||||||||||||||
|
General medicine |
GS |
Recommended. |
Yds |
Average |
Lng |
TD |
Att |
Yds |
Average |
Lng |
TD |
Back |
Yds |
Average |
Lng |
TD |
Back |
Yds |
Average |
Lng |
TD |
smoke |
Lost |
||
|
2009 |
STL |
14 |
2 |
43 |
326 |
7.6 |
25 |
1 |
3 |
−2 |
−0.7 |
8 |
0 |
66 |
1,618 |
24.5 |
58 |
0 |
31 |
360 |
11.6 |
56 |
0 |
4 |
1 |
|
2010 |
STL |
16 |
6 |
85 |
689 |
8.1 |
36 |
3 |
7 |
81 |
11.6 |
30 |
0 |
50 |
1,142 |
22.8 |
84 |
0 |
40 |
452 |
11.3 |
42 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
|
2011 |
STL |
1 |
1 |
5 |
45 |
9 |
18 |
0 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
2012 |
STL |
11 |
8 |
63 |
666 |
10.6 |
56 |
3 |
2 |
8 |
4 |
6 |
0 |
2 |
16 |
8 |
12 |
0 |
17 |
122 |
7.2 |
22 |
0 |
3 |
2 |
|
2013 |
FR |
12 |
6 |
54 |
633 |
11.7 |
57 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
1 |
13 |
13 |
13 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
2014 |
FR |
16 |
4 |
27 |
200 |
7.4 |
21 |
1 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
20 |
482 |
24.1 |
81 |
0 |
16 |
132 |
8.3 |
39 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
2015 |
FR |
14 |
7 |
65 |
648 |
10 |
41 |
3 |
2 |
11 |
5.5 |
8 |
0 |
8 |
172 |
21.5 |
29 |
0 |
23 |
276 |
12 |
82 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
|
2016 |
FR |
12 |
4 |
23 |
243 |
10.6 |
32 |
4 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
5 |
129 |
25.8 |
73 |
0 |
18 |
121 |
6.7 |
30 |
0 |
3 |
1 |
|
2017 |
FR |
15 |
8 |
61 |
659 |
10.8 |
27 |
2 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
1 |
16 |
16 |
16 |
0 |
27 |
231 |
8.6 |
40 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
|
2018 |
MIA |
15 |
15 |
59 |
575 |
9.7 |
39 |
1 |
1 |
−2 |
−2.0 |
−2 |
0 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
11 |
59 |
5.4 |
12 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
|
2019 |
DET |
15 |
9 |
62 |
678 |
10.9 |
47 |
1 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
10 |
55 |
5.5 |
15 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
2020 |
DET |
14 |
5 |
46 |
602 |
13.1 |
50 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
3 |
39 |
13 |
21 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
2021 |
HOUSE |
8 |
0 |
24 |
248 |
10.3 |
39 |
3 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
1 |
15 |
15 |
15 |
0 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
In total |
163 |
76 |
617 |
6,212 |
10.1 |
57 |
24 |
17 |
99 |
5.8 |
30 |
0 |
153 |
3,590 |
23.5 |
84 |
0 |
198 |
1,860 |
9.4 |
82 |
0 |
18 |
6 |
|
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Postseason |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Year |
team |
Games |
Reception |
Rush |
Kickoff return |
Punt return |
Mistake |
||||||||||||||||||
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General medicine |
GS |
Recommended. |
Yds |
Average |
Lng |
TD |
Att |
Yds |
Average |
Lng |
TD |
Back |
Yds |
Average |
Lng |
TD |
Back |
Yds |
Average |
Lng |
TD |
smoke |
Lost |
||
|
2013 |
FR |
2 |
1 |
3 |
77 |
25.7 |
53 |
0 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
0 |
0 |
|
2014 |
FR |
3 |
1 |
11 |
137 |
12.5 |
51 |
3 |
1 |
−2 |
−2.0 |
−2 |
0 |
9 |
213 |
23.7 |
30 |
0 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
1 |
0 |
|
2015 |
FR |
2 |
2 |
7 |
57 |
8.1 |
16 |
0 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
4 |
54 |
13.5 |
28 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
2016 |
FR |
3 |
0 |
10 |
90 |
9 |
20 |
1 |
1 |
15 |
15 |
15 |
0 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
0 |
0 |
|
2017 |
FR |
3 |
2 |
26 |
348 |
13.4 |
50 |
2 |
1 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
0 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
5 |
52 |
10.4 |
20 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
In total |
13 |
6 |
57 |
709 |
12.4 |
53 |
6 |
3 |
16 |
5.3 |
15 |
0 |
9 |
213 |
23.7 |
30 |
0 |
9 |
106 |
11.8 |
28 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
As a junior in 2006, Amendola recorded 48 catches for 487 yards and five touchdowns. His senior season in 2007 was even more impressive, with 109 catches for 1,245 yards and six touchdowns, cementing his place as a key player.
