Joe Cardona, an El Cajon native and Granite Hills High School graduate, has started a new chapter with the Los Angeles Rams after a long NFL career built around one of football’s least visible positions, according to Times of San Diego.

Cardona was drafted by the New England Patriots in 2015 after playing at the United States Naval Academy. He helped New England win two Super Bowls, later played for the Miami Dolphins and signed a two-year contract with the Rams in March.

The 34-year-old long snapper opened his 12th NFL season when the Rams played the 49ers on Sept. 10. In the Times of San Diego profile, Cardona described preparation as central to his longevity and credited his time at the Naval Academy for reinforcing that mindset.

Cardona grew up playing El Cajon Pop Warner at Wells Park and attended Granite Hills High, where he played both sides of the ball and long snapped. He told the publication that El Cajon shaped him and praised the adults who invested time in local youth sports.

For East County readers, Cardona’s career is a local success story tied to Granite Hills and El Cajon’s youth sports community. Source: Times of San Diego.