Andy Borregales has changed his number from No. 36 to No. 8 just before the New England Patriots open their season against the Seattle Seahawks. The Patriots updated their official roster to reflect the switch, giving the kicker a new look for a game that arrives with little time for surprises.
The move brings Borregales back to the number he first wore when he started playing football at five years old. He said No. 8 was the first number he ever wore, and he kept it until middle school before later moving into numbers in the 30s, partly because of his older brother, José Borregales. With No. 8 now available after Stefon Diggs left New England, Borregales gets the number he once called his own.
The change also lands in the middle of an important stretch for a player the Patriots leaned on heavily as a rookie. New England picked Borregales in the sixth round of the 2025 NFL Draft with the 182nd overall pick, then watched him convert 27 of 32 field-goal attempts, make 53 of 55 extra points, and hit all four of his kicks from at least 50 yards. He finished with 134 points, the most by a rookie in Patriots history, and one of his biggest moments came in Buffalo, where he drilled a 52-yard field goal with 15 seconds remaining to beat the Buffalo Bills 23-20.
That record, though, sits beside a less polished start to his next run. Borregales missed three kicks against the Indianapolis Colts in his first appearance of the 2026 preseason, a reminder that a number change does not guarantee a clean slate. He steadied after that and did not miss another kick over New England's final two preseason games, which is the form the Patriots will need at Lumen Field.
Jeremy Springer said he has confidence in Borregales' preparation and his ability to respond after a difficult performance. The Patriots open against the Seattle Seahawks on Wednesday night, and the switch to No. 8 will be visible right away. What matters next is not the sentiment behind the number, but whether the Patriots kicker can carry the production from his rookie year into a season that starts in one of the toughest places to kick.
