In 2015, Joe Cardona became the first Naval Academy graduate in 12 years to be picked in the National Football League Draft.
When the New England Patriots selected the standout long snapper in the fifth round, it broke a drought that dated back to 1993 when defensive lineman Bob Kuberski was taken in the seventh round by the Green Bay Packers.
Another milestone for Navy football came the following year when the Baltimore Ravens made Keenan Reynolds a sixth-round draft choice. It marked the first time the Midshipmen had NFL Draft picks in consecutive years since halfback Joe Bellino and end Greg Mather were chosen in 1961 and 1962, respectively.