What you need to know about ‘Dancing With the Stars’ contestant Danny Amendola

On By Littum

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Heading into the “Dancing With the Stars” semifinals, the roster is heavy with accomplished athletes competing for the ultimate title.

Dancing alongside Olympians Ilona Maher and Stephen Nedoroscik is two-time Super Bowl winner Danny Amendola, known for helping lead the New England Patriots to victory alongside Tom Brady in 2014 and 2016.

With professional dance partner Witney Carson, Amendola has managed to translate her experience from the field to the dance floor, consistently scoring high marks from the judges and wowing fans with fluidity and footwork.

Here’s what you need to know about the Olympian and “Dancing With the Stars” semifinalist.

Who is Danny Amendola?

Danny Amendola, full name Daniel James Amendola, is a retired American professional football player who played wide receiver for several NFL teams. He signed with five teams during his 14-year career, winning two Super Bowls playing alongside Tom Brady for the New England Patriots.

Both his parents are from Boston, but he grew up and currently lives in Texas, where his father was soccer coach at Concordia Lutheran High School in Tomball and later Dekaney High School.

Amendola also has a history as a model, signature with Ford Models in 2017 and appears in New York Fashion Week model for Philipp Plein the same year. He also had another stint on reality TV before signing on with DWTS, after appearing on FOX’s Special Forces: The world’s hardest test in 2023.

Amendola is officially single, but has been linked to several high-profile women over the years. He dated model Olivia Culpo and actress Jean Watts on and off, according to Peopleand his breakup with Culpo got a lot of attention with the two trading public jabs on podcasts and social media in 2019.

Danny Amendola’s NFL Career

Amendola was signed by the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 2008 after playing college ball for Texas Tech Red Raiders. After serving the 2008 season on the Dallas practice squad and the 2009 season on the Philadelphia Eagles training team, he was signed by St. Louis Rams in 2009, playing his first regular season.

In 2013, Amendola signed a five-year, $28.5 million contract with the New England Patriots, with whom he played in three Super Bowls, winning two between 2013 and 2017. In 2018, he signed a two-year contract with the Miami Dolphins. However, he was released from the Dolphins in 2019 and moved on to the Detroit Lions, where he signed a one-year, $4.5 million contract.

The contract was renewed in 2020 and he played one more season with the team before moving on to the Houston Texans for a one-season, $2.5 million contract in 2021. He announced his retirement in July 2022 and moved to the sidelines as an assistant coach and returners coach for the Las Vegas Raiders for the 2023 season.

According to the NFL, Amendola finished his career having played in 163 games with 76 starts, recording 617 career receptions for 6,212 yards receiving and 24 touchdowns during his time with the St. Louis Rams, Patriots, Miami Dolphins, Detroit Lions and Texans, finishing with 11,761 all-purpose yards. .

Danny Amendola on “Dancing With the Stars”

Going into the semifinals, Amendola and Carson plan to perform a waltz to John Mayer’s “Gravity” and salsa to “I Like It” by Cardi B, Bad Bunny and J Balvin.

Amendola, who often shows off his muscular physique with open, see-through shirts and acrobatic lifts, has been praised for adapting so well to the dance floor this season. Amendola’s partner, who often comes in as one of the top-scoring contenders, isn’t afraid to get athletic with the choreography, using him as a base for complex spins, lifts and maneuvers.

While the pair often gets scores of 8 and 9 from the judges, Amendola earned his first 10 in week six after performing the Argentine tango to the song “Poison” by Bell Biv DeVoe during the Halloween special.

How to Watch Danny Amendola on ‘Dancing With the Stars’

Season 33 of “Dancing with the Stars” returns on Tuesday 18 Nov for its semi-final stage. New episodes are broadcast at 8 PM ET/PT on ABC and Disney+. They are available for streaming after the live shows end on Hulu.

Fans can vote at www.dwtsvote.abc.com or text to 21523 when the live broadcast begins.