Bio

Andre Gurode, born March 6, 1979, in Houston, Texas, is living his childhood dreams both on and off the football field. Entering his ninth season with the Dallas Cowboys Gurode is best known as one of the top offensive players in the National Football League and has become one of the League’s most honored players to hold the position of Center.  No stranger to success, Gurode continues to strive for personal and professional achievement in every aspect of his life and career.
 
His athletic development and dedication began in his adolescent years. As a senior at North Shore High, Gurode was named Prep-Star and Super-Prep All American. In addition, USA Today awarded Gurode the esteemed honorable mention All-American. Among those honors earned, he was also named to the Houston Chronicle Top 100 List and the Austin American-Statesman Fab 55 team. Through the course of his high school career, Gurode earned all-area honors and second-team honors. Moreover, Gurode was named all-district, All-Greater Houston, and most outstanding offensive lineman during his junior and senior years. Gurode proved his athletic acumen was not limited to football and went on to letter three consecutive years in basketball and four in track with a personal best of 186-0 in the discus and 54-1 in the shot put.
 
Gurode’s passion for athletics prepared him for his collegiate journey at The University of Colorado. During his college career he earned honorable mention All-Big 12 honors as a sophomore and helped the Buffaloes go 7-5 and defeat Boston College in the Insight.com Bowl. As a junior, he earned All-Big 12 honors and the John Mack Award, a prestigious achievement awarded to CU's most outstanding offensive player. True to form, as a senior Gurode also earned All-America honors after starting every game at right guard – unanimous with the All-Big 12 selection. As a member of the Academic Starter’s team, Gurode finished his undergraduate academic career with a degree in Ethnic Studies.
 
In 2002 Gurode was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the 2nd round of the NFL Draft, and currently holds the position of starting center for the ‘Boys. He was selected to the Pro Bowl for the last four consecutive years, breaking a Dallas Cowboys record.  Gurode continues his track record of excellence off the field by focusing on the advancement of underprivileged kids through the development of The Center of Attention Foundation, Inc. (COA). As the President and CEO of the COA Foundation, Gurode’s mission is to support and educate communities regarding key issues that affect today’s youth. The foundation’s mission includes initiatives geared to help children that have been victims of abuse and enrich the quality of life for at-risk youth. Community outreach is a top priority for Gurode. Some of the causes he advocates and
dedicates his time to serving include:
 
  • The Dallas Cowboys Early Thanksgiving Day Meal at The Salvation Army
  • Cowboys’ annual Let Us Play! Sports Camp for 150 underprivileged girls
  • Provided turkeys and all the fixings for 100 underserved individuals from South Dallas
  • Sponsors Lowbow Athletics - a youth foundation inspired to give young men a better education by playing basketball
  • Taste of the NFL: The Ultimate Dallas Cowboys Tailgate Party for North Texas Food Bank
  • Annual team hospital visits during the holiday season
  • Salvation Army Angel Tree Christmas Program
  • Make a Wish Foundation of North Texas
  • Stars of Texas Racing Against the Odds for American Diabetes Association
  • Advocate of breast cancer awareness. 

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