In today’s NFL, it’s common to see star players sit out voluntary practices while awaiting new contracts. Business is business. Money matters. And with free agency looming, most players in a contract year think long and hard about protecting themselves.
But Zach Tom is different.
The Green Bay Packers’ rising offensive line star, entering the final season of his rookie deal, showed up to OTAs not just in uniform—but fully locked in. No hesitation. No drama. Just quiet work.
“I don’t really think it’ll do me any good to sit out,” Tom said. “The contract situation will take care of itself.”
That one sentence—simple, calm, and self-assured—has struck a chord with Packers fans and coaches alike. Because in an era where headlines are dominated by holdouts and pay disputes, Tom is showing something far rarer: trust, humility, and leadership.
This isn’t just any lineman, either. Zach Tom is coming off a breakout season that saw him finish third in All-Pro voting at right tackle—behind only Penei Sewell and Lane Johnson. His footwork, intelligence, and versatility have made him a cornerstone of Green Bay’s offensive front.
Head coach Matt LaFleur called his flexibility “one of the things that makes him special.” Whether playing tackle, guard, or even taking emergency snaps at center, Tom delivers without complaint or ego.
But it’s not just his on-field ability that’s standing out this offseason.
While veterans like Elgton Jenkins and Jaire Alexander have chosen to skip voluntary OTAs—understandable decisions given their own contract circumstances—Tom’s full attendance is sending a message. It’s not just about doing your job. It’s about setting a tone.
“He’s not just doing what’s expected,” one team staffer noted. “He’s doing more. He’s setting the standard.”
Behind the scenes, sources confirm that Tom’s agent and the Packers are likely to discuss a contract extension this summer. Given his performance and positional value, he’s expected to command a deal that places him among the league’s highest-paid right tackles.
But you wouldn’t know it by watching him.
Tom remains focused on the work, on building chemistry with the offensive line unit, and on helping quarterback Jordan Love continue his upward trajectory.
“My job is to protect,” Tom said. “And you can’t do that if you’re not here.”
That kind of attitude has earned him respect across the locker room. Young players see him as a role model. Coaches see him as a foundation. And fans? They see him as exactly the kind of player Green Bay should build around.
“He’s got the game and the heart,” one fan wrote on social media. “Pay that man. But more than that—follow his example.”
Zach Tom isn’t chasing headlines. He’s chasing excellence. Not through noise, but through consistency.
As the Packers prepare for a season filled with high expectations, his mindset may prove to be just as important as his blocks.
In Green Bay, where legacy matters and quiet greatness is revered, Zach Tom is writing his chapter the right way.
And when that new contract does come—and it will—it won’t just be a reward for performance.
It will be a reflection of character.
