GREEN BAY – Zach Tom was in midst of a quiet, WiFi-less flight to Green Bay when news broke Monday that the Packers and their fourth-year tackle had agreed to a contract extension.
And Tom wouldn't have had it any other way.
"I let my agent handle it all," said Tom with a smile. "He just called me when I landed and told me it got done. That was it. I'm done with that."
While thrilled to get a long-term deal in place, Tom put blinders on the second his representatives and the Packers organization opened contract talks earlier this year.
Tom instructed his agents to pass along any key information but otherwise leave him to his training for a key 2025 season.
The most recent in a line of fourth-round finds on the Packers' offensive line, Tom has started 39 of his 43 career games since his arrival in 2022.
After rotating in at left tackle and left guard as a rookie, the offensive lineman who made a name for himself with versatility has since blossomed into one of the NFL's premier right tackles.
Tom is one of only two offensive linemen in the NFL to start 35-plus games in 2022-24 and not be penalized for holding, according to TruMedia. He's also the only Packers offensive player to start all 34 regular-season games in 2023-24.
It seemed like only a matter of time before the Packers would lock in the 26-year-old Tom. Tom said he had an inkling the two sides were close as he packed for training camp, but little did he know a deal would be in place by the time he got to town.
After speaking with his agent, Tom placed an emotional phone call to family and spoke with Head Coach Matt LaFleur over FaceTime.
"It's awesome any time you get a guy that gets rewarded like that and he's earned it," LaFleur said. "I'm confident he's gonna do what's got him here and it's just coming out, attacking it the right way, putting in the work and just being a consistent force for us."
Tom demonstrated grit, toughness and resolve in 2024 after tearing his pectoral muscle early in the offseason program. Sidelined for the first half of camp, Tom bounced back to start all 18 games for the Packers last season (including playoffs).
He not only contributed to Green Bay's QBs being sacked just 22 times – second fewest in the NFL – but also helped pave the way to Josh Jacobs becoming just the fourth running back in team history to rush for more than 1,300 yards.
For his efforts, Tom was selected to Pro Football Focus' All-Pro team and received votes in the Associated Press' balloting. A testament to his budding leadership, Tom also was elected as the Packers' NFLPA representative last season at just 25 years old.
"He's been a guy who's balled out since he got here," QB Jordan Love said. "Really came in, made a name for himself at that right tackle position and just balled. He's a guy that's very humble, keeps his head down, he just comes in ready to work, always about the right stuff. There's no one more deserving."
Tom was part of a heralded 2022 draft class that also netted two other starters on the offensive line – UCLA's Sean Rhyan in the third round and Penn State's Rasheed Walker in the seventh.
Admittedly, getting a deal done is a weight off Tom's shoulders. However, it doesn't change anything on the field. Hard work brought Tom to this point, and he knows it's what will keep him on an upward trajectory.
Certainly, pressure comes hand-in-hand with a second contract but that's par for the course for Tom's position where "one bad play" can quickly lead to a "bad game."
"You gotta earn it every day, no matter what," Tom said. "Nothing's gonna change with my mindset. I'm still gonna come out here and work every day. I gotta prove it every day. Because you can get exposed at any point in this league."
Tom said he doesn't have any major purchases in mind other than possibly upgrading the 2016 Dodge Charger he's been driving since college.
"Base edition, no tinted windows, nothing," said Tom, modestly. "I'm gonna look (at something new). Get some advice from guys on the team, see what they like and we'll see."
