Lorenz Metz Bio
Lorenz Metz is a German professional American football offensive tackle who currently plays for the New England Patriots of the National Football League (NFL). Standing at 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) and listed at 310 lb (141 kg), Metz developed his game in Germany before moving to the United States to play college football for the Cincinnati Bearcats. He reached the NFL through the league’s International Player Pathway Program and has since spent time with the Chicago Bears, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, New York Giants, and the New England Patriots.
Drafted as an undrafted free agent in 2023, Metz has built his professional resume through practice-squad development and international pathway opportunities rather than a traditional draft pedigree. His combination of size, late introduction to the sport, and steady progression has made him one of the more visible German-developed offensive linemen in modern NFL history.
Early Life and Background
Lorenz Metz was born on March 7, 1997, in Neuötting, a town in the Bavarian region of southern Germany. Growing up in Germany, he was not exposed to American football during his earliest years, and the sport was not a significant part of his childhood or school activities. As a result, his introduction to football came much later than for the typical American-born prospect.
Before pursuing football professionally, Metz trained and worked as a chemical technician in Germany. This technical background gave him a disciplined, process-oriented approach that later carried into his athletic development. His physical frame, even at a young age, hinted at the kind of size that offensive-line play demands, but he did not begin playing organized American football until he was 18 years old.
Metz’s first competitive football experience came with the Kirchdorf Wildcats of the German Football League, a club known for developing talent within Germany’s growing gridiron community. He spent time with the Wildcats before deciding to chase a professional path in the United States, leaving behind a stable technical career for an opportunity in American football.
Path to American Football
Metz moved from the German Football League to the U.S. college system, enrolling at the University of Cincinnati to play for the Cincinnati Bearcats. His transition from the German amateur ranks to a major American college program was a significant step, and he had to adapt quickly to the speed, technique, and complexity of the American game.
At Cincinnati, Metz appeared in 43 games across five seasons from 2018 through 2022, earning 27 starts and lining up at both tackle and guard. He started all 13 games at tackle in 2019, played in eight games in 2020, and then shifted inside in 2021, where he made eight starts at right guard. His work on a 2021 offensive line that helped Cincinnati average 6.7 yards per play earned him first-team All-American Athletic Conference honors. That same season, he was also recognized as a Second-team Academic All-American, reflecting his performance in the classroom as well.
His final college season in 2022 was limited to five games due to injury, but his body of work over five years was enough to draw professional interest. When the 2023 NFL draft concluded without his name being called, Metz’s journey was far from over.
Lorenz Metz Career
Early Career (2023)
After going undrafted in the 2023 NFL draft, Lorenz Metz signed with the Chicago Bears as a college free agent on May 6, 2023. The Bears saw enough developmental potential in the German-born lineman to add him to their offseason roster. However, his initial time in Chicago was brief, as the Bears waived him on July 26, 2023, during the early stages of training-camp cuts.
Following his release from Chicago, Metz had a tryout with the New York Giants but ultimately was not on an active NFL roster during the 2023 regular season. He used the period to refine his technique and prepare for another opportunity, knowing that the NFL’s International Player Pathway Program could eventually provide a route back into a league roster.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Breakthrough (2024–2025)
On April 15, 2024, Metz signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers through the NFL’s International Player Pathway Program. Because of his IPP designation, he did not count against Tampa Bay’s 90-man offseason roster limit, giving the Buccaneers additional flexibility to develop him without using a traditional roster spot. The move marked his official re-entry into an NFL organization.
During the 2024 season, Metz spent the year on Tampa Bay’s practice squad under the international exemption, working daily with the team’s offensive-line coaches and gaining a full season of professional-level preparation. After the season, the Buccaneers re-signed him to a futures contract, and the club confirmed his international exception for the 2025 campaign, signaling continued investment in his development.
In 2025, Metz remained part of Tampa Bay’s plans through training camp and the preseason. On August 26, 2025, he was waived by the Buccaneers as part of the league’s final roster cuts, but he was re-signed to the practice squad the following day. His ability to move quickly between the active roster and the practice squad reflected his IPP status and Tampa Bay’s long-term interest in his growth.
New England Patriots Era (2025–Present)
On January 13, 2026, Metz was signed to the New England Patriots’ practice squad, beginning a new chapter in his professional career. The Patriots added him as part of their late-season offensive-line depth, giving him an opportunity within a different organization and coaching staff. Shortly afterward, on February 11, he signed a reserve or futures contract with New England, locking in his place with the team heading into the next league year.
Wearing jersey No. 72, Metz continues to be listed as an active member of the Patriots roster as an offensive tackle. His move from the Buccaneers’ International Player Pathway track to New England’s active roster reflects the growing willingness of NFL teams to invest in internationally developed linemen.
Driving Style and Strengths
Lorenz Metz brings an unusual combination of late-began football experience, technical training, and rare physical dimensions to the offensive-tackle position. At 6 ft 9 in, he has the length and frame to match up with NFL edge rushers, and his background as a chemical technician has given him a detail-oriented, process-driven approach to learning technique. His time at Cincinnati across both tackle and guard spots has made him position-versatile, an asset for offensive-line coaches looking for flexible depth.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Metz’s most significant milestones is his first-team All-AAC selection in 2021, a rare honor for a German-developed lineman playing at a Power-conference level. He also earned Second-team Academic All-American recognition that same year, underscoring his balance between athletics and academics. His signing with Tampa Bay through the International Player Pathway Program in 2024 and his subsequent move to the New England Patriots mark two of the defining professional moments of his young career.
Lorenz Metz Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Lorenz Metz was raised in Neuötting, Bavaria, and his upbringing in southern Germany shaped his path to football. He comes from a German background, and his entry into American football was not part of any family sporting tradition but rather a personal decision taken up after high school.
Personal Life
Metz is known publicly through his professional career and his social-media presence, where he is active on X (Twitter) and Instagram under handles linked to his name. Beyond his work as a chemical technician before football and his current role with the New England Patriots, he has kept most of his personal and family life private.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season represented a transitional year for Lorenz Metz within the NFL’s International Player Pathway structure. After re-signing with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on a futures contract and entering camp with the international exception intact, he worked to push for a roster spot through the preseason. His size and positional versatility continued to be his primary selling points.
On August 26, 2025, Metz was waived by Tampa Bay as part of final roster cuts, then re-signed to the Buccaneers’ practice squad the following day. The quick turnaround demonstrated that the Buccaneers viewed him as a developmental piece worth retaining even after the initial 53-man cut.
His tenure in Tampa Bay ended shortly afterward, as on January 13, 2026, he signed with the New England Patriots’ practice squad and later converted that into a reserve or futures contract on February 11. Heading into the 2026 league year, Metz’s outlook centers on continuing to develop his game within New England’s offensive-line system while maintaining his IPP-linked flexibility, with the goal of eventually securing a sustained role on an active NFL roster.