Zak Zinter Bio
Zak Lyle Zinter, born on April 17, 2001, in Port St. Lucie, Florida, is an American professional football guard for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League (NFL). Standing 6 feet 6 inches tall and listed at 310 pounds, Zinter plays the offensive guard position and wears number 70 for the Browns. He was selected by Cleveland in the third round of the 2024 NFL draft, 85th overall, after a standout college career at the University of Michigan.
During his time with the Michigan Wolverines, Zinter won three consecutive Big Ten Conference championships and a College Football Playoff national title in 2023. He was a three-time All-Big Ten selection, earned first-team honors in both 2022 and 2023, and capped his senior season as a unanimous All-American. He is widely regarded as one of the top interior offensive linemen to come out of the Big Ten in recent years.
Early Life and Background
Zak Lyle Zinter was born on April 17, 2001, in Port St. Lucie, Florida, to Paul Zinter and Tiffany Zinter. He lived in Florida through his early childhood, and during middle school his family relocated to North Andover, Massachusetts. The move placed him in a region known for producing competitive football prospects and gave him access to a strong high school athletic scene.
Zinter began his high school career at St. John’s Prep, where he spent his first two years before transferring to Buckingham Browne & Nichols in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He was a three-year starter on the offensive line across both programs, playing one season at St. John’s Prep and two at Buckingham Browne & Nichols. As a junior, he helped lead Buckingham Browne & Nichols to an 8-1 record, with title game appearances in both the Independent School League and the New England championships.
Beyond football, Zinter competed in track and field, throwing the shot put. He was the NEPSAC New England State Shot Put Champion as a junior, setting a school record with a throw of 49 feet 7 inches. He earned multiple recognitions as a senior, including the NEPSAC All-New England Lineman of the Year, two Massachusetts High School Football Coaches Association All-State selections, USA Today All-Massachusetts honors in 2018, and a spot on the Super 26 All-State Team in 2019.
Path to American Football
Coming out of Buckingham Browne & Nichols, Zinter was rated as the top prospect in Massachusetts by PrepStar Magazine, which also listed him as the 17th-best offensive tackle in the country and the 123rd overall recruit. He drew recruiting interest from several top programs, including Notre Dame, Ohio State, and Boston College, before committing to the University of Michigan.
Zinter enrolled at Michigan in 2020 and quickly earned a role on the offensive line. As a true freshman, he appeared in four games with starts, demonstrating the physical tools and technique that would define his career. His early development at Michigan positioned him as a foundational piece of one of the most dominant offensive lines in college football.
Zak Zinter Career
Early Career (2020-2021)
Zak Lyle Zinter opened his college career at the University of Michigan in 2020, starting four games as a true freshman and giving the Wolverines a glimpse of his potential. His work ethic and physicality earned him a larger role in his sophomore season, when he became a regular starter along the interior of the offensive line.
In 2021, Zinter started 12 games for Michigan and was part of an offensive line that won the Joe Moore Award, given annually to the best unit in college football. He was recognized for his performance with second-team All-Big Ten honors, establishing himself as one of the conference’s rising interior linemen.
Michigan Breakthrough (2022-2023)
Zinter’s breakout came in 2022, when he started 14 games and was selected by the conference coaches as a first-team All-Big Ten offensive guard. That season, all three of Michigan’s interior offensive linemen, including Zinter, Olusegun Oluwatimi, and Trevor Keegan, earned first-team recognition, helping the Wolverines capture a second consecutive Joe Moore Award. Zinter also landed on the Outland Trophy watch list, given to the nation’s top interior lineman.
In 2023, Zinter started 12 games and helped Michigan win a third straight Big Ten title and a College Football Playoff national championship. During the regular-season finale against rival Ohio State on November 25, 2023, he suffered a broken tibia and fibula and was carted off the field, ending his season. Despite the injury, he was named a unanimous All-American and earned first-team All-Big Ten honors for the third consecutive year.
Cleveland Browns Era (2024-Present)
Zak Lyle Zinter was selected 85th overall by the Cleveland Browns in the third round of the 2024 NFL draft, becoming one of the team’s first offensive line additions of that cycle. He signed his rookie contract and joined the Browns’ active roster, wearing number 70 and competing for a role at offensive guard.
Through the early stages of his professional career, Zinter has appeared in 22 games with three starts for Cleveland, contributing depth to the Browns’ offensive line. As he continues to develop, the Browns view him as a long-term piece of their interior line.
Playing Style and Strengths
Zinter is a tall, physical guard with the size to match up against NFL defensive tackles and the footwork to handle stunts and twists at the line of scrimmage. His college background in a run-heavy Michigan scheme gave him strong fundamentals in both gap and zone blocking. He combines power at the point of attack with the agility to reach second-level defenders in the screen game.
Notable Events and Milestones
Zinter’s most defining college moment came on November 25, 2023, when he suffered a broken tibia and fibula during the rivalry win over Ohio State and was carted off the field. Despite missing the remainder of the season, he returned to earn unanimous All-American recognition and a national championship ring. He was also part of three consecutive Big Ten title teams and two straight Joe Moore Award-winning offensive lines at Michigan.
Zak Zinter Career Highlights
Zak Lyle Zinter’s career has been defined by team success and individual recognition. He is a College Football Playoff national champion, a unanimous All-American, and a three-time All-Big Ten selection, with two first-team nods and one second-team honor. He also won two Joe Moore Awards as part of Michigan’s dominant offensive lines in 2021 and 2022.
Michigan Highlights
During his four seasons at the University of Michigan, Zinter started 42 games along the offensive line and helped the Wolverines capture three straight Big Ten Conference championships. He was part of offensive lines that won back-to-back Joe Moore Awards in 2021 and 2022, and he earned first-team All-Big Ten honors in both 2022 and 2023, along with second-team recognition in 2021. His senior season ended with a unanimous All-American selection and a national championship.
Other Honors and Performances
At the high school level, Zinter was a two-time Massachusetts High School Football Coaches Association All-State selection, the 2019 NEPSAC All-New England Lineman of the Year, and a USA Today All-Massachusetts pick. He was also the NEPSAC New England State Shot Put Champion, reflecting his track and field background.
Zak Zinter Family
Family Background and Athletic Lineage
Zak Lyle Zinter is the son of Paul Zinter and Tiffany Zinter. He grew up in Port St. Lucie, Florida, before his family moved to North Andover, Massachusetts, during his middle school years. His younger brother, Preston Zinter, played college football for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and is currently playing for the Rice Owls, continuing the family’s football tradition.
Personal Life
Zinter splits his time between his NFL commitments with the Cleveland Browns and his family connections in the Northeast. His athletic profile is shaped by the combination of football and track and field that he pursued throughout his youth, and he remains close to his brother Preston, who has followed a similar path in college football.
2025 Season Performance
Heading into the 2025 NFL season, Zak Lyle Zinter is entering his second year with the Cleveland Browns after being drafted in the third round of the 2024 NFL draft. Through his rookie year, he appeared in 22 games with three starts, gaining valuable experience as he transitioned from the Big Ten to the professional level. The Browns have continued to develop him as part of their long-term plan along the interior offensive line.
Zinter’s role within the Cleveland offense is expected to expand as he builds on the technique and strength he honed at Michigan. His familiarity with a pro-style run game and pass protection, combined with his physical tools, gives him a clear path to additional playing time. The Browns’ coaching staff has emphasized his development in both zone and gap schemes.
With another offseason of preparation behind him, Zinter is positioned to compete for a larger role along the Browns’ offensive front in 2025. His track record of durability before his senior-year injury, paired with his national championship experience, provides a strong foundation for continued growth at the NFL level.