Zombo ready to cap off dream year at Super Bowl XLV
By DREW ELLIS
Sun Sports Writer
A year ago today, Frank Zombo wasn't sure what the future held for him.
He certainly wouldn't have guessed he'd be part of Super Bowl XLV with the Green Bay Packers as they take on the Pittsburgh Steelers.
"I have been blessed,"Â Zombo said. "It has been a crazy 12 months but everything has worked out for the best and I am glad I made the choices I did."Â
Zombo is one of four former Chippewas to be part of this year's Super Bowl, as he joins Green Bay teammates Josh Gordy and Cullen Jenkins, and Pittsburgh receiver Antonio Brown.
"It is real important to me to represent CMU in the Super Bowl,"Â Zombo said. "I walk around with a lot of CMU pride. Cullen, Josh, and myself all break out the maroon and gold, and are proud of where we came from."Â
Coming off his senior season at Central Michigan University, where was an All-Mid-American Conference first-team selection at defensive end, Zombo wasn't thought of much as a prospect for the NFL draft, and four years of college football had taken its toll on him.
"I was definitely beat up after my senior year at CMU,"Â Zombo said. "I was wondering if I could still play, and if I even wanted to still play."Â
Perhaps it was the success of his teammates that turned Zombo's future around as Dan LeFevour and Antonio Brown were being scouted for the draft by a number of NFL teams. So, when CMU held its Senior Day workout in front of NFL scouts, Zombo decided to give it a shot and participate.
He took part in all the drills and caught the eye of the scouts. Despite playing defensive end throughout his college career, Zombo worked out as a tight end and linebacker that day as well.
"I really didn't know what to expect,"Â Zombo said. "I had teams working me out at different positions, and I got a lot of good feedback. I left there feeling like I had a shot."Â
Zombo went undrafted but was quickly contacted by the Packers to attend organized team activities and mini-camp as an outside linebacker with a chance to make training camp if things went well.
"I knew I had a shot, and my agent thought Green Bay would be a good fit,"Â Zombo said. "I had never played outside linebacker before, but I was hoping to learn quickly and just earn a spot on the practice squad."Â
He impressed the coaching staff and was invited to training camp where his work ethic and injury problems for other linebackers opened the door to a great opportunity.
"I was doing good things in camp, and some guys got hurt, so I got a chance to prove myself on the field,"Â Zombo said.
He was a big factor for Green Bay once the preseason rolled around as he led the team in tackles (18) and sacks (2) and had a sack fumble of Indianapolis quarterback Peyton Manning.
As Green Bay made its final roster cuts, Zombo was one of the players that was on the border of being cut, but ultimately he got the good news that he had made the active roster for the season.
"I had a lot of guys tell me that they thought I would make it, but I didn't want to get my hopes up,"Â he said. "When my coach actually told me I made the team it was a tremendous feeling, and it really all didn't hit me until we took the team photo, and I was standing next to all these great players and was now their teammate. It was surreal."Â
The injury situation forced Zombo into action right away, and he made his mark quickly. In the season opener, he sacked Philadelphia quarterback Michael Vick on his first NFL play.
"That sack was really pretty easy. Well, it is never easy to sack Michael Vick, but it was right there for me because of the way the play was designed,"Â Zombo said. "Everyone else did their job, and I had an open look at him and got him."Â
Just a few weeks later, Zombo made his first NFL start in Green Bay and picked up his second sack of the year. On the season, Zombo had four sacks and 38 tackles to go along with two forced fumbles.
"As the season moved on I felt like I could play, and I knew I could play. I just kept gaining confidence,"Â Zombo said. "I felt prepared, and I just wanted to make sure I did my part for the team."Â
The Sterling Heights native even returned to his home state on Dec. 12 to take on the Detroit Lions, but that would be the last time Zombo saw the NFL field as he injured his knee during the game and hasn't been able to play since.
"The injury was just kind of a freak thing,"Â Zombo said. "I just landed on it wrong and sprained my PCL."Â
Despite missing all three playoff games, Zombo is hopeful to be on the field come Super Bowl XLV.
"I am going to keep working it out and we will figure out what to do,"Â Zombo said. "I can walk and run on it, but playing football is another story. I want to be on the field, and if there is anything I can do to play, I will."Â
No matter what happens in the Super Bowl, Zombo has earned his spot with the Packers and has been an inspiring story for Central Michigan fans and his former teammates.
"The cool thing about Frank is he was brought in by Green Bay to be a ‘camZombvp guy'. He was a body that they could bang around in camp and give starters a blow in practice and preseason games," said Brian Brunner, Zombo's former teammate and former member of the Green Bay organization. "But Green Bay had some injuries, Frank got a chance to be productive, and he made the most of that opportunity and just played fantastic. He earned his spot on the roster and his opportunity to be in the Super Bowl. He is also a real media darling in Green Bay, and the fans love him there."Â
Despite the whirlwind of success he has had, Zombo hasn't forgotten where he comes from, and he doesn't let his new teammates forget where they come from.
"I was just giving Greg Jennings a lot of heat about Western the other day,"Â Zombo said. Jennings played at Western Michigan.
"That rivalry runs deep and we jaw back-and-forth about it a lot."Â
A year ago Zombo didn't know what he would be doing at this time but now, he feels his future is pretty well set.
"I hope to be in Green Bay forever, and I know I can play in the NFL for years to come,"Â Zombo said. "I love it here and I love this team. The city is just like Mt. Pleasant, and everyone treats you with respect."Â
"Hopefully we can get a Super Bowl ring and earn a spot in history in this great organization and do it again year after year."Â
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