Lorenz Metz is a German offensive tackle who worked as a chemical technician before ever putting on football pads, and now stands 6-foot-9 on an NFL roster.
Metz didn't start playing American football until he was 18, learning the game with the Kirchdorf Wildcats in Germany before moving to the United States to walk on at Cincinnati. He has since carved out a pro career through the NFL's International Player Pathway program, now on his second stint with the Patriots.
Path to the league
Born in Neuotting, Bavaria, Germany, Metz worked as a chemical technician before taking up football at 18 with the Kirchdorf Wildcats in Germany's Football League. He moved to the United States to play at the University of Cincinnati from 2018 to 2022, appearing in 43 games with 27 starts on the offensive line.
Career highlights
Metz earned first-team All-AAC honors in 2021 after making eight starts at right guard, and he also started all 13 games at tackle in 2019. He went undrafted in 2023 and signed with the Chicago Bears before entering the NFL's International Player Pathway program with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in April 2024.
2025 season recap
Metz spent the 2024 season on Tampa Bay's practice squad through the International Player Pathway program. After his Buccaneers contract expired, he signed with the New England Patriots' practice squad in January 2026 and landed a reserve/futures contract the following month.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Lorenz Metz
- ESPN: Lorenz Metz
Player Profile
Background
- Position
- Offensive Tackle
- Group
- offense
- College
- Cincinnati
- Hometown
- Neuotting, Germany
- Age
- 29
- Status
- active
