Sean Rhyan Bio
Sean Michael Rhyan (born September 15, 2000) is an American professional football center for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the UCLA Bruins, where he was a standout offensive tackle, and was selected by the Packers in the third round, 92nd overall, of the 2022 NFL draft. Rhyan has since transitioned inside to center while continuing to develop within one of the league’s most tradition-rich offensive line rooms.
Early Life and Background
Sean Michael Rhyan was born on September 15, 2000, in Laguna Hills, California, and grew up in nearby Ladera Ranch. He was raised in a deeply athletic family. His father, Steve Rhyan, was a professional motocross racer who turned pro at age 15, and his grandfather was a professional boxer. His mother, Mary Lou, was a multi-sport athlete at Walnut High School in Walnut, California, and is of Filipino descent, having immigrated to the United States from the Philippines at the age of five. Through his father, Rhyan is of White American descent.
During his youth, Rhyan primarily played baseball and rugby, and he did not watch the NFL as a child. Rugby was his main passion, and he became an avid fan of the New Zealand All Blacks, particularly admiring utility back Sonny Bill Williams. It was not until high school that Rhyan first took up football, a decision that ultimately redirected his athletic future toward the offensive line.
Rhyan attended Capistrano Valley Christian School in San Juan Capistrano, California, as a freshman before transferring to San Juan Hills High School for his sophomore year. He graduated from San Juan Hills, where his combination of size, footwork, and competitiveness translated from rugby to the trenches.
Path to American Football
Rhyan’s introduction to football came relatively late, but his physical tools and athletic background allowed him to progress quickly. As a senior at San Juan Hills, he was named the Orange County Register’s Male Athlete of the Year and participated in the 2019 All-American Bowl. That same year, he also won the CIF Southern Section Division 1 title in the shot put, underscoring the raw power that has defined his game.
Rhyan was rated a three-star recruit and the highest-ranked offensive lineman in California’s 2019 class by 247Sports. He committed to UCLA, choosing the Bruins over offers from Alabama, Arizona State, Notre Dame, South Carolina, and USC. His decision to stay in state and develop under the Bruins’ program set the stage for his rapid rise in college football.
Sean Rhyan Career
Early Career (2018–2021)
Rhyan enrolled at UCLA and immediately cracked the starting lineup, being named a starter at offensive tackle going into his freshman season. He started all 12 of the Bruins’ games that year and earned recognition on the Freshman All-America Team from the Football Writers Association of America and USA Today. The early playing time gave him invaluable experience against top collegiate pass rushers.
He followed that with a full campaign in 2020’s COVID-19-shortened season, starting all seven of UCLA’s games. As an upperclassman, Rhyan earned First-team All-Pac-12 honors in 2021, cementing his status as one of the premier offensive line prospects in the country and positioning himself for the 2022 NFL draft.
Green Bay Packers Breakthrough (2022–Present)
Rhyan was selected by the Green Bay Packers in the third round, 92nd overall, of the 2022 NFL draft, becoming one of the team’s early picks in their post-Aaron Rodgers offensive reset. He signed his rookie contract on May 6, 2022, and made his NFL debut on November 6 of that season, playing a single special teams snap in a Week 9 loss to the Detroit Lions. Later that month, on November 25, Rhyan was suspended six games for violating the league’s substance abuse policy, a setback that effectively ended his rookie year.
In 2023, Rhyan appeared in 12 games, continuing to refine his technique and build durability along the offensive line. The 2024 season marked a major step forward, as he started all 17 games, demonstrating his value as a reliable presence in the Packers’ rotation. The organization has since featured him at center, leveraging his strength and football IQ in the middle of the line.
Driving Style and Strengths
Although a football player rather than a driver, Rhyan’s style on the field reflects the same athletic foundation that powered his rugby and shot put success. He combines rare footwork for a 6-foot-5, 320-plus-pound lineman with the lateral mobility developed through rugby. His background in track and field throwing events contributes to his leverage and power at the point of attack, while his high school rugby experience sharpened his hand placement and finishing strength in close-quarters combat at the line of scrimmage.
Notable Events and Milestones
Key milestones in Rhyan’s young career include his 2019 All-American Bowl selection, his 2021 First-team All-Pac-12 honor, his third-round selection by the Packers in 2022, and his first full season as a 17-game starter in 2024. His transition from rugby prodigy to NFL offensive lineman remains one of the more unique developmental paths in the league.
Sean Rhyan Career Wins
As an offensive lineman, individual win totals are not tracked the way they are for skill players, so Rhyan’s career is measured in starts, snaps, and team success rather than personal victories. The following highlights summarize his verified accomplishments across the levels he has played.
College and Professional Highlights
At UCLA, Rhyan started all 19 games across his freshman and sophomore seasons before adding an All-Pac-12 campaign in 2021. In the NFL, he has appeared in games in each of his first three seasons, capped by a 17-start season in 2024 that established him as a long-term piece of the Packers’ offensive line.
Other Wins & Performances
Beyond football, Rhyan captured the CIF Southern Section Division 1 shot put title as a senior, was named the Orange County Register’s Male Athlete of the Year, and competed on the U.S. Olympic rugby pipeline as a high schooler through the USA Eagles feeder program.
Sean Rhyan Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Rhyan comes from a multigenerational athletic family. His father, Steve Rhyan, was a professional motocross racer who turned pro at 15, and his maternal grandfather was a professional boxer. His mother, Mary Lou, was a multi-sport athlete at Walnut High School in Walnut, California, and the family supported Rhyan’s wide range of sporting pursuits from an early age.
Personal Life
Rhyan is of Filipino descent through his mother, Mary Lou, who immigrated to Walnut, California, from the Philippines at age five, and of White American descent through his father, Steve. He grew up primarily playing baseball and rugby, and his cultural and athletic upbringing shaped the competitive foundation he brings to professional football.
2025 Season Performance
Entering the 2025 season, Rhyan is positioned as a key component of the Green Bay Packers’ offensive line, building on his 17-start 2024 campaign. His development at center has been a focal point for the coaching staff, and the team is counting on his combination of size, mobility, and power to anchor the interior.
Rhyan’s path back from his 2022 suspension and a steadily increasing workload over 2023 and 2024 suggests continued growth in 2025. With another full offseason of development and a year of NFL starts under his belt, the Packers expect him to remain a fixture in the starting lineup.
Long term, Rhyan’s trajectory points toward a potential role as a long-term starter at center, with his unique rugby-influenced skill set offering a different stylistic profile from typical interior linemen. His performance in 2025 will be a strong indicator of whether he can develop into a foundational piece of Green Bay’s offense for years to come.