Trevor Penning Bio
Trevor Penning is an American professional football offensive tackle for the Los Angeles Chargers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Northern Iowa Panthers and was selected by the New Orleans Saints in the first round of the 2022 NFL draft. Standing around 201 centimeters tall and weighing roughly 147 kilograms, Penning fits the prototypical build of a modern NFL offensive tackle and brings a physical, drive-blocking style to the trenches.
Early Life and Background
Trevor Penning was born on May 15, 1999, in Clear Lake, Iowa. He grew up in the Mason City area of north-central Iowa and attended Newman Catholic High School in Mason City, where he was a multi-sport athlete. In addition to playing football, Penning competed in basketball and threw discus and shot put for the school’s track and field team, building the strength and explosiveness that later became trademarks of his game.
Penning came from an athletic household and developed his passion for football at a young age. He grew up cheering for the Minnesota Vikings, the closest NFL franchise to his Iowa hometown, and that rooting interest helped shape his early vision of one day playing professionally. Penning committed to play college football at Northern Iowa shortly after the program extended him an offer, choosing to stay in-state and develop at the FCS level rather than transfer elsewhere.
Path to American Football
After finishing his high school career, Penning joined the University of Northern Iowa program, where he redshirted his true freshman season in order to add size and refine his technique. By his redshirt sophomore year, he had emerged as a full-time starter, lining up for all 15 of the Panthers’ games and showing the kind of nastiness at the point of attack that NFL scouts look for in a developmental prospect.
Penning’s redshirt junior season was played in the spring of 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. He started five games at left tackle and one at right tackle during that abbreviated campaign, demonstrating his positional versatility. Entering the 2021 fall season, Penning was rated as one of the top offensive tackle prospects and one of the highest-ranked FCS players eligible for the 2022 NFL draft.
Throughout his rise, Penning benefited from a unique family connection. His younger brother, Jared Penning, has started next to him on the Panthers’ offensive line since Trevor’s redshirt sophomore season, giving the brothers a chance to develop together on the same unit. That sibling partnership helped Trevor Penning transition smoothly from a small-school standout into a first-round NFL prospect.
Trevor Penning Career
Early Career (2018-2021)
Trevor Penning’s college career at Northern Iowa began with a redshirt year that allowed him to physically mature before seeing the field. Once he earned a starting role, he became one of the most dominant offensive linemen in the Missouri Valley Football Conference, anchoring the Panthers’ offensive line and paving the way for a productive run game.
His breakthrough recognition came in 2021, when he earned First-team All-MVFC honors after a strong senior campaign. That selection confirmed his status as the premier offensive tackle in the conference and set the stage for his decision to declare early for the 2022 NFL draft, where his combination of size, athleticism, and finishing mentality made him one of the most intriguing offensive line prospects in the class.
New Orleans Saints Era (2022-2025)
The New Orleans Saints selected Penning in the first round with the 19th overall pick of the 2022 NFL Draft, signaling their belief that he could grow into a long-term starter at offensive tackle. The early portion of his professional career, however, was disrupted by injury, as he was placed on injured reserve with a torn ligament in his foot on September 1, 2022, and remained there until being activated on November 26 of that year.
Penning appeared in six games during his rookie season with the Saints, gaining valuable NFL experience despite the injury setbacks. His season ended on a difficult note when he suffered a Lisfranc fracture in Week 18 against the Carolina Panthers, an injury that required a lengthy recovery and limited his on-field development. After working his way back to health, Penning continued to develop within the Saints organization, but the team eventually decided to move in a different direction.
Los Angeles Chargers Era (2025-Present)
On November 4, 2025, Trevor Penning was traded to the Los Angeles Chargers in exchange for a 2027 sixth-round pick. The move gave him a fresh start on a contending roster and an opportunity to compete for a meaningful role along the offensive line in a new offensive system. The trade marked a turning point in his career, allowing him to reset his trajectory in a different building environment.
Since arriving in Los Angeles, Penning has been tasked with integrating into the Chargers’ offensive line room and re-establishing himself as a reliable presence at offensive tackle. His combination of size and physicality has given the Chargers additional depth and a developmental piece to work with as they continue to build around their offensive core.
Driving Style and Strengths
Trevor Penning plays with a physical, aggressive style that emphasizes drive-blocking and finishing through the whistle. His combination of size, length, and lower-body power allows him to anchor against powerful pass rushers, while his background in track and field events such as discus and shot put contributes to the explosiveness in his punch and initial contact.
Notable Events and Milestones
Penning’s career is defined by several memorable milestones, including his first-round selection by the New Orleans Saints in 2022 and his First-team All-MVFC recognition in 2021. His mid-season trade to the Los Angeles Chargers in 2025 represents another pivotal chapter, offering him the opportunity to write a new chapter in his professional journey.
Trevor Penning Career Wins
While Trevor Penning’s primary value as an offensive lineman is measured less by wins and more by protection and run-blocking consistency, his career includes meaningful accomplishments at both the collegiate and professional levels. His First-team All-MVFC selection in 2021 and his status as a first-round NFL draft pick in 2022 stand as the cornerstone achievements of his young career.
Northern Iowa Highlights
During his time with the Northern Iowa Panthers, Penning established himself as one of the premier offensive tackles in the Missouri Valley Football Conference. He started all 15 games as a redshirt sophomore, anchored the offensive line alongside his brother Jared, and capped his career with First-team All-MVFC honors in 2021, the highest individual recognition in the conference for his position.
Other Wins & Performances
Beyond his conference accolades, Penning was widely regarded as one of the top offensive tackle prospects in the 2022 NFL draft class and one of the highest-rated FCS players in the cycle. His selection 19th overall by the Saints validated his growth from a small-school recruit into a premier professional prospect.
Trevor Penning Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Trevor Penning was raised in an athletic family in north-central Iowa, where sports played a central role in daily life. His younger brother, Jared Penning, has been a notable presence in his career, having started on the Northern Iowa offensive line alongside Trevor since his redshirt sophomore season.
Personal Life
Trevor Penning maintains close ties to his family and his Iowa roots, with much of his personal life centered on his relationships with his brother and parents. He grew up as a Minnesota Vikings fan, reflecting the regional loyalties common among football fans in the upper Midwest, and that passion for the sport continues to drive his commitment to his professional career.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 NFL season began for Trevor Penning as a member of the New Orleans Saints, the team that drafted him in 2022. He continued to work toward establishing himself as a long-term starter along the offensive line, with the Saints investing significant patience in his development following the injury setbacks of his rookie year.
On November 4, 2025, his season took a major turn when he was traded to the Los Angeles Chargers in exchange for a 2027 sixth-round pick. The move provided him with a fresh opportunity in a new offensive environment, allowing him to compete for snaps on a roster with postseason aspirations and to showcase his development in front of a new coaching staff.
As the 2025 season progresses, Penning’s outlook centers on integrating into the Chargers’ offensive line, refining his technique, and demonstrating the consistency that made him a first-round pick. His combination of physical tools, prior starting experience, and renewed opportunity positions him to be a meaningful contributor for Los Angeles both down the stretch of 2025 and beyond.