Zach Wood Bio
Zach Wood, born on January 10, 1993, is an American professional football long snapper for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL). Standing 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighing approximately 256 pounds, he has carved out a steady career in one of football’s most specialized roles. Over the course of his professional journey, Wood has also spent time with the Dallas Cowboys, building a reputation for consistency and reliability in snapping operations.
A product of Southern Methodist University (SMU), Wood transitioned from defensive line duties in college to a full-time long snapping role in the NFL. He has remained a fixture in New Orleans since stepping in midseason in 2017, contributing to both punting and placekick units with steady accuracy.
Early Life and Background
Zach Wood was born on January 10, 1993, in Dallas, Texas. He grew up in the Dallas metropolitan area and attended Rowlett High School in Rowlett, Texas. At Rowlett, he played as a defensive tackle, showing early promise as a tough, physical presence along the line.
As a junior at Rowlett, Wood recorded 99 tackles, 32 tackles for loss, and 8 sacks, demonstrating his ability to disrupt opposing offenses. In his senior season, he posted 115 tackles and 10 sacks, earning honorable-mention Class 4A All-State recognition as a defensive lineman. These high school performances helped attract college attention and set the stage for his future in the sport.
Path to American Football
Following his standout high school career, Zach Wood accepted a football scholarship to Southern Methodist University, where he joined the SMU Mustangs. He was redshirted in 2011 before working his way into the defensive rotation, giving him time to develop his body and skills at the collegiate level.
During his time at SMU, Wood appeared in 43 games with 33 starts as a 3–4 defensive end, finishing his college career with 137 tackles, 22 tackles for loss, 9 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, and 3 blocked kicks. He also spent time practicing as a long snapper during his college years, a switch that would ultimately define his professional path and lead to his NFL opportunity.
Zach Wood Career
Early Career (2016–2017)
After going unselected in the 2016 NFL Draft, Zach Wood was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Dallas Cowboys following a rookie minicamp tryout on May 24, 2016. In his first training camp with Dallas, he played on the defensive line and even took snaps with the first defense in practices, but he was waived on September 1, 2016.
Wood returned to the Cowboys on a reserve/future contract on January 16, 2017. In his second training camp, he focused on long snapping and helped take some of the practice workload from veteran L. P. Ladouceur. He was released by Dallas on September 2, 2017, ending his initial NFL stint with the Cowboys.
New Orleans Saints Era (2017–Present)
Zach Wood joined the New Orleans Saints on September 9, 2017, after a last-minute tryout that included four other players. The opportunity arose when Jon Dorenbos was diagnosed with an aortic aneurysm and placed on the non-football illness list, opening the long snapper role. Wood successfully took over as the team’s long snapper for all punts and placekicks during the 2017 season, beginning a long tenure in New Orleans.
On February 20, 2018, Wood was re-signed to a one-year contract, and he earned another one-year deal on February 11, 2019. On March 23, 2020, he signed a four-year contract extension with the Saints, solidifying his role within the organization. He was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list on August 6, 2020, and activated three days later, and he appeared in all 17 games during the 2023 season.
On July 28, 2023, Zach Wood signed another four-year contract extension with the Saints, which runs through 2027. Since taking over in 2017, he has remained the Saints’ primary long snapper, anchoring one of the most consistent special-teams units in the league.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the most memorable moments of Zach Wood’s career came in September 2017, when he stepped in on short notice following Jon Dorenbos’s sudden medical retirement. He has since signed multiple contract extensions with the Saints, including a four-year deal in 2020 and another four-year extension in 2023, reflecting the organization’s continued confidence in his performance.
Zach Wood Career Wins
As a long snapper, Zach Wood’s contributions are measured less in traditional win totals and more in reliability and consistency within the Saints’ special-teams units. He has served as New Orleans’ primary long snapper since 2017, helping the team’s punt and field goal operations remain steady across multiple seasons.
Zach Wood Family
Family Background and Football Lineage
Zach Wood was born and raised in the Dallas, Texas area, where he attended Rowlett High School and developed into a Division I defensive lineman. His football journey has been shaped by the strong football culture of North Texas, a region known for producing competitive athletes at every level of the sport.
2025 Season Outlook
Entering the 2025 season, Zach Wood remains firmly in place as the long snapper for the New Orleans Saints under the four-year extension he signed in July 2023. With the contract running through 2027, he is expected to continue handling snapping duties for all punts and placekicks, providing veteran stability to the Saints’ special-teams operation.
Having appeared in all 17 games during the 2023 season and maintained the role since 2017, Wood brings proven durability and experience to the 2025 squad. His continued presence allows the Saints to build around consistent special-teams fundamentals, and his role will be a quiet but important piece of New Orleans’ broader team strategy.