Zak Zinter credits Michigan in preparing players for the NFL

Former Michigan Wolverines offensive lineman Zak Zinter is getting ready to start his NFL career with the Cleveland Browns. It’s a career that he credits Michigan for helping to make possible.

Zinter recently met with media members following walkthroughs during Rookie Minicamp. There, he explained that the way head coach Jim Harbaugh ran the program helped make the transition to the pro level much easier on him and other players.

“I think it is [helpful],” Zak Zinter said. “I think Michigan prepared us well for even the whole process and the transition to the NFL. The way Coach Harbaugh ran it, he ran it like he was coaching a pro team. So, it’s been a really smooth transition so far.”

Jim Harbaugh led the Michigan program the entire time Zak Zinter was there. Prior to getting to Michigan, Harbaugh had experience coaching at both the college and the NFL level, taking the San Francisco 49ers to a Super Bowl appearance while he was in the NFL. Following the 2023 season, which saw Michigan win a national championship, Harbaugh returned to the NFL to coach the Los Angeles Chargers.

Unfortunately for Zinter, his 2023 season was cut short due to a broken tibia and fibula against Ohio State, forcing him to miss the postseason and enter the NFL while recovering from an injury.

Still, Zak Zinter impressed plenty of pro scouts. That led to the Cleveland Browns selecting him in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft. He’ll now look to use that experience and help Michigan provided with him to make that transition as graceful as possible.

One additional challenge that Zak Zinter is currently facing is recovering from that injury as he transitions to the NFL. However, ahead of the NFL Combine, Zinter explained that his recovery was already going well because there was no ligament damage.

“I’ve been saying ‘best worse-case scenario,” Zinter said. “Just broke the tib and fib, no ligaments in the ankle or the knee, so recovery is going quicker and better than I thought. I’m moving around well and pretty much cleared for everything. Just building the strength in the leg back up.”

While the injury may have caused Zak Zinter to slide in the NFL Draft, the Cleveland Browns were clearly happy with what they saw from him. Now, the hope is that he can help bring that championship pedigree down from Michigan to Northern Ohio.