Zombo was honored in the Adlai E. Stevenson High School's 2024 Athletic Hall of Fame class. He was inducted homecoming weekend in September 2024.[1]
College career
Zombo was a four-year letterman at Central Michigan,[2] appearing in all 55 games during his four seasons with 39 starts as a defensive end. He finished his career ranked second in school history with 25½ sacks. Zombo also earned 1st team All-MAC honors twice.
Professional career
Green Bay Packers
After going undrafted in the 2010 NFL draft, Zombo signed with the Green Bay Packers on April 30, 2010.[3] In his NFL debut, Zombo recorded a sack against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 1 of the 2010 season.[4] As a rookie, he finished with four sacks, 38 total tackles, and two forced fumbles in 13 games in the 2010 season.[5] In Super Bowl XLV, Zombo was a starter and recorded a sack as well as five tackles (two for a loss), as Green Bay defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers 31–25 to bring the Lombardi trophy back to Green Bay for the first time in 14 years.[6]
In August 2011, Zombo suffered a broken shoulder blade.[7] Zombo appeared in five games in the 2011 season. He recorded one sack, which came in Week 17 against the Detroit Lions.[8]
In 2012, Zombo missed the first eight games of the season due to a hamstring injury, and was placed on the physically unable to perform list.[9] Zombo was activated on November 3.[10] He appeared in seven games in a defensive and special teams role.[11]
Kansas City Chiefs
On April 3, 2013, Zombo signed with the Kansas City Chiefs.[12] In the 2013 season, he recorded two sacks, 27 total tackles, one interception, two passes defended, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery in 16 games and five starts.[13] In the 2014 season, he appeared in all 16 games in primarily a special teams role.[14] In the 2015 season, he appeared in all 16 games and made two starts. He finished with three sacks, 19 total tackles, and one forced fumble.[15]
Zombo signed a three-year, $3.6 million contract extension in March 2016.[16][17] In the 2016 season, Zombo finished with one sack, 41 total tackles, two passes defended, and one forced fumble in 16 games and 11 starts.[18] In the 2017 season, he had 1.5 sacks, 43 total tackles, and one fumble recovery in 16 games and nine starts.[19]
On September 1, 2018, Zombo was released by the Chiefs.[20] He was re-signed by the Chiefs on October 9, 2018.[21] He appeared in nine games in mainly a special teams role in the 2018 season.[22]