Zach Mettenberg was a prototypical pocket passer with a strong arm who played at Butler Community College (2010) and LSU (2011-13).
Over time with Tigers, threw for 35 TDs and 5783 yards on 407 completions.
Selected by the Tennessee Titans in the 6th round of the 2014 NFL Draft.
Mettenberger played at an interesting transitional time for the Titans, at the tail end of the short Jake Locker epoch and the beginning of the Marcus Mariota era in Tennesssee.
During his rookie year, Zach took over for Locker at QB throwing for 8 touchdowns, 7 interceptions, and 1,412 passing yards.
Most memorably, Mettenberger had a short running feud with Houston Texans DE JJ Watt.
Mettenberger spent his second season backing up new starter Marcus Mariota.
Again stepping into the starting lineup in injury relief for Mariota, Zach threw for 4 TDs to 7 INT.
Spent 2016 on the rosters of the Chargers and Steelers but didn’t see any action.
After a year off from football, played in the Spring League in 2018 during their Austin showcase.
Later during the league’s QB draft in 2019, was the final selection off the board by the Express.
Joined a crowded QB room, but made the roster behind Christian Hackenberg and Brandon Silvers.
Started 4th game of the season against the San Diego Fleet, completing 18 of 25 passes for 174 yards, leading the team to its first win of the year.
The next week, was sacked multiple times and injured during the contest against the Salt Lake City Stallions.
Wasn’t selected in the 2020 XFL draft and returned to the Spring League.
Went into coaching and in 2022, joined the staff of Alabama as an analyst.
NOTES:
I had been waiting to pounce on Zach for sometime since his days in The Spring League. During that game that I saw him play in, a cold front came in dropping the temperatures at the outdoor event by 30-40 degrees. It was bitterly cold. The crowd treated the game more like a scrimmage. Hardcore fans like myself enjoyed the experience, but the majority of the crowd was dead silent and Mettenberger made sure to make a show of it screaming and yelling and having an insanely good time. I was too intimidated to ask him for his autograph. Also of note, sitting nearby and incognito was former Dallas Cowboys’ QB Babe Laufenberg that I missed out on. -I’m still kicking myself about that one.
Ran for 317 yards on 100 carries, scoring 3 TDs, to go along with 18 catches for 138 yards and another TD.
ACCOLADES:
First 100 yard rusher in AAF history.
NOTES:
I tried to get Zac’s autograph on his two remaining cards (Topps AAF 2019, Topps AAF NOW 2019) but at this point they’re basically flushed.
On the now defunct AAF website, soon before it shut down, the league touted Zac Stacy as one of their up and coming stars and had a feature on him and his brother, who has down syndrome.
In 2022, Stacy was caught on tape gruesomely attacking his ex-girlfriend in the presence of his child. He maintains that his ex manipulated and entrapped him into behaving that way.
In general, everything about Zac’s rise and fall makes me extremely sad.
Returned to the Cardinals but was injured and released.
Signed by the Baltimore Ravens late in the year and was on the team’s practice squad through mid-06.
Had an outstanding year in Europa playing for the Cologne Centurions in 2007, leading most TEs in all receiving categories.
The Bengals signed Blizzard to the team that year, but he suffered a career ending back injury.
Bobby joined his former coach at Kentucky- Hal Mumme at a variety of stops at the Division III level.
In 2019, Bobby followed Mumme to the AAF serving as TEs coach of the Memphis Express.
After the league collapsed, he joined Mumme on the staff of the XFL Renegades as RB coach, and later as co-offensive coordinator in 2020.
ACCOLADES:
All NFLE 2006
All Europa 2007
NOTES:
A nice coup for me, Bobby is another solid player/ prospect of the NFLE/Europa who has become an intriguing up and coming coaching prospect. An apostle of the Hal Mumme tree, Blizzard came to my attention after he joined the AAF in 2019. I’ve been a fan ever since.
NFLE/EUROPA
REC
YDS
AVG
TD
LG
72
829
11.5
8
40
Celebrating the game, the players, the cards, and the autographs for over 25 years.
