Sean Rhyan: Packers’ Center Ready for 2026 Leap

Packers’ 2025 Turmoil Sets Stage for a Linebacker’s Rise

The 2025 season was a study in frustration for Green Bay, who entered the year with a roster that looked ready for a deep playoff run. Despite adding star defender Micah Parsons just before training camp, the Packers finished 9‑8‑1 and slipped to the NFC’s No. 7 seed. Their playoff defeat came with a bitter aftertaste: a 21‑3 halftime advantage dissolved into a 31‑27 loss to the Bears, with 25 points surrendered in the fourth quarter. Veteran tailback Josh Jacobs later lamented that “no way you should lose games in this league when you’re up that much,” while safety Javon Bullard called the late collapses “damn‑near embarrassing.”

Compounding the misery was the Packers’ inability to finish games they had firmly in hand. Green Bay squandered double‑digit leads in the final minutes against Chicago twice and also let a lead over Cleveland slip away, losing all three contests with odds that had been pegged at roughly one in 250,000. The skid left the franchise riding the league’s fourth‑longest losing streak heading into the offseason.

Sean Rhyan’s Early 2025 Struggles Before the Opportunity Arises

At the start of the 2025 campaign, Rhyan opened as a right guard, logging an average of 62.3 snaps per game for the first four contests. A sudden benching in Week 6 saw him play just 11 snaps in relief of Jordan Morgan, then disappear from the offensive snap count entirely in Week 7. After the demotion, Rhyan admitted the situation “doesn’t look good” for his immediate future with the club.

The turning point arrived when starting center Elgton Jenkins suffered a season‑ending broken fibula on Nov. 10 against Philadelphia. Rhyan was thrust into the center role, learned the playbook on the fly, and gradually improved as the year progressed. His final PFF grade of 58.5 placed him 31st among 40 qualified centers, but the Packers were impressed enough to lock him into a three‑year, $33 million deal with an $11 million signing bonus.

From Draft Day to Daily Protagonist: Rhyan’s Career Journey

Selected in the third round of the 2022 draft, Rhyan’s rookie year was marred by a six‑game suspension for violating the league’s performance‑enhancing substances policy. He managed only one offensive snap that season, and that came on special teams. The following year, after beginning on the bench, Rhyan earned a foothold by platooning with former Packers guard Jon Runyan and recording 183 snaps from Week 9 onward without allowing a sack or drawing a penalty.

During the 2024 season, Rhyan started all 17 games at right guard, allowing four sacks, six penalties, and 24 pressures. His pass‑blocking grade of 69.4 ranked 38th among 136 guards, while his run‑blocking mark of 58.4 placed him 87th. Mid‑season injuries to fellow guard Jordan Morgan opened the door for him to play all but eight snaps in the final ten games of that year.

Rhyan’s physical profile stands out for an interior lineman: 6‑5, 325 pounds, a 34½‑inch vertical jump (the best among guards at the 2022 combine), and a Wonderlic score of 29—eight points above the NFL average. He also set state records in shot put and discus while attending San Juan Hills High School and qualified for the Olympic USA rugby feeder team, showcasing a rare blend of bulk and brains.

Coaching Confidence Fuels a New Position Shift

Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst praised Rhyan’s rapid ascent, noting that “he was playing at a very high level” just three or four games after switching to center. Offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich echoed the sentiment, describing how Rhyan “took command of the offense” and “kept getting better and better” after Jenkins’ injury. Offensive line coach Luke Butkus added that the offseason work on center fundamentals “is going to be tremendous” for Rhyan’s development.

During free agency, Rhyan had options to play guard or center, but he chose to remain with Green Bay and transition permanently to the center position. “I enjoyed it,” he reflected, referring to his center stint in late 2025, “and I think it could be four years into the league and all of a sudden you find a new position.”

What the 2026 Season Holds for the Offensive Line

Rhyan’s upgrade to center, combined with the Packers’ recent contractual investment, positions him as a potential anchor for a line that missed crucial pushes in 2025. With a solid pass‑blocking grade and improving run metrics, his ability to protect quarterback and open lanes could be pivotal for a roster looking to reverse its four‑game losing streak. As Green Bay prepares for training camp on July 29, the hope is that the lessons learned from a disappointing year translate into a more consistent, resilient front that helps the Packers break back into postseason contention.

Readers can track Rhyan’s progress as part of the Packers’ “30 Most Important Players” series, where he currently sits at No. 17. Stay tuned for deeper dives into each player’s impact as the 2026 campaign approaches.