The best way to describe former Green Bay Packers defensive lineman Mike Pennel is through the words of Lil Wayne in Green and Yellow: "Once a Packer, always a Packer."
While it's been a little under a decade since Pennel last suited up for the green and gold, the 10-year veteran still views his time with the organization that he started out with fondly.
Now a member of the Kansas City Chiefs, Pennel spoke to members of the media after practice last week. He credited his time learning under franchise legends like Clay Matthews and Julius Peppers as being key to being a leader for the Chiefs' younger players.
"I had great vets in Green Bay," Pennel said. "Clay Matthews, Julius Peppers, B.J. Raji, and Nick Perry were a big help to my career. Those guys were at the top of their game."
"They really took me under their wing. They didn't take me as an undrafted free agent. They let me work with them outside the facility, telling me how to win and how not to do things. It was just easy and I really appreciated those guys."
Defensive lineman Mike Pennel credits former Packers teammates for helping him early in his career
In his three-year tenure in Green Bay, Pennel played in 37 games, notching 40 total tackles, one sack, and one forced fumble. During that span from 2014 to 2016, the Packers made the playoffs each year, with the result being one appearance in the divisional round and two in the NFC Championship.
He was a productive part of the Packers' early-to-middle 2010s D-line rotation, whose reputation as an important locker room presence has grown over time.
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Pennel has also been an instrumental cog in Kansas City's recent championship runs. He helped them secure Lombardi trophies in 2019 (Super Bowl LIV) and 2023 (Super Bowl LVIII).
In addition to playing for the Packers and Chiefs, Pennel has also spent time with the New England Patriots, New York Jets, Atlanta Falcons, and Chicago Bears.
Even though he's wearing a different uniform, it's clear that Pennel still has love for the team that signed him as an undrafted free agent back in 2014. Given the nature of the NFL, Pennel may eventually find a path back to Lambeau Field.
The only question is whether it will be to play under Matt LaFleur or to retire as a Packer.