Packers offensive tackle changing his name from Zach Tom to Zach Bako-Bewele
The Green Bay Packers' starting right tackle is changing his name from Zach Tom to Zach Bako-Bewele as a way of paying tribute to his Nigerian ancestry. Bako-Bewele told reporters Sunday that Bako is the last name of his father’s mother and Bewele is the last name of his father’s father. Bako-Bewele said he had been thinking about doing this for a few years, “probably back since college at least.”
The Green Bay Packers' starting right tackle, Zach Tom, is in the process of changing his name to Zach Bako-Bewele. This decision is a tribute to his Nigerian heritage, as Bako represents his father's mother's last name and Bewele represents his father's father's last name. The 2022 fourth-round draft pick from Wake Forest began contemplating this change a few years ago, possibly even during his college years.
He started researching it more extensively during the offseason. Bako-Bewele aims to pass down a name that reflects both his origins and his personal identity to his future children. He acknowledges that there are still several steps to complete, such as obtaining new identification documents, but is nearing finalization. Currently, Bako-Bewele has been the team's starting right tackle since 2023, and he is working towards resuming full participation in team drills within a week, following his recovery from a partially torn patellar tendon.
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