GREEN BAY, Wis. – The Green Bay Packers have added a new weapon to their defensive line, signing former Northern Illinois star Devonte O’Malley as they head into the final week of training camp. At 6-foot-2½ (195 cm) and 284 pounds (128 kg), O’Malley is a physical specimen whose combination of size, speed, and tenacity is already turning heads. His 4.95-second 40-yard dash and a Relative Athletic Score of 9.20 signal that this undrafted rookie is no ordinary defensive tackle—he’s a potential game-changer.
O’Malley, a three-year starter at Northern Illinois, left an indelible mark on the program, finishing sixth in school history with 22.5 sacks. In 2024, he earned honorable mention All-American honors from Phil Steele, racking up a career-high eight sacks (fourth in the MAC) and 11.5 tackles for losses. His standout performance came in a stunning upset over Notre Dame, where he recorded three tackles for losses, forced a fumble, broke up a pass, and generated five pressures. This dominant display earned him the Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week award from the Football Writers Association of America.
“Going into that game, it was a lot of doubts,” O’Malley told Slim Sports. “People were saying we ain’t going to win. I looked at the scouting report—it was like I hadn’t shown up in big-time games. They spelled my name wrong, like they didn’t care. Stuff like that—I’m undersized. The cherry on top, we watched the interview from their head coach after they played Texas A&M, and he said, ‘I don’t even know who we play next week.’ That left a chip on my shoulder.”
O’Malley’s response? He treated the Fighting Irish like any other opponent. “Honestly, it’s just another game,” he said before the matchup. “At the end of the day, we put our shoes on just the way that they do.” That fearless mentality, combined with his explosive athleticism, makes him a nightmare for offensive linemen.
A native of Midlothian, Illinois, O’Malley’s journey to the NFL is anything but conventional. At Bremen High School, he starred as a receiver and linebacker, hauling in 21 passes for 460 yards and four touchdowns as a junior. “I didn’t always play defensive line,” he explained on Slim Sports. “In high school, I played receiver, so putting the weight on, I still had my twitch. Being this big and twitchy and fast is an advantage I have against offensive linemen.”
After going undrafted and briefly signing with the Tennessee Titans, O’Malley was released two weeks ago before finding a home with the Packers. His arrival adds depth and energy to a defensive line that includes established starters Kenny Clark and Devonte Wyatt, as well as third-year players Colby Wooden and Karl Brooks, rookies Nazir Stackhouse and Warren Brinson, and fellow former Illinois standout Keith Randolph. O’Malley also reunites with two Northern Illinois teammates: undrafted guard J.J. Lippe and defensive tackle James Ester, a 2024 undrafted free agent.
For a team looking to manage the workload of its starters during the final week of training camp, O’Malley’s fresh legs and relentless motor are a welcome addition. His athletic profile suggests he could carve out a role beyond camp, especially in a cold-weather environment like Green Bay. “I’ve been here my whole life, so playing football in the cold ain’t nothing to me,” O’Malley said before his Senior Day at Northern Illinois. “I’m going to be out there, short sleeves; no tights; no nothing.”
As the Packers prepare for the regular season, O’Malley’s blend of speed, power, and chip-on-the-shoulder mentality could spell trouble for opposing offenses. If his performance against Notre Dame is any indication, this 195cm, 128kg beast is ready to make the NFL his personal proving ground. Defenses may not be doomed just yet—but they’d better take notice.