NFL Player Embraces Heritage With Meaningful Name Change

WHO:

ESPN - Zach Tom, now known as Zach Bako-Bewele, is a 27-year-old right tackle for the Green Bay Packers.

Daily Mail NFL - Zach Bako-Bewele is a fifth-year professional player from Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

WHAT:

ESPN - Zach Tom officially changed his last name to Zach Bako-Bewele.

Heavy NFL - The name change is currently in process, and he is still legally recognized as Zach Tom for the time being.

ESPN - Bako-Bewele had his new last name displayed on the back of his No. 50 jersey during practice.

WHERE:

ESPN - The name change announcement was made in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

WHY:

ESPN - Bako-Bewele changed his name to honor his Nigerian ancestry, combining his paternal grandmother's last name (Bako) and his paternal grandfather's last name (Bewele).

ESPN - He expressed a desire to have a name that represents his heritage, especially for future generations.

HOW:

ESPN - Bako-Bewele began the official name change process in March and had been contemplating it for several years.

ESPN - He mentioned needing to obtain a new driver's license and social security card as part of the name change process.

ESPN - Bako-Bewele has been limited to individual drills and walk-through snaps during training camp due to recovery from knee surgery for a partially torn patellar tendon.

Zach Tom, now officially known as Zach Bako-Bewele, is a 27-year-old right tackle for the Green Bay Packers, who recently announced his name change to honor his Nigerian ancestry. The announcement was made in Green Bay, Wisconsin, where Bako-Bewele displayed his new last name on the back of his No. 50 jersey during practice, although he is still legally recognized as Zach Tom for the time being. He began the official name change process in March and has been limited to individual drills and walk-through snaps during training camp as he recovers from knee surgery.