Paul Bretl | 4/14/2025
GREEN BAY, Wis. — The Packers announced on Monday that they have re-signed tight end John FitzPatrick.
FitzPatrick was originally a restricted free agent this offseason with three accrued NFL seasons. However, when the Packers non-tendered him, he became an unrestricted free agent and was free to sign with any team, but instead made his way back to the Packers.
After Luke Musgrave was placed on injured reserve prior to Week 5, the Packers signed FitzPatrick to their 53-man roster off the Atlanta Falcons’ practice squad.
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FitzPatrick was a sixth-round pick by the Falcons in the 2022 NFL draft out of Georgia and played 18 offensive snaps during his second NFL season in 2023, along with 83 special teams snaps that year as well.
“A guy that can do it all,” said FitzPatrick’s college teammate Javon Bullard. “A guy that is not afraid to stick his face in the run game. A guy that is reliable in the passing game. Just a guy that is going to do his job to the best of his ability. A guy that you can count on for minimal mistakes. A guy that doesn’t make too many mistakes.”
With the Packers, FitzPatrick was frequently the third tight end on the depth chart behind Tucker Kraft and Ben Sims, while Musgrave was sidelined. In total, he played 73 offensive snaps for the Packers from Week 8 through the NFC Wildcard round, and at 6-7 – 250 pounds, he was utilized mostly as a blocker. FitzPatrick was also on the field for 60 special teams snaps, most of which came on the kick return unit.
“He’s a talented player, he’s smart, he’s quiet, but he’s done a nice job, and these guys have to be Swiss army knives a lot,” said tight ends coach John Dunn late in the season. “You’ve got to learn to play in our system. There’s a Y and there’s an F when there are two tight ends on the field, and the motions, just all the things sometimes even before the ball is snapped, just learning those things and the timing and all that stuff, and he’s been a pro and he’s worked hard at it.
“He’s picked up the offense nicely, fits in the room great, and he’s a pro and he’s working to get better every day. Another young guy who’s trying to improve on technique and just continue to get better.”
The addition of FitzPatrick strengthens the depth of the tight end room for the Packers. He rejoins Kraft, Musgrave, and Sims, along with Messiah Swinson and Johnny Lumpkin, both of whom spent time on the practice squad last season.
The tight end position group is going to run through Kraft and Musgrave, but an area of opportunity for the others on the roster, including FitzPatrick, is to further elevate their play in the running game as blockers. While PFF’s grading system isn’t the be-all-end-all, Ben Sims ranked 59th out of 80 tight ends in run-blocking grade, while FitzPatrick didn’t get enough opportunities to qualify.
If accomplished, whether that more reliable blocking presence comes from Musgrave, FitzPatrick, or Sims, having that element could provide Kraft with more opportunities to be featured in the passing game. Re-signing FitzPatrick can hopefully help elevate the competition on the roster for that third spot on the tight end depth chart.
“I think Georgia a big thing is if you’re willing to block, you’re going to find your way onto the field, and that’s what I learned early from some older guys in the room,” said FitzPatrick after arriving in Green Bay last season. “From there, just really honed in on that and wanted to get on the field, obviously, so I honed in on that and it created some opportunities for me.
“I’m never going to say I’m great at blocking or it’s my strong suit. I’m working on it every single day. There’s always something you can be better at within a block, specifically, or just any type of block.”