# Zach Line

Zach Line (born April 26, 1990) is an American professional football coach and former fullback who is the special teams quality control coach for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL).
During his seven-year professional career, Line played for the Minnesota Vikings and New Orleans Saints. He was signed by the Vikings as an undrafted free agent in 2013. He played college football at Southern Methodist University.

## Early life

Line attended Oxford High School in Oxford, Michigan. As a senior, he had a team-high 154 tackles with eight forced fumbles and four recoveries from the inside linebacker spot; on offense, he rushed for 1,723 yards with 17 touchdowns while also throwing for three more scores. For his season efforts, he was named a first Team All-State pick.
Regarded as a two-star recruit by Rivals.com, Line committed to SMU on January 29, 2008. He also received a scholarship offer from Robert Morris University. Line has two brothers, Prescott and Ben, that played at Michigan State University and Robert Morris University, respectively.

## College career

Line attended and played college football at SMU from 2009 to 2012. In the 2009 season, he finished with 49 carries for 189 rushing yards and seven rushing touchdowns. In the 2010 season, he finished with 244 carries for 1,494 rushing yards and ten rushing touchdowns. In the 2011 season, he finished with 208 carries for 1,224 rushing yards and 17 rushing touchdowns. In the 2012 season, his final collegiate season, he finished with 277 carries for 1,278 rushing yards and 13 rushing touchdowns.

### Collegiate statistics

| Year | School | Conf | Class | Pos | G | Rushing | Rushing | Rushing | Rushing | Receiving | Receiving | Receiving | Receiving |
| Year | School | Conf | Class | Pos | G | Att | Yds | Avg | TD | Rec | Yds | Avg | TD |
| 2009 | SMU | CUSA | FR | RB | 13 | 49 | 189 | 3.9 | 7 | 10 | 68 | 6.8 | 0 |
| 2010 | SMU | CUSA | SO | RB | 14 | 244 | 1,494 | 6.1 | 10 | 17 | 163 | 9.6 | 0 |
| 2011 | SMU | CUSA | JR | RB | 10 | 208 | 1,224 | 5.9 | 17 | 15 | 139 | 9.3 | 0 |
| 2012 | SMU | CUSA | SR | RB | 13 | 277 | 1,278 | 4.6 | 13 | 33 | 229 | 6.9 | 0 |
| Career | SMU | | | | 50 | 778 | 4,185 | 5.4 | 47 | 75 | 599 | 8.0 | 0 |

## Professional career

Pre-draft measurables :
| Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | 20-yard shuttle | Three-cone drill | Vertical jump | Broad jump | Bench press |
| 6 ft 0+1⁄2 in (1.84 m) | 232 lb (105 kg) | 30+3⁄4 in (0.78 m) | 8+3⁄4 in (0.22 m) | 4.65 s | 1.60 s | 2.68 s | 4.40 s | 7.12 s | 33 in (0.84 m) | 9 ft 9 in (2.97 m) | 26 reps |
| All values from NFL Combine and Pro Day ||||||||||||

### Minnesota Vikings

On April 27, 2013, Line signed with the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent following the 2013 NFL draft. In the Vikings' first preseason game against the Houston Texans, he scored on a 61-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Matt Cassel. In the season opener against the Detroit Lions, he had one reception for eight yards in his NFL debut. He appeared in two other games in the 2013 season. Line was released by the team on September 14, 2014, re-signed to the practice squad shortly after, then was promoted to the active roster on October 3. On September 20, 2015, Line scored the first touchdown of his career against the Detroit Lions. The next week, against the San Diego Chargers, Line scored another touchdown, the second of his career. Line also caught a pass from quarterback Teddy Bridgewater and took it 49 yards to set up a score in Minnesota's 28–19 victory over the Detroit Lions in Week 7. Overall, in the 2015 season, he finished with six carries for ten rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns to go along with six receptions for 95 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown. In the 2016 season, he finished with seven carries for 15 rushing yards in 15 games.

### New Orleans Saints

On August 24, 2017, Line signed with the New Orleans Saints. He was released on September 2, 2017. He was re-signed on October 3, 2017. In 12 games, he finished with seven carries for 28 rushing yards to go along with two receptions for eight yards and a receiving touchdown. The Saints made the playoffs and faced off against the Carolina Panthers in the Wild Card Round. In the 31–26 victory, he had a one-yard rushing touchdown. Line and the Saints' season ended in the Divisional Round in a 29–24 loss to the Minnesota Vikings.
On April 5, 2018, Line re-signed with the Saints on a two-year contract. In Week 3 against the Atlanta Falcons, Line scored his first touchdown on the season. He finished the 2018 season with nine carries for 41 rushing yards to go along with five receptions for 14 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns.
In the 2019 season, Line appeared in 12 games and recorded seven carries for 20 rushing yards to go along with six receptions for 36 receiving yards.
On January 15, 2020, Line announced his retirement from the NFL via Instagram after seven seasons at the age of 29.
Line was both a contributor to offensive and special teams units throughout his career. On offense, Line had 36 rushing attempts for 114 yards and two touchdowns and caught 20 receptions for 161 yards and four touchdowns. On special teams, Line returned five kickoffs for 59 yards and recorded seven special teams tackles over the span of his career.

## Coaching career
### Oxford

In 2021, Line began working at his alma mater, Oxford High School, as head coach.

### Denver Broncos

On March 6, 2025, Line was hired as the special teams quality control coach for the Denver Broncos, reuniting with former Saints head coach Sean Payton.

## Head coaching record

| Year | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing |
| Oxford Wildcats (Oakland Activities Association) (2021–2024) ||||||
| 2021 | Oxford | 6–5 | 3–2 | 3rd (Red) |
| 2022 | Oxford | 1–8 | 0–5 | 6th (Red) |
| 2023 | Oxford | 4–6 | 1–4 | 5th (Red) |
| 2024 | Oxford | 7–4 | 3–1 | 1st (Red) |
| Oxford: | Oxford: | 14–17 | 6–8 | |
| Total: | Total: | 14–17 | | |
| National championship  Conference title  Conference division title or championship game berth ||||||