December 23, 2022 • 11 mins
In this episode of the Packers POV podcast, defensive lineman Dean Lowry talks about his personal connection to the Packers-Bears rivalry, his recent engagement and his bike buddy, Lincoln.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:05):
Hello, and welcome to Packers p o V, a podcast
that aims to shine a light onto human behind the helmet.
I'm your host, Taylor Rodgers, and we are here inside
historic lambeau Field. Today's guest earned All Big Ten honors
at Northwestern University. He's recorded sixteen sacks for Green Bay
while matching that number in passes defense. A fourth round
(00:27):
pick in the NFL Draft at six six, hailing from
Bear Country in Rockford, Illinois, Introducing Packers d Lyneman Dean Lowry.
How's it going, Dean going good? That's a great intro
right there. It's it's all occurate. You had to make
as I did. Yeah, I was a Bears fan growing
up from Rockford, Illinois. Um, but all Packard fans now
(00:49):
in my family, So it's all good. And you've developed
some nicknames between Illinois and Wisconsin. I've heard the Rhino,
the accountant, d you know, Yeah, it's different ones. Dino
goes back to Rockford. Most of my friends and childhood
coaches called me Dino. Uh. The accountant that was Mike Daniels,
(01:10):
who I played here for a few years my first
couple of years, would call me that in the field
and then the rhinos from coach the floor. Um, last
year I had a number of really good bull rushes
and the floora mentioned me as called me the rhino
after that, so that kind of stuck. Recently, and speaking
of the Packers, your teammate Aaron Rodgers said this about
you a few days ago. Dean Lowry is one of
(01:32):
my favorites. I just love getting past that gruff demeanor
to see if I can get a hug every once
in a while. Yeah, I don't think I'm that gruff.
But if Aaron says I am, I guess I am.
But uh, and I think he called me ornery to
last year, so um, I'm not sure. I think it's
a good thing in a way, because you know, in
the NFL you've got to be a little stubborn, little
ornery to to persevere and to be around for a
(01:54):
long time. But um, if if twelve says I am,
then you'll take it. You and twelve both have bear
beating in common. Aaron's record against Chicago twenty five and five,
your record thirteen and one. What stands out from that
rivalry to you just the winning right there? As as
you just said, um to be a part of that rivalry,
and um, you know, growing up watching so many great
(02:16):
players and great games through the years as an Illinois kid.
Now to be a part of it and to be
a part of teams that are thirteen and one verse
the Bears, it's a special thing. You've done a lot
of winning in the state of Illinois. In high school.
You won twenty eight straight games, including two state championships
for Rockford Zone Boiling High School. What did that run
(02:36):
of success teach you? I would just say, how to
you know, handle success with class and um, for in
that time, that was our first ever state championship in
school history, so that was a big deal. And UM,
there's there's nothing more genuine than high school football. And
for those two years to see the whole city and
school rally behind us, and I have great memories and
still lifelong friends from those two years and those teams.
(02:57):
It's another great experience. You play both sides of the
ball in high school. Yeah, I played tight end too,
so I had some good and some good touchdowns to
my junior and senior year and I was definitely a
good red MP threat for our offense. And UM, if
close to four wants to draw some plays up for me. Um,
always available, you can even switch sides of the line.
I understand you started football as a center. Yeah, oh
(03:18):
that was That's some good research right there. That goes
way back to when I started playing football in third
and fourth grade. But my first position was a center,
so that goes way back. So you end up becoming
a very dominant defensive lineman At Boiling your own high
school coach Dan Apino described you as a lead by
example guy. Whose lead did you follow growing up? I
(03:40):
think the start with the family. My parents both worked
very hard and um they and still had some great
values in us strong work ethic and um just just um,
you know, belief in family and everything. And I have
three sisters and we're all, you know, a very close
family and just doing things the right way and you know,
putting the work first. You mentioned your sisters. What's that
relation ship been like, Yeah, I have one older sister,
(04:02):
two younger sisters, and we all played sports growing up,
so our weekends were going to different tournaments and um
just that was. That's been a big part of our
family and our bonding is in sports and they're still
very involved and and that's one thing that I've really enjoyed,
you know, being in Green Bay's and I'm very close
to home. I'm about three hours away, so UM, at
most home games my parents come to or one or
(04:24):
all sisters and UM to have that, it's been a
really unique experience being so close to home relative to
my NFL career. In this most recent Bears victory down
and Soldier Field, you had family in the stands. I did. Yeah,
my my whole family, media family. And what was that
like doing what you did? You blocked a field goal
and came up with a huge play in that game
(04:45):
knowing that family is right there inside the bullet Soldier Field. Yeah,
it was awesome. The one downside of that game is
they put the Packers family and friend tickets way up
in the nosebleeds, so they're way up there and it
was a m cold day for them. So credit to
them for for really kind of you know getting through
that and with the weather and always you know, supporting
me there. But that felt great. And then that was
(05:05):
my first ever NFL block field goal and to come
at a big moment that really kind of helps sway
the game. Um, was just a very momentous moment in
that game, So you get an opportunity after that big game,
that big win, that big block to go take a
little time for yourself. Did you get into anything over
the bye week? So I'm actually engaged. I got engaged
his past summer and I went back to my fiancee's
(05:28):
hometown area and we spent some time around Indianapolis and um,
just you know, just relaxed and just got got my
mind right for this week and I'm getting ready for this,
uh this this push here. Congratulations on being engaged. Yeah, no,
it's definitely. It's been been a great thing so far,
and I'm very excited to see where you're at. And um,
it's just been just all positive so far. What's the
(05:50):
toughest thing about wedding planning so far? You know, I
would give her more credit about that. Um, you know,
she takes a charge on that. I'm involved, but she
really makes more of the decisions. Um, just the details.
Like anything, there's so many things that go into it. Um,
whether it's the seating or whether it's just transportation and
whether it's um, hotels, all those things you know make
a make a good wedding. And thankfully she's really on
(06:12):
top of that. Because I wouldn't be. And how did
you go about getting permission to actually become engaged? I
got engaged his past summer when I visited her hometown
for the first time. I talked with her dad, and UM,
I got his permission and uh, now I'll leave the
details there, but it was It's good, A little bit
nerve wrecking, just kind of doing that is and we
get get one shot at this. But um, overall, I've
(06:34):
just been a great experience. You've played in a lot
of big games, to playoff games? Was that the most
nervous you've ever been? That? Or when I actually proposed
in the summer, Um, it's different because it's it's all
eyes on you. It's only you. Um. You know, in
the game you have your teammates and other ten guys
in the fields to rely on, the lean on. But
in that moment, you've got to perform and you gotta
(06:56):
just it's all on you. But um, just now just
more in joinment, just more of this kind of realization
that this is once in a lifetime and just trying
to soak it all in and enjoy the moment. This
is likely to be a pretty athletic guest list for
this wedding. Who's gonna be the best dancer on site?
And feel free to say yourself. I don't know if
(07:18):
that remains to be saying I'm not a great dancer,
but I'm sure one of my friends will step up and,
you know, try and get get the crowd going, get
the people going. I've seen you after some of these
big plays though. You've got some moves, You've got some
celebratory moves. Um, usually a big fist bump. Guy, that's
my go to. My friend, my teammates give me a
kind of crap about that of not having a celebration
(07:39):
ready after a big play. Um, it's something I can
really work on for in the future. But I'm pretty
much just make the play, give a little fist bumping,
you know, not the next one. The NFL has been
in your purview for a long long time now. Your
sister sent you a photo recently. It's you and her
as kids standing in front of the Don hud And
(08:00):
Center at a Packers practice. Yeah, that was a bit
surreal seeing that photo. I knew we had gone there
on the training camp. I think when I was in
first or second grade, I'm not sure, but we went
to um like a summer camp or went I think
it was like a Yogi bearrat camp up and around
maybe Door County or somewhere north of here. And on
the way back, my dad's idea was stop off at
(08:21):
Packers training camp and we did the whole thing where
we watched the that the players take the bikes from
the locker room and go to the Don Hudson Center
and we did the interactive area in the Don Hudson
Center and UM, just that that stood out to me
that day. And UM, Now, to be you know, going
on seven years here at the Packers is is really
just a you know, a surreal experience. UM. But yeah,
(08:44):
just even back then, just just taking all in of
the tradition and just the unique relationship between the Packers
and the community and everything there, um was was really
just kind of eye opening. Back then, it clearly left
a mark with you. That bike tradition is something that
you picked up when you got here. You've had the
same bike kid, Lincoln for some time exactly. Lincoln's my guy.
(09:05):
I've had them for the past seven years and he's
always there for me. And he's got a great sturdy bike,
which is important because on those those hot training camp days.
You don't want to have those little small bikes to
to try and get you know, from from point A
to point B. But UM, he's definitely been very supportive
and UM, every day he had he has a new
joke for me during training camp. So they're very clever
(09:26):
jokes and UM during the dog days of training camp.
You know, having a kid who looks up to you
and just a kid that you know sees you as
one of his role models, UM is inspiring to get
you through and it really makes you appreciate where you're at.
Do you remember a joke that Lincoln gave you? There's
so many good ones, but I can't recall any of
them right now. But he actually UM sent me like
(09:47):
a like ten or fifteen note cards of jokes in
the in the off season, so I got them stored
away somewhere. Um. But they're definitely very clever and the
kid has a very bright future. That's really neat. So
you guys have gotten a chance to know each other
pretty well over seven years. Yeah, and this past year
I went to one of his football games and UM,
when he started playing, the one thing I told him was, hey,
(10:09):
man for the defensive line low man wins and I
went to go watch and play, and like he was
the best player in the field, and he played with
great leverage and pad level. So I'm like pretty proud
that he took my advice and he's still using it.
And we went to go see his game. He played
for one of the Bayport School middle schools and they
played at Ashwabinon and it's a super cold day two
and he was the only player in the field not
(10:29):
wearing sleeves. So and that's how we are in the NFL.
A defensive lineman too. So I was just a little,
a little proud moment to see um, a little Lincoln
kind of all growing up and taking the next step
as an athlete. For Lincoln and any youngsters that are
looking to be in your shoes someday, what would be
your words to them, I would just say, perseverance, Um,
there's so many ups and downs throughout their journey. Um,
(10:52):
really living the moment, especially in those young years, Um,
whether it's middle school or high school or college, those
are very genuine years where just lovely and takes over.
And in the NFL it's more of a business, so
it's more of your job and being a pro. But
there's for me that I have so many great friends
and um relationships I've made in those early years with
coaches and players that are still lasting today. So just
(11:13):
live in the moment and you know everything will take
care of itself. That's a beautiful way to end it. Dean,
thank you so much for taking the time, all right,
Thanks Taylor, go a pat go To learn more about
what Dean is doing off the field, check out his
Instagram handle d lowry n four and thank you for
listening to Packers p o V. Happy holidays and see
you next time.
Hello, and welcome to Packers p o V, a podcast
that aims to shine a light onto human behind the helmet.
I'm your host, Taylor Rodgers, and we are here inside
historic lambeau Field. Today's guest earned All Big Ten honors
at Northwestern University. He's recorded sixteen sacks for Green Bay
while matching that number in passes defense. A fourth round
(00:27):
pick in the NFL Draft at six six, hailing from
Bear Country in Rockford, Illinois, Introducing Packers d Lyneman Dean Lowry.
How's it going, Dean going good? That's a great intro
right there. It's it's all occurate. You had to make
as I did. Yeah, I was a Bears fan growing
up from Rockford, Illinois. Um, but all Packard fans now
(00:49):
in my family, So it's all good. And you've developed
some nicknames between Illinois and Wisconsin. I've heard the Rhino,
the accountant, d you know, Yeah, it's different ones. Dino
goes back to Rockford. Most of my friends and childhood
coaches called me Dino. Uh. The accountant that was Mike Daniels,
(01:10):
who I played here for a few years my first
couple of years, would call me that in the field
and then the rhinos from coach the floor. Um, last
year I had a number of really good bull rushes
and the floora mentioned me as called me the rhino
after that, so that kind of stuck. Recently, and speaking
of the Packers, your teammate Aaron Rodgers said this about
you a few days ago. Dean Lowry is one of
(01:32):
my favorites. I just love getting past that gruff demeanor
to see if I can get a hug every once
in a while. Yeah, I don't think I'm that gruff.
But if Aaron says I am, I guess I am.
But uh, and I think he called me ornery to
last year, so um, I'm not sure. I think it's
a good thing in a way, because you know, in
the NFL you've got to be a little stubborn, little
ornery to to persevere and to be around for a
(01:54):
long time. But um, if if twelve says I am,
then you'll take it. You and twelve both have bear
beating in common. Aaron's record against Chicago twenty five and five,
your record thirteen and one. What stands out from that
rivalry to you just the winning right there? As as
you just said, um to be a part of that rivalry,
and um, you know, growing up watching so many great
(02:16):
players and great games through the years as an Illinois kid.
Now to be a part of it and to be
a part of teams that are thirteen and one verse
the Bears, it's a special thing. You've done a lot
of winning in the state of Illinois. In high school.
You won twenty eight straight games, including two state championships
for Rockford Zone Boiling High School. What did that run
(02:36):
of success teach you? I would just say, how to
you know, handle success with class and um, for in
that time, that was our first ever state championship in
school history, so that was a big deal. And UM,
there's there's nothing more genuine than high school football. And
for those two years to see the whole city and
school rally behind us, and I have great memories and
still lifelong friends from those two years and those teams.
(02:57):
It's another great experience. You play both sides of the
ball in high school. Yeah, I played tight end too,
so I had some good and some good touchdowns to
my junior and senior year and I was definitely a
good red MP threat for our offense. And UM, if
close to four wants to draw some plays up for me. Um,
always available, you can even switch sides of the line.
I understand you started football as a center. Yeah, oh
(03:18):
that was That's some good research right there. That goes
way back to when I started playing football in third
and fourth grade. But my first position was a center,
so that goes way back. So you end up becoming
a very dominant defensive lineman At Boiling your own high
school coach Dan Apino described you as a lead by
example guy. Whose lead did you follow growing up? I
(03:40):
think the start with the family. My parents both worked
very hard and um they and still had some great
values in us strong work ethic and um just just um,
you know, belief in family and everything. And I have
three sisters and we're all, you know, a very close
family and just doing things the right way and you know,
putting the work first. You mentioned your sisters. What's that
relation ship been like, Yeah, I have one older sister,
(04:02):
two younger sisters, and we all played sports growing up,
so our weekends were going to different tournaments and um
just that was. That's been a big part of our
family and our bonding is in sports and they're still
very involved and and that's one thing that I've really enjoyed,
you know, being in Green Bay's and I'm very close
to home. I'm about three hours away, so UM, at
most home games my parents come to or one or
(04:24):
all sisters and UM to have that, it's been a
really unique experience being so close to home relative to
my NFL career. In this most recent Bears victory down
and Soldier Field, you had family in the stands. I did. Yeah,
my my whole family, media family. And what was that
like doing what you did? You blocked a field goal
and came up with a huge play in that game
(04:45):
knowing that family is right there inside the bullet Soldier Field. Yeah,
it was awesome. The one downside of that game is
they put the Packers family and friend tickets way up
in the nosebleeds, so they're way up there and it
was a m cold day for them. So credit to
them for for really kind of you know getting through
that and with the weather and always you know, supporting
me there. But that felt great. And then that was
(05:05):
my first ever NFL block field goal and to come
at a big moment that really kind of helps sway
the game. Um, was just a very momentous moment in
that game, So you get an opportunity after that big game,
that big win, that big block to go take a
little time for yourself. Did you get into anything over
the bye week? So I'm actually engaged. I got engaged
his past summer and I went back to my fiancee's
(05:28):
hometown area and we spent some time around Indianapolis and um,
just you know, just relaxed and just got got my
mind right for this week and I'm getting ready for this,
uh this this push here. Congratulations on being engaged. Yeah, no,
it's definitely. It's been been a great thing so far,
and I'm very excited to see where you're at. And um,
it's just been just all positive so far. What's the
(05:50):
toughest thing about wedding planning so far? You know, I
would give her more credit about that. Um, you know,
she takes a charge on that. I'm involved, but she
really makes more of the decisions. Um, just the details.
Like anything, there's so many things that go into it. Um,
whether it's the seating or whether it's just transportation and
whether it's um, hotels, all those things you know make
a make a good wedding. And thankfully she's really on
(06:12):
top of that. Because I wouldn't be. And how did
you go about getting permission to actually become engaged? I
got engaged his past summer when I visited her hometown
for the first time. I talked with her dad, and UM,
I got his permission and uh, now I'll leave the
details there, but it was It's good, A little bit
nerve wrecking, just kind of doing that is and we
get get one shot at this. But um, overall, I've
(06:34):
just been a great experience. You've played in a lot
of big games, to playoff games? Was that the most
nervous you've ever been? That? Or when I actually proposed
in the summer, Um, it's different because it's it's all
eyes on you. It's only you. Um. You know, in
the game you have your teammates and other ten guys
in the fields to rely on, the lean on. But
in that moment, you've got to perform and you gotta
(06:56):
just it's all on you. But um, just now just
more in joinment, just more of this kind of realization
that this is once in a lifetime and just trying
to soak it all in and enjoy the moment. This
is likely to be a pretty athletic guest list for
this wedding. Who's gonna be the best dancer on site?
And feel free to say yourself. I don't know if
(07:18):
that remains to be saying I'm not a great dancer,
but I'm sure one of my friends will step up and,
you know, try and get get the crowd going, get
the people going. I've seen you after some of these
big plays though. You've got some moves, You've got some
celebratory moves. Um, usually a big fist bump. Guy, that's
my go to. My friend, my teammates give me a
kind of crap about that of not having a celebration
(07:39):
ready after a big play. Um, it's something I can
really work on for in the future. But I'm pretty
much just make the play, give a little fist bumping,
you know, not the next one. The NFL has been
in your purview for a long long time now. Your
sister sent you a photo recently. It's you and her
as kids standing in front of the Don hud And
(08:00):
Center at a Packers practice. Yeah, that was a bit
surreal seeing that photo. I knew we had gone there
on the training camp. I think when I was in
first or second grade, I'm not sure, but we went
to um like a summer camp or went I think
it was like a Yogi bearrat camp up and around
maybe Door County or somewhere north of here. And on
the way back, my dad's idea was stop off at
(08:21):
Packers training camp and we did the whole thing where
we watched the that the players take the bikes from
the locker room and go to the Don Hudson Center
and we did the interactive area in the Don Hudson
Center and UM, just that that stood out to me
that day. And UM, Now, to be you know, going
on seven years here at the Packers is is really
just a you know, a surreal experience. UM. But yeah,
(08:44):
just even back then, just just taking all in of
the tradition and just the unique relationship between the Packers
and the community and everything there, um was was really
just kind of eye opening. Back then, it clearly left
a mark with you. That bike tradition is something that
you picked up when you got here. You've had the
same bike kid, Lincoln for some time exactly. Lincoln's my guy.
(09:05):
I've had them for the past seven years and he's
always there for me. And he's got a great sturdy bike,
which is important because on those those hot training camp days.
You don't want to have those little small bikes to
to try and get you know, from from point A
to point B. But UM, he's definitely been very supportive
and UM, every day he had he has a new
joke for me during training camp. So they're very clever
(09:26):
jokes and UM during the dog days of training camp.
You know, having a kid who looks up to you
and just a kid that you know sees you as
one of his role models, UM is inspiring to get
you through and it really makes you appreciate where you're at.
Do you remember a joke that Lincoln gave you? There's
so many good ones, but I can't recall any of
them right now. But he actually UM sent me like
(09:47):
a like ten or fifteen note cards of jokes in
the in the off season, so I got them stored
away somewhere. Um. But they're definitely very clever and the
kid has a very bright future. That's really neat. So
you guys have gotten a chance to know each other
pretty well over seven years. Yeah, and this past year
I went to one of his football games and UM,
when he started playing, the one thing I told him was, hey,
(10:09):
man for the defensive line low man wins and I
went to go watch and play, and like he was
the best player in the field, and he played with
great leverage and pad level. So I'm like pretty proud
that he took my advice and he's still using it.
And we went to go see his game. He played
for one of the Bayport School middle schools and they
played at Ashwabinon and it's a super cold day two
and he was the only player in the field not
(10:29):
wearing sleeves. So and that's how we are in the NFL.
A defensive lineman too. So I was just a little,
a little proud moment to see um, a little Lincoln
kind of all growing up and taking the next step
as an athlete. For Lincoln and any youngsters that are
looking to be in your shoes someday, what would be
your words to them, I would just say, perseverance, Um,
there's so many ups and downs throughout their journey. Um,
(10:52):
really living the moment, especially in those young years, Um,
whether it's middle school or high school or college, those
are very genuine years where just lovely and takes over.
And in the NFL it's more of a business, so
it's more of your job and being a pro. But
there's for me that I have so many great friends
and um relationships I've made in those early years with
coaches and players that are still lasting today. So just
(11:13):
live in the moment and you know everything will take
care of itself. That's a beautiful way to end it. Dean,
thank you so much for taking the time, all right,
Thanks Taylor, go a pat go To learn more about
what Dean is doing off the field, check out his
Instagram handle d lowry n four and thank you for
listening to Packers p o V. Happy holidays and see
you next time.
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