GREEN BAY – Things got a little stressful at times for Kenny Clark this offseason, as the Packers' front office worked towards a contract extension with their three-time Pro Bowler.
Entering the final year of the first contract extension signed with Green Bay in 2020, Clark and his agent Doug Hendrickson opened talks with the team on a new deal at the NFL Scouting Combine back in February.
While months passed, the 28-year-old defensive lineman kept faith the two sides would strike a deal. Even during the worrisome moments, Clark's family was there to pick him up.
"My mom, my dad, they always felt like it was gonna happen," Clark said. "My girl, she always felt like it was going to happen. It was just a matter of time."
That time finally arrived Sunday, one day before the first practice of training camp. After getting close last week, Clark put pen to paper on his third contract with the team that drafted him 27th overall in 2016.
While the Crowdstrike outage prevented Clark's family from making the trip over from California for the official signing, they were able to join him thanks to the magic of FaceTime.
"Just being on FaceTime with them and show them I'm signing my third contract and all the hard work – they've been through it with me all these years," Clark said. "It's just a blessing to show them that and be a part of that."
Still only 28, Clark had a career-high 7½ sacks last season while establishing a franchise record for most sacks (34) by a Packers interior defensive lineman since sacks became an official NFL statistic in 1982.
Additionally, Clark was responsible for leading a young defensive line room that entered the 2023 season with just one player with any NFL starting experience ( T.J. Slaton, two games). In following Clark's lead, former first-round pick Devonte Wyatt and rookie sixth-round pick Karl Brooks became difference-makers on defense by season's end.
The Packers took notice. When discussing Clark's extension on Monday morning, both General Manager Brian Gutekunst and Head Coach Matt LaFleur praised Clark for his professionalism and consistency.
"He is a model player that you want to build a program around," Gutekunst said. "Obviously he's a great player (and) has been as consistent as you could ever imagine. We're just really excited to kind of be able to extend him and let him lead that group for the foreseeable future."
Historically, it's been rare for the Packers to sign players to third contracts, but Gutekunst said Clark's relatively young age, durability and proven performance made it a no-brainer to extend the 6-foot-3, 313-pound defensive anchor.
Green Bay feels Clark still has more in front him, too, with the transition to an attacking 4-3 front under new defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley.
Now the Packers' longest-tenured player, Clark is excited to join an exclusive club of former Packers teammates who signed third contracts with the club, including quarterback Aaron Rodgers, left tackle David Bakhtiari and receiver Jordy Nelson.
"It was huge for me because I truly wanted to be one of those guys," Clark said. "I look up to guys who have been here … the guys who played and played at a high level, got third contracts here, and are really legends here. For an organization like this, it was huge for me to stay here."
Clark still has big goals. He wants to play in a Super Bowl and would love nothing more than to retire as a member of the Packers. Clark also needs just one more Pro Bowl appearance to tie Pro Football Hall of Famer Henry Jordan for most by a Packers interior defensive lineman.
First things first, Clark wants to help Green Bay build upon its success at the end of last season. Having overcome a lot of personal adversity to make it to the NFL, Clark is savoring every minute of his journey.
"I put a lot of work in to get where I'm at," Clark said. "Y'all know I don't like patting myself on the back too much but it's definitely been a long road from a kid. It feels good to just be appreciated and compensated the way I am. It's dope and it's something that I never take for granted and I'm going to keep working and prove them right."
