GREEN BAY – For as much football as Eric Wilson has played, the Packers' 29-year-old linebacker still feels as though he's growing entering his eighth NFL season.
So, when the question was asked Tuesday about how it feels to be one of the oldest players on Green Bay's roster, Wilson couldn't help but crack a smile as that realization dawned on him.
"You know, it's different," Wilson said. "I'm definitely like a vet now, going on Year 8. It's just funny … all these kids are born after 2000 now. That's kind of crazy to me, but it's cool."
It doesn't seem like it's been nearly seven years since Wilson made Minnesota's roster as an undrafted rookie in 2017. In many ways, it still feels like yesterday Wilson was learning from the likes of Eric Kendricks and Anthony Barr.
Now 29 years old and 108 games into his NFL career, Wilson is a leader on the Packers' special teams and a respected voice in the locker room. What's more, the 6-foot-1, 230-pound linebacker is in a fierce competition for a starting role on defense this summer.
As hard as Wilson presses the gas on the field, he's taken rookie draft picks Edgerrin Cooper and Ty'Ron Hopper under his wing in the meeting room as the Packers look for the best off-ball linebackers to line up alongside former first-round pick Quay Walker.
That strong work ethic and unselfish mindset earned Wilson a fan in incoming defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley.
"I love the guy," Hafley said. "He's one of the best guys you could be around. He's a pro. The way he sits in meeting rooms, takes notes, helps the younger guys, stays after, takes care of his body.
"He's a guy that you can trust that's going to go 100 miles an hour and know exactly what to do and he's going to try to finish, so I'm very pleased with him. I'm a big fan."
Paying it forward means everything to Wilson, who remains grateful to Kendricks and Barr for how they welcomed him to the NFL.
Since breaking into the league in 2017, Wilson has worn practically every hat there is to wear. He climbed the Vikings' depth chart for three seasons prior to a career year in 2020 in which Wilson recorded 122 tackles, three interceptions and three sacks in 15 starts over 16 games.
Wilson had stops in Philadelphia, Houston and New Orleans before joining the Packers midway through the 2022 season. He's since led Green Bay in special-teams tackles in each of the past two seasons and served as the next man up at linebacker, recording 48 tackles and one sack in 30 games.
Wilson was excited to re-sign with Green Bay in March, a move that ensured the Packers retained not only a leader on special teams but also a capable and experienced linebacker.
"E's a vet. He's a real pro and whether he's the starter or he's not, he's always going to be ready," cornerback Keisean Nixon said. "I've been there before when you just get thrown in and you gotta be ready. E is always up to the challenge. He's a pro at it, at the end of the day, with the way he takes care of his body, the way he brings the mindset he does every day."
A combination of Hafley's 4-3 defense and the departure of De'Vondre Campbell created openings at off-ball linebacker for Green Bay. While Cooper and Hopper came credentialed as Day 2 draft picks, Wilson and Isaiah McDuffie have continued to run with Walker in the base defense thus far.
Wilson isn't going anywhere, either, as he proved with an interception during 1-on-1 drills between the linebackers and running backs on Tuesday.
"We always draft players that can help us win games," Wilson said. "Regardless of what's going on upstairs, I've got to control what I can control. Ever since I've been in the league, guys are going to get drafted. It's just a matter of doing what you can do and make sure you handle your business."
Wilson is set to turn 30 in September, making him the third oldest player on Green Bay's current roster behind Preston Smith and kicker Greg Joseph, who turns 30 in two weeks.
Age is just a number, though. Despite having seven NFL seasons on his resume, Wilson remains focused on improving every day he walks into Lambeau Field.
"I love the game, I love being here," Wilson said. "Even in Year 8, I approach the game as if I'm a rookie and a beginner. I love the X's and O's of it. I love being out there and I love helping my team win."
