CHARLOTTE — Playing football in the NFL has always been a bit of a family legacy for Spencer Fano. The offensive tackle out of Utah is the next in a long line of football players from Utah and American Samoa, nephew to four uncles who all suited up in the league: former Panthers linebacker Spencer Reid (for whom he's named), Gabe Reid, Anton Palepoi, and Tenny Palepoi.
Reid was first signed as an undrafted free agent by the Panthers in 1998 and was traded back here in 2000 (in the deal that sent running back Fred Lane to Indianapolis). It helped inspire a love in the young Fano, who grew up around a family and a brother who also played the sport. His cousin—Karene Reid—currently plays for the Denver Broncos, and his brother, Logan, is a defensive end in this draft class with Spencer.
"I don't remember a time that I wasn't in love with football," Fano said at the scouting combine. "My uncles all play football. All my cousins played football. I feel like I have loved football my whole life.
"My parents put me into tackle football when I was in kindergarten, and I played against the third graders because I was so much bigger than the other kids. So, yeah, really my whole life."
With four uncles with NFL experience and a cousin in the league, Fano can gather a lot of insight. He hasn't asked for too many specifics, though. He's just held tight to everything he's seen over the years.
"I would say the best advice that I have from them was more so just their example to me." "How they work and how they went about their business every single day. Being able to see them work was huge in my life."
So Fano followed their example, put in his own work, married it with his natural athletic ability and size (6-5, 311 pounds), and became a prospect that could set a new standard within the Fano-Reid family.
"I don't remember a time that I wasn't in love with football. My uncles all play football. All my cousins played football. I feel like I love football my whole life. My parents put me into tackle football when I was in kindergarten, and I played against the 3rd graders because I was so much bigger than the other kids. So, yeah, really my whole life.
Fano is admittedly looking forward to the possibility of playing against his brother, Logan, once both are in the league.
"It'd be domination. It was strictly domination. On my part, for sure," Spencer joked of the battle before responding to which one of them would walk out of a phone booth. "I mean, he'll walk out of there maybe, like, two, three days later, but I'm going to win."
Fano earned the starting left tackle job as a true freshman at Utah and has played in every Utes game the last three years at both tackle spots. According to Pro Football Focus, over the course of his entire three-year career, playing 2,204 snaps, he allowed a mere three snaps and just 30 quarterback hurries. He also snapped at the combine and has told teams he's comfortable at all five positions.
"My favorite part about this position is that I just get to go and hit people," Fano gushed. "That's my job. That's what I'm getting paid to do, go out and hit people, and I love it."
He knows there are still things to work on, and readily admits, "I definitely could stay square in a lot of my pass sets."
But he's ready to step in right away, just like he did at the college level, and ready to enhance his family's legacy.
"I think you get me, you're getting someone that's not going to allow himself to fail," Fano promised. "I have too many people to prove right, to allow myself to fail them and fail myself. So, I'm going to do everything it takes to be great in this league."
See the former Green Bay Packer in action.
Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Myles Murphy (99) battles against Green Bay Packers offensive tackle Rasheed Walker (63) during a preseason NFL football game, Friday, Aug. 11, 2023, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
Green Bay Packers offensive tackle Rasheed Walker (63) lines up during the first half of an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons, Sunday, Sep. 17, 2023, in Atlanta. The Atlanta Falcons won 25-24. (AP Photo/Danny Karnik)
Green Bay Packers offensive tackle Rasheed Walker (63) lines up during the second half of an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons, Sunday, Sep. 17, 2023, in Atlanta. The Atlanta Falcons won 25-24. (AP Photo/Danny Karnik)
Green Bay Packers tackle Rasheed Walker (63) plays against the Cincinnati Bengals in the first half of a preseason NFL football game Friday, Aug. 11, 2023, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Green Bay Packers offensive tackle Rasheed Walker (63) plays in an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Nov. 12, 2023. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Green Bay Packers offensive tackle Rasheed Walker (63) in action during the second half of an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings, Sunday, Dec. 31, 2023, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
Green Bay Packers offensive tackle Rasheed Walker (63) in action during during the first quarter of an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Dallas Cowboys Sunday, Jan. 14, 2024 in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Maria Lysaker)
San Francisco 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa (97) blocks Green Bay Packers offensive tackle Rasheed Walker (63) during an NFL Divisional Round playoff game on Saturday, January 20, 2024 in Santa Clara, California. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Green Bay Packers offensive tackle Rasheed Walker (63) blocks during an NFL divisional round playoff football game against the San Francisco 49ers Saturday, Jan. 20, 2024, in Santa Clara. (AP Photo/Scot Tucker)
Green Bay Packers tackle Rasheed Walker (63) blocks during the first half of an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Stew Milne)
Green Bay Packers offensive tackle Rasheed Walker prepares for a snap against the Seattle Seahawks during an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Green Bay Packers offensive tackle Rasheed Walker (63) blocks against Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Josh Hines-Allen (41) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Green Bay Packers offensive tackle Rasheed Walker (63) during pregame of an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)
Green Bay Packers offensive tackle Rasheed Walker (63) blocks against Minnesota Vikings linebacker Dallas Turner (15) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
Green Bay Packers offensive tackle Rasheed Walker (63) during an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys, Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025, Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Jessica Tobias)
Green Bay Packers offensive tackle Rasheed Walker (63) blocks during an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 26, 2025, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt Durisko)
Green Bay Packers offensive tackle Rasheed Walker (63) blocks Detroit Lions defensive end Aidan Hutchinson (97) during an NFL football game in Detroit, Thursday, Nov. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Rick Osentoski)
Green Bay Packers offensive tackle Rasheed Walker (63) lines up during an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears, Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Kamil Krzaczynski)
