Chandler Zavala

Chandler Zavala (born April 2, 1999) is an American professional football guard for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Fairmont State Falcons and NC State Wolfpack.

Early life Zavala was born on April 2, 1999, in Boynton Beach, Florida. He later attended Forest Park High School in Woodbridge, Virginia, where he originally played basketball before a coach advised him on playing football as it provided a better chance for him to receive an athletic scholarship.

College career Zavala played college football for the Fairmont State Fighting Falcons from 2017 until deciding to transferring due to Fairmont's 2020 season being cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Zavala was selected by the Carolina Panthers in the fourth round, 114th overall, of the 2023 NFL draft. He was named the Week 1 starting right guard as a rookie, but moved to left guard the following week and started the next four games. In a Week 5 game against the Detroit Lions, Zavala suffered a neck injury in the first quarter. He was sent to a local hospital. He returned to the starting lineup in Week 11 before suffering a knee injury the following week. Zavala was placed on injured reserve on November 29, 2023.

Zavala played in Carolina's first four games of the season before he suffered a knee injury in Week 4 against the New England Patriots; he was placed on injured reserve on October 1, 2025. He was activated on November 1, ahead of the team's Week 9 matchup against the Green Bay Packers. Zavala was placed back on injured reserve on November 29 after suffering a calf injury in Week 12 against the San Francisco 49ers.

On August 31, 2026, Zavala was waived by the Panthers and re-signed to the practice squad.

Personal life Zavala's father, Demetrio, is a frequent contestant on the Food Network competitive cooking show Chopped.