He played college football for the Purdue Boilermakers and was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the seventh round of the 1993 NFL draft.

Zgonina was a member of the St. Louis Rams that won Super Bowl XXXIV and also played for the Carolina Panthers, Atlanta Falcons, Indianapolis Colts, Miami Dolphins, and Houston Texans.

As a coach, he has been a member of the Houston Texans, New York Giants, San Francisco 49ers, and Washington Commanders.

Zgonina attended Carmel High School in Mundelein and was a letterman in football, basketball, hockey, and track and field.

He signed with the Atlanta Falcons in 1996,[5] and made one sack, one fumble recovery, and 12 tackles in the eight games he played.

He was also a member of the 2001 NFC Champion Rams, starting 13 games and playing in Super Bowl XXXVI.

[11] In his four-year career with the Dolphins, he made 178 tackles, 10 sacks, an interception, and two fumble recoveries in 62 games (22 starts).

He signed with the Houston Texans on March 14, 2007,[12] He had 64 tackles, 2.5 sacks, and two fumble recoveries in his three-year tenure, including playing in all 48 games with five starts.

In 2013, the Houston Texans hired Zgonina to become an assistant defensive line coach.