Donald Driver Opens Up About the Wild Ride of His NFL Draft Journey

Donald Driver, a name forever etched in Green Bay Packers history, recently reflected on his rollercoaster journey to NFL stardom. With over 10,000 yards, 61 touchdowns, and four Pro Bowls under his belt—not to mention a shiny Super Bowl ring—Driver’s career stats are jaw-dropping. But what’s wild is that he was anything but a favorite coming out of college, barely sneaking into the league as a seventh-round pick in the 1999 draft. Let’s be real: 24 other receivers got their calls before him. Oops.

Driver shared how the run-up to the draft was both exhilarating and nerve-wracking. The dream of going pro was real, but so was the anxiety of not knowing if his name would ever boom out from the speakers. "Mine was ups and downs," Driver said, capturing the emotional whiplash perfectly. The wait felt eternal, but the moment he heard his name, it was like winning the ultimate lottery—one that comes with a helmet and a ticket to the big leagues.

Turns out, out of his draft class, only Torry Holt racked up more receiving yards. That’s a serious flex, considering Driver watched teams pick names like David Boston, Peerless Price, and Brandon Stokley before finally getting his shot. He’d actually believed he was headed for a fourth-round selection, only to see teams pass him by. "They took other receivers instead of me and I had to sit there and watch … And when you think back at it, when I think back now, I don’t think I was as happy back then than I am now." Sometimes, the people who get picked last end up having the last laugh.

Driver’s rookie season wasn’t exactly the stuff of legends—just six games and three catches for 31 yards. But he stayed motivated, driven by a promise to his family. Growing up wasn’t easy for him; his mother worked multiple jobs to keep things afloat, sometimes even going without food herself. "We were struggling living in U-Haul trucks. We saw the suffer," Driver revealed. For him, football was about more than glory—it was about making sure his family never had to struggle again. That kind of purpose can turn a seventh-round pick into a franchise hero.

After 14 seasons in the NFL, Driver has taken on a new challenge as the chief motivation officer for SURGE by BSN Sports. His latest mission? Inspiring girls to stay in sports and giving coaches the tools to help them thrive. From overlooked rookie to motivational powerhouse, Driver’s story proves that grit can outshine the draft board any day.