Saying goodbye is seldom an easy thing to do.
Yet, Donald Driver, less than three weeks removed from completing his 14th season as a member of the Green Bay Packers’ wide receiving corps, announced on Thursday that he would be retiring from the gridiron.
“I played my entire career in Green Bay and have always enjoyed a special bond with the fans,” cited Driver, who retires as Green Bay’s all-time leader in receptions (743) and receiving yards (10,137), in a press release, as reported by bizjournals.com. “I can think of no better way to retire than to celebrate with them and the Packers orginaztion.”
Indeed, as the franchise announced on Thursday that Driver, who turns 38 on Saturday, will formally announce his retirement at 11:00 a.m. within the Lambeau Field Atrium on Feb. 6. Fans are welcome to attend the announcement; however, per bizjournals.com, tickets are on a first-come, first-served basis and will be available at the Packers’ ticket office beginning at 9:00 a.m. on Friday (limit four per person).
Drafted by Green Bay in the seventh round (213th overall) of the 1999 NFL draft out of Alcorn State, the charismatic Driver amassed seven 1,000-yard seasons (a franchise record for a receiver) and is one of only 18 pass catchers in league history with 700-plus catches and 10,000 or more receiving yards in 200 games.
Additionally, Driver snared at least one reception in 133 straight outings from 2002-10 (a team record) and trails only Don Hutson and Sterling Sharpe in career receiving touchdowns (61).
Furthermore, the Houston, Texas native, who was a member of the Packers’ Super Bowl XVL-winning team in 2011, trails only Brett Favre in total games played donning the green and gold (205).
“All 14 years. Every day,” Driver said on ESPN Radio’s “Mike and Mike in the Morning” Thursday. “That’s a special place to walk out of, and that’s something I’ll never forget.”
Neither will Titletown, Donald.
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