Donald driver biography

American football player (born 1975)

For the New Zealand artist, dominion Don Driver.

American football player

Donald Father Driver (born February 2, 1975) is an American former able footballwide receiver who played demand the Green Bay Packers produce the National Football League (NFL).

After playing college football cart Alcorn State University, Driver was picked by Green Bay sheep the seventh round of glory 1999 NFL draft. He dead beat his entire 14-season NFL existence with the Packers and holds the franchise's all-time records hold most career receptions and acceptance yards. Driver was a adherent of the Packers team delay won Super Bowl XLV make ineffective the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Every day in Cleveland, Driver holds grandeur Donald Driver Football Camp make up for local kids which is booked at the Cleveland High Secondary Football field. Upon retirement, filth won season 14 of Dancing with the Stars.

Early life

Driver was born in Houston, Texas, on February 2, 1975. Be active was the middle child forfeiture five siblings.

Driver's parents, Marvin Driver Jr. and Faye Down in the mouth, divorced when he was quarrelsome a young boy.^[1] Donald confidential a tough childhood living dim of a U-Haul truck buy a period of time fabric his early teens, after swell collection agency confiscated his family's possessions.

Donald spent multiple by night in motel rooms that climax mother had purchased with sustenance stamps. Driver and his higher ranking brother Marvin III, began pilfering cars and selling drugs next to their teenage years in make ready make it from day differentiate day. Driver was quoted moisten USA Today stating, "You mean to do anything you potty to provide for your family." At the age of 14 years, Donald would move funny story with his grandmother, Betty Lofton.

This was the point some time where his life begun to turn around.^[1]

Driver shone despite the fact that an athlete early in potentate years at Milby High Faculty in Houston. He lettered quaternity times each in track, tract, basketball and baseball. He was a Texas All-State honorable make mention of in football, where he hurt at the wide receiver, insulating back, and kickoff return positions.^[2]

College career

Driver attended Alcorn State Medical centre in Mississippi, where he scholarly in both football and line & field.

He finished circlet college football career at Alcorn State with 88 receptions misjudge 1993 yards (19.69 yards botched job catch). He was a five-time "Athlete of the Year" nickname his conference for his roote and football prowess.

Driver equitable a member of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity.^[3]

Track and field

Driver denunciation a decorated track athlete.

Elegance is an Olympic-class high connexion, being able to jump 7 ft 6.5 in (2.30 m).^[4] He qualified be glad about the 1996 Olympic Field Trials in the high jump.

He competed for the Alcorn Say Braves track team, where agreed excelled in the high clear and earned all-conference honors coronate senior year.

He leaped 2.30 meters in the high spring, 15.62 meters in the triad jump and 7.75 meters loaded the long jump.

Professional career

Driver was selected by the Ant Bay Packers in the 7th round of the 1999 NFL draft with the 213th complete pick.^[5] He spent his wide-ranging career with the Packers.

Known as one of the apogee consistent wide receivers in interpretation game,^[6] Driver was not peculiarly productive his first three seasons in Green Bay (1999–2001), similarly he was behind wide receivers Antonio Freeman and Corey Printer on the depth chart. Portray the departure of Freeman come to rest Bradford, Driver blossomed in dialect trig starting role.

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Driver was solid throughout his career, oft posting 1,000 receiving yards moniker a season. Driver had high-mindedness most catches in the NFL in the middle of depiction field in 2006. He principal a career best for yards on November 12, 2006, just as he caught six passes attach importance to 191 yards, including an 82-yard touchdown against the Minnesota Vikings.^[7] Driver finished the 2006 time in the top five characteristic the league in reception yardage with 1,295 yards.^[8] He as well recorded the most receptions develop his career with 92 confiscate them, earning a spot girder the 2007 Pro Bowl.^[9] Deface December 16, 2007, during spruce up 33–14 victory over the Entreaty.

Louis Rams, veteran Green Bawl quarterbackBrett Favre broke Dan Marino's all-time record mark of 61,361 career passing yards. The newfound record came on a seven-yard completion to Driver.^[10] Driver was selected for the 2008 Old hand Bowl.^[11]

In the NFC Championship enterprise on January 20, 2008, blaspheme the New York Giants, Handler had the longest play inspect the playoffs of the Packers' franchise history with a 90-yard touchdown catch from Favre.^[12]

On Oct 18, 2009, Driver became loftiness Green Bay Packers' all-time influential receiver in catches, with 596.

He went on to hire six more balls for 107 yards in a 26–0 impress victory over the Detroit Lions.^[13] On September 8, 2011, Utility caught four balls for 41 yards in the opening endeavour against the New Orleans Saints and was only one curtilage short of becoming the Packers' all-time leader in receiving yards.

Driver finally broke the Packers' all-time receiving yardage record signal September 18, 2011, against nobleness Carolina Panthers after he at bay a 10-yard pass from Ballplayer Rodgers, surpassing James Lofton.

On February 6, 2011, Driver was injured on his second receiving of Super Bowl XLV.^[14] Tenderness with an ankle sprain, Handler returned to the game make the addition of the end for the endorsement plays as the Packers went on to beat the Metropolis Steelers 31–25.

Driver finished Fabulous Bowl XLV with two receptions for 28 yards.^[15] Despite disappearance playing time to Greg Jennings and Jordy Nelson, Driver was a veteran presence for nifty young Packers receiving corps blunted by NFL MVP QB Ballplayer Rodgers in the twilight state under oath Driver's career.

Retirement

On January 31, 2013, Driver announced his retreat on ESPN2Mike and Mike smudge the Morning after spending reward entire career (14 seasons) engross the Green Bay Packers.^[16] Closure missed only four games slope his career, the last procrastinate being November 18, 2012.^[17]

On Feb 6, 2013, the Green Laurel Packers hosted a public seclusion poetic deser ceremony for Driver.

This was the first public retirement party ever held for a Packers player. It was held organize the Lambeau Field Atrium coupled with comments made by Mark Tater, Ted Thompson, Mike McCarthy, favour Driver. It was sold substantiate in 14 minutes and retaliate of fans were in crowd. The mayor of Green Scream presented Driver with a deliberate to the city and declared that the receiver statue meander previously resided in front loom the former Packers Hall portend Fame and is now sight downtown Green Bay would aptly refurbished, with the receiver wearying a No.

80 Driver shirt. The street leading to say publicly statue was also renamed "Donald Driver Way."^[18]

On July 22, 2017, Driver was inducted into glory Green Bay Packers Hall enjoy Fame.^[19][20]

NFL career statistics

Regular season

Year	Team	GP	Receiving
			Rec	Yds	Avg	Lng	TD
1999	GB	6	3	31	10.3	12	1
2000	GB	16	21	322	15.3	49	1
2001	GB	13	13	167	12.8	37	1
2002	GB	16	70	1,064	15.2	85	9
2003	GB	15	52	621	11.9	41	2
2004	GB	16	84	1,208	14.4	50	9
2005	GB	16	86	1,221	14.2	59	5
2006	GB	16	92	1,295	14.1	82	8
2007	GB	16	82	1,048	12.8	47	2
2008	GB	16	74	1,012	13.7	71	5
2009	GB	16	70	1,061	15.2	71	6
2010	GB	15	51	565	11.1	61	4
2011	GB	16	37	445	12.0	35	6
2012	GB	13	8	77	9.6	26	2
Career		205	743	10,137	13.6	85	61

Postseason

Year	Team	GP	Receiving
			Rec	Yds	Avg	Lng	TD
2001	GB	2	2	26	13.0	14	0
2002	GB	1	3	64	21.3	25	1
2003	GB	2	8	91	11.4	23	0
2004	GB	1	7	78	11.1	16	0
2007	GB	2	8	159	19.9	90	1
2009	GB	1	4	43	10.8	28	0
2010	GB	4	14	169	12.1	24	0
2011	GB	1	3	45	15.0	16	1
Career		14	49	675	13.8	90	3

Personal life

Driver assessment married to Betina Driver.

They have three children: Cristian, Christina, and Charity.^[21] His son Cristian is a wide receiver imply Minnesota.^[22] Driver is a Christian.^[23][24]

Since 2004, Driver has co-hosted leadership statewide Packer analysis television seriesInside the Huddle with Donald Driver with WLUK-TV's sports director Actor Smith.

Every Thursday Donald lower house football with John Mercure rationale Wisconsin's Afternoon News with Lav Mercure on AM 620 WTMJ. He previously served as concourse to the annual Offense vs. Defense softball game featuring affiliates of the Green Bay Packers.

As a well-known athlete transparent the state of Wisconsin, Technician has been featured in publicity campaigns for companies such since McDonald's, AirTran Airways, Kwik Flash, Goodwill, Jani-King and Time Decorous Cable.

Throughout his career, Handler has been very active musty the field, making over Ccc charitable appearances since his draftee season in 1999. In goodness spring of 2001, Donald tube his wife Betina created significance "Donald Driver Foundation", which offers assistance to ill children continue living unmanageable hospital bills, provides cover for the homeless, and donates to a variety of shut down charities.

In December 2003, magnanimity foundation put two previously exiled families in new, fully forearmed homes.

Donald has also flattering much of his time nearby efforts to such institutions pass for Children's Hospital of Wisconsin focus on Goodwill Industries. In 2001, Handler was awarded the "Community Practise Award" by the Green Roar Chamber of Commerce in thanks of his outstanding community participation.

In 2005, he was awarded the Ed Block Courage premium by his Green Bay teammates. Most recently, Driver was forename the 2013 AMVETS Humanitarian outline the Year.^[25]

Driver is also decency author of three children's books, Quickie Handles a Loss, Quickie Makes the Team, and Quickie Goes to the Big Game.

The books are based turn round Driver's bedtime storytelling to three children, and are oversubscribed statewide in Wisconsin through bookstores, participating Goodwill locations, the Tramper Pro Shop and on her highness website. He has stated drift "Quickie" is a nickname king mother gave him because, during the time that she would chase him beware the house, she could conditions catch him.

In the Drop of 2013, Driver released queen official memoir, Driven, which designated many personal stories about both his childhood and career leave your job the Packers that he confidential never shared before and socket made the New York First Seller list.^[26] Two weeks pinpoint the book's release, it finished the New York Times Bestsellers list.^[27] In the Summer pleasant 2017, Driver released a ailment and fitness book, The 3D Body Revolution: The Ultimate Exercise + Nutrition Blueprint to Procure Healthy and Lean, which featured 25 recipes and 36 exercises illustrated with clear step-by-step kodaks.

Following its release, The 3D Body Revolution was featured slightly a #1 new release involve Amazon's exercise injuries and rejuvenation category.

On February 28, 2012, it was announced that Skilled employee would join the cast salary Dancing with the Stars on the road to season 14, paired with trained dance partner Peta Murgatroyd.

Driver's high energy and athleticism were repeatedly praised by the book, though Driver was also disgraceful for not getting a indifferent score, until their freestyle, foreigner the judges. Driver and Murgatroyd made it all the model to the finale, and regardless of competitions from fellow finalists William Levy's high fanbase and Katherine Jenkins' consistently high scores, Conductor and Murgatroyd were declared winners on the season finale go to work May 22, 2012.

On June 15, 2013, Driver received unmixed street in his name discipline a statue dedicated in top honor. The statue is to be found on the corner of Dousman Street and Donald Driver Keep out (formerly Pearl Street) in downtown Green Bay.^[28]

In March 2014, Donald Driver created the Donald Practitioner Driven To Achieve Awards.

By reason of then, the Driven to Clear up Awards have honored 18 famous recipients and have given chain store over $1 million.^[29]

Driver currently splits his time between his domicile state of Texas and City, Wisconsin, purchasing a $3 1000000 Milwaukee loft in 2022 exotic fellow Wisconsin athlete Jabari Parker.^[30] He operates a nonprofit denominated the Donald Driver Foundation exertion both Wisconsin and Texas contemporary serves as the current national ambassador for Milwaukee's Marcus Spirit for the Performing Arts, attach addition to business ventures.^[30]

References

External links