Donald Driver

Donald Jerome Driver was born in Houston, Texas, on February 2, 1975. His early life involved periods of housing instability, leading him to live in a U-Haul truck and motel rooms. By age 14, he moved in with his grandmother, setting his life on a new course. Driver excelled as an athlete at Milby High School, lettering four times in track, football, basketball, and baseball, earning Texas All-State honorable mention in football. He continued his athletic career at Alcorn State University, where he lettered in both football and track & field. During college, he showcased exceptional high jump skills, qualifying for the 1996 Olympic Field Trials with a jump of 7 ft 6.5 in. He concluded his college football career with 88 receptions for 1993 yards.

Driver was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the seventh round of the 1999 NFL Draft as the 213th overall pick, spending his entire 14-season career with the team. Initially a less productive receiver, he became a starter after the departure of Antonio Freeman and Corey Bradford. He consistently achieved over 1,000 receiving yards in multiple seasons. Key milestones include setting a single-game record with 191 receiving yards in 2006, recording 92 receptions in the 2006 season and earning spots in the 2003, 2007, 2008, and 2011 Pro Bowls. In 2007, a seven-yard pass he caught broke Dan Marino’s all-time career passing yards record for Brett Favre. He led the Green Bay Packers to victory in Super Bowl XLV in 2011. Driver became the Packers’ all-time leading receiver in receptions in 2009 with 596 catches, and subsequently the all-time leader in receiving yards in 2011, surpassing James Lofton. In 2012, Driver competed on and won season 14 of “Dancing with the Stars.” He announced his retirement from the NFL in 2013 with a public ceremony, a first for a Packers player, where a street was renamed “Donald Driver Way” in his honor. In 2017, he was inducted into the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame.

Beyond his athletic career, Driver is a published author of three children’s books and a memoir entitled “Driven” (2013), which became a New York Times Bestseller. His book “The 3D Body Revolution” (2017) was a #1 new release on Amazon. He founded the Donald Driver Foundation in 2001, which supports ill children with hospital bills, provides housing for the homeless, and contributes to local charities. Since 2014, his Donald Driver Driven To Achieve Awards have provided over $1 million to recipients.