By Tori Wittenbrock
Sports Reporter
ASHWAUBENON – On Monday, Aug. 14, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell made the trip out to Green Bay to welcome fans, attend training camp and say a few words about the upcoming 2025 NFL Draft that will be hosted in Green Bay.
Although the original plan was for Goodell to greet fans and welcome them to training camp outside, the fickle Green Bay weather had other plans.
Due to the heavy rain forecasted, the event was moved inside the Johnsonville Tailgate Village, but was still open to the public.
On Monday, May 22, the NFL announced that the 2025 NFL Draft would be hosted in Green Bay by the Packers.
Since then, Packers CEO/President Mark Murphy has detailed his excitement for the upcoming event and what it will mean for the Green Bay community in a press conference on Wednesday, May 24.
“There are many great things about Green Bay, but one of the main things that distinguishes us from all of the other cities is our history and tradition, and of course, the connection between the city and the fans and our team,” said Murphy.
“The Draft is the biggest event outside of football season, and it brings fans together to celebrate their favorite teams, to see new players being selected, and it helps build excitement for the season. The popularity and growth of it is phenomenal over the last 10 to 15 years. It also brings together the fans of college football and of the NFL.”
However, Goodell’s appearance at training camp this week allowed him to address the public and to express his own anticipation for the event for the first time in Green Bay since the announcement.
“You have a long history with the Draft, and in 2025, it will actually be our 90th Draft, so I can’t think of a better place to be able to do that than right here in what is the heart of football,” said Goodell.
Green Bay will be only the 14th team to host the NFL Draft after it was moved out of New York in 2015. It will also be the second place that it is held in Wisconsin after Milwaukee hosted the 1940 Draft on Dec. 9, 1939.
“It’s a chance to put your community on the big stage, and that’s really what we are going to see here. Everyone is going to see Green Bay,” said Goodell. “I think everybody knows your love of football, but this is a chance to talk about the fact that you really do know how to do big events, and you all have a tremendous amount of pride in this community, well beyond football — and you should — so we look forward to being here,” said Goodell.
“With the first pick in to 2025 NFL Draft, the NFL selects… Green Bay, Wisconsin. Green Bay, you’re on the clock.”
Goodell did not leave the podium without expressing his gratitude to Murphy for his dedication and tireless efforts to make this happen.
“Murph was one of the first to say, ‘Hey, we want to host a Draft here in Green Bay.’ There is no one who is a greater supporter of this community and all it can do.”
Despite not being able to ride any bikes to training camp, Goodell, Murphy, Gov. Evers and others present at the event posed with NFL- and Packer- themed bikes at the end of the event to symbolize the long-standing tradition of the players riding fans’ bikes to training camp.