Donald Driver facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Donald Driver

Driver in 2014
No. 80
Position:	Wide receiver
Personal information
Born:	(1975-02-02) February 2, 1975 (age 50) Houston, Texas, U.S.
Height:	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight:	194 lb (88 kg)
Career information
High school:	Milby (Houston, Texas)
College:	Alcorn State (1995–1998)
NFL Draft:	1999 / Round: 7 / Pick: 213
Career history
Green Bay Packers (1999–2012)
Career highlights and awards
Super Bowl champion (XLV) 4× Pro Bowl (2002, 2006, 2007, 2010) Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame
Career NFL statistics
Receptions: 743 Receiving yards: 10,137 Receiving touchdowns: 61
Player stats at PFR

Donald Jerome Driver (born February 2, 1975) is a famous American former professional football player. He was a wide receiver for the Green Bay Packers in the National Football League (NFL). Donald Driver played his entire 14-season career with the Packers. He holds the team's records for most catches and receiving yards.

Driver was a key player when the Packers won Super Bowl XLV. After he retired from football, he won season 14 of Dancing with the Stars. He also hosts a football camp for kids in Cleveland every year.

Donald Driver's Early Life and Challenges

Donald Driver was born in Houston, Texas, on February 2, 1975. He was the middle child in a family of five siblings. Donald's parents divorced when he was very young.

He faced a difficult childhood. For a while, his family lived out of a U-Haul truck. Donald also spent nights in motel rooms that his mother paid for with food stamps. When he was 14, Donald moved in with his grandmother, Betty Lofton. This move helped him turn his life around.

High School Sports Star

Driver showed great talent in sports during his time at Milby High School in Houston. He earned awards in four different sports: track, football, basketball, and baseball. In football, he was an All-State honorable mention. He played as a wide receiver, defensive back, and kickoff returner.

College Career at Alcorn State

Driver attended Alcorn State University in Mississippi. There, he played both football and track & field. He finished his college football career with 88 catches for 1,993 yards. He was named "Athlete of the Year" five times in his conference for his skills in both sports.

Driver is also a member of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity.

Driver's Amazing Track and Field Skills

Donald Driver was also a very talented track athlete. He was an Olympic-level high jumper. He could jump an incredible 7 feet, 6.5 inches (2.30 meters). He even qualified for the 1996 Olympic Field Trials in the high jump.

He competed for the Alcorn State Braves track team. He was excellent in the high jump and earned all-conference honors. He also leaped 15.62 meters in the triple jump and 7.75 meters in the long jump.

Donald Driver's NFL Journey

The Green Bay Packers chose Donald Driver in the seventh round of the 1999 NFL draft. He was the 213th player picked overall. He played his entire professional football career with the Packers.

Donald Driver in a game against the Minnesota Vikings on November 14, 2011.

Driver was known as a very reliable wide receiver. In his first three seasons (1999–2001), he wasn't a main starter. But after other players left, Driver became a key player for the team.

He often had seasons with over 1,000 receiving yards. In 2006, he had the most catches in the middle of the field in the NFL. On November 12, 2006, he set a personal best with 191 receiving yards in one game. He finished the 2006 season with 1,295 yards and 92 catches. This earned him a spot in the 2007 Pro Bowl.

On December 16, 2007, Green Bay quarterback Brett Favre broke a major NFL record. He passed Dan Marino's record for career passing yards with a seven-yard catch by Driver. Driver was also chosen for the 2008 Pro Bowl.

In a playoff game on January 20, 2008, Driver made the longest play in Packers' playoff history. He caught a 90-yard touchdown pass from Favre.

On October 18, 2009, Driver became the Green Bay Packers' all-time leader in receptions. He had 596 catches. On September 18, 2011, he broke another team record. He became the Packers' all-time leader in receiving yards, passing James Lofton. This happened when he caught a 10-yard pass from Aaron Rodgers.

On February 6, 2011, Driver got hurt during Super Bowl XLV. He had an ankle sprain. However, he returned for the final plays as the Packers beat the Pittsburgh Steelers 31–25. Driver was a veteran leader for the young Packers' receivers.

Donald Driver's Retirement from Football

Donald Driver announced his retirement on January 31, 2013. He had played his entire 14-season career with the Packers. He only missed eight games after his first year.

On February 6, 2013, the Packers held a special public retirement ceremony for Driver. This was the first time they did this for a player. The event sold out quickly, with hundreds of fans attending. The mayor of Green Bay gave Driver a key to the city. A statue of a receiver in downtown Green Bay was updated to wear Driver's No. 80 jersey. The street leading to the statue was also renamed "Donald Driver Way."

On July 22, 2017, Donald Driver was honored by being inducted into the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame.

Donald Driver's NFL Career Statistics

Regular Season Stats

Postseason Stats

Donald Driver's Life Beyond Football

Driver and family pose in front of the statue dedicated in his honor.

Donald Driver is married to Betina Driver. They have three children: Cristian, Christina, and Charity. His son Cristian plays wide receiver for Minnesota. Donald Driver is a Christian.

Since 2004, Driver has co-hosted a TV show called Inside the Huddle with Donald Driver. He also talks about football on a radio show called "Wisconsin's Afternoon News." He used to host a fun softball game with members of the Green Bay Packers.

Because he is so well-known in Wisconsin, Driver has appeared in ads for many companies. These include McDonald's, AirTran Airways, and Time Warner Cable.

Donald Driver's Charitable Work

Throughout his career, Donald Driver was very active in helping others. He made over 300 appearances for charity since 1999. In 2001, Donald and his wife Betina started the Donald Driver Foundation. This foundation helps sick children with hospital bills. It also provides homes for people who are homeless. In December 2003, the foundation helped two families get new, furnished homes.

Donald has also given his time to places like Children's Hospital of Wisconsin and Goodwill Industries. In 2001, he received the "Community Service Award." In 2005, his teammates gave him the Ed Block Courage award. Driver was also named the 2013 AMVETS Humanitarian of the Year.

Books by Donald Driver

Donald Driver is the author of three children's books. They are called Quickie Handles a Loss, Quickie Makes the Team, and Quickie Goes to the Big Game. These books are based on stories Driver used to tell his own children at bedtime. "Quickie" was a nickname his mother gave him because he was so fast.

In 2013, Driver released his memoir, Driven. This book shared many personal stories about his childhood and his time with the Packers. Just two weeks after it came out, Driven made it onto The New York Times Bestsellers list. In 2017, Driver released a health and fitness book. It was called The 3D Body Revolution: The Ultimate Workout + Nutrition Blueprint to Get Healthy and Lean. This book included 25 recipes and 36 exercises.

Dancing with the Stars Champion

On February 28, 2012, it was announced that Driver would be on Dancing with the Stars. He was paired with professional dancer Peta Murgatroyd for season 14. The judges often praised Driver's high energy and athletic moves. Driver and Murgatroyd made it to the finale. They won the competition on May 22, 2012, beating other finalists like William Levy and Katherine Jenkins.

Driven to Achieve Awards

In March 2014, Donald Driver started the Donald Driver Driven To Achieve Awards. These awards have honored 18 people and given away over $1 million.

Driver now divides his time between his home state of Texas and Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He bought a loft in Milwaukee in 2022. He continues to run his nonprofit, the Donald Driver Foundation, in both Wisconsin and Texas. He also serves as the cultural ambassador for Milwaukee's Marcus Center for the Performing Arts.

See also

In Spanish: Donald Driver para niños