Fans flock to Lambeau Field to hear Donald Driver's retirement remarks



GREEN BAY (WITI) -- Donald Driver, the Green Bay Packers’ all-time leading receiver in receptions and yards and a member of the Super Bowl XLV championship team, formally announced his retirement from the NFL on Wednesday, February 6th.

Fans flocked to Lambeau Field to see Donald Driver, and hear his retirement remarks.

Kevin O'Brien was among the masses outside Lambeau Field, where he waited Wednesday morning to get into Driver's official retirement celebration.

"Charity, man. It starts with charity. Donald Driver's all about that, so I'm all about that!" O'Brien said.

As it turned out, O'Brien's statement was true. After learning Marion Van Dreel had tried to get tickets to the event but hadn't been in line early enough to get any, O'Brien gave her two of his tickets.

"I was on top of the world! There were a few times I had to go into my pocket and get the handkerchief out and wipe the tears away because it's a very, very moving day," Van Dreel said.



On Wednesday morning, Hailey Marks was at the front of the line at Lambeau. Marks told FOX6 News she arrived at 10:00 Tuesday night, eager to join more than 1,000 other fans in celebrating Driver.

"He's been so dedicated to the Packers, to his family, to the community -- so I got inspired by that," Marks said.

Marks says what Driver has done this past 14 years made this experience well worth the wait.

"He'll cry and then I'm gonna cry. Everybody's probably gonna be crying," Marks said.

As Driver shared his sentiments Wednesday morning, sure enough, fans started shedding tears.

"I was bawling too. It was so emotional. He just loves his fans. He loves the game and you can tell he's really gonna miss it," Denise Garross said.

Gov. Walker declared Wednesday, February 6th as Donald Driver Day throughout the state. Mayor Schmitt announced that a street in downtown Green Bay will be renamed as Donald Driver Way.