Donald Jerome Driver (born February 2, 1975 in Houston, Texas) is an American football wide receiver who plays for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League. Driver was picked by the Packers in the 1999 NFL Draft in the seventh round (213th pick overall) out of Alcorn State University.
Contents
[hide]
* 1 College career
* 2 Professional career
o 2.1 Green Bay Packers
* 3 Personal life
* 4 References
* 5 External links
[edit] College career
Donald Driver attended Alcorn State University, where he lettered in both football and track & field. He finished his college football career there with 88 receptions for 1933 yards (19.69 YPC). Driver is one of the most decorated track athletes in the NFL (he is an Olympic class high jumper, being able to jump 7 feet 6 inches[1] and could have qualified for the 2000 Summer Olympics team). He was a five time "Athlete of the Year" in his conference for his track and football prowess.
Driver is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha, the first inter-collegiate Greek-letter organization established for African Americans.[2]
[edit] Professional career
[edit] Green Bay Packers
Donald Driver (lower right) lined up during a game against the Buffalo Bills
Driver's one of the most inspiring players in the NFL as he grew up homeless, and worked his way to the NFL.Driver showed a special connection with Brett Favre, and was Favre's most reliable receiver from 2002-2007. Driver has been referred to by a lot as the NFC's Hines Ward. Known as one of the toughest wide receivers in the game, Driver had the most catches in the NFL in the middle of the field in 2006. He set a career best for yards on November 12, 2006 when he caught six passes for 191 yards including an 82 yard touchdown against the Minnesota Vikings. A couple of weeks later against the 49ers, he and quarterback Brett Favre, connected on a 35 yard pass in which he made an acrobatic leap to turn around and out run former teammate Mark Roman, to the end zone for his seventh touchdown of the year. The play ended as a 68 yard touchdown catch. Driver finished the 2006 season in the top 5 of the league in reception yardage with 1,295 yards. He also recorded the most receptions in his career with 92 of them, earning a spot in the 2007 Pro Bowl. Driver is also the last seventh round pick to make it to a Pro Bowl as of 2007.
On December 16, 2007 during a 33-14 victory over the St. Louis Rams, Brett Favre broke Dan Marino's all-time record mark of 61,361 career passing yards. The new record came on a seven yard completion to Driver.[3]
Donald Driver, as well as team mates Chad Clifton, Aaron Kampman, and Al Harris, and head coach Mike McCarthy, went to Hawaii for the 2008 Pro Bowl. Brett Favre was scheduled to be in the Pro Bowl, but he was replaced by Jeff Garcia.[4]
In the NFC Championship game on January 20, 2008 against the New York Giants, Driver had the longest play in the playoffs of the Packers' franchise history with a 90 yard TD catch from Brett Favre.
Year
Team
G
GS
Rec
Yards
AVG
LG
TD
20+
40+
1st
1999 GB 6 0 3 31 10.3 12 1 0 0 2
2000 GB 16 2 21 322 15.3 49 1 7 1 16
2001 GB 13 2 13 167 12.8 37 1 3 0 9
2002 GB 16 16 70 1064 15.2 85 9 15 3 47
2003 GB 15 15 52 621 11.9 41 2 11 1 30
2004 GB 16 11 84 1208 14.4 50 9 16 4 59
2005 GB 16 16 86 1221 14.2 59 5 17 5 63
2006 GB 16 16 92 1295 14.1 82 8 21 5 53
2007 GB 15 14 82 1048 12.8 47 2 14 4 49
2008 GB 16 16 74 1012 13.7 71 5 44
TOTAL 145 108 577 7989 13.8 85 43 104 23 372
[edit] Personal life
On November 17, 2008 Driver's father Marvin Driver Jr. was arrested for outstanding traffic warrants during a traffic stop in Houston. Between being taking into custody and arriving at the station, Driver Jr. was allegedly severely beaten by the three officers and suffered from blunt force trauma. The officers, Bacilio Guzman, Gilberto Cruz and M. Marin were reassigned to administrative duty while an investigation took place. [5] An internal review by the Houston Police Department cleared all three officers of any wrongdoing, stating that there was no evidence to substantiate Driver's claims that he was beaten by the officers. The Police Department used medical reports and statements from independent witnesses to arrive at their conclusion.[6]
Donald Driver is the author of a children's book called Quickie Makes The Team. He currently resides in Flower Mound, Texas with his wife and their kids .
Contents
[hide]
* 1 College career
* 2 Professional career
o 2.1 Green Bay Packers
* 3 Personal life
* 4 References
* 5 External links
[edit] College career
Donald Driver attended Alcorn State University, where he lettered in both football and track & field. He finished his college football career there with 88 receptions for 1933 yards (19.69 YPC). Driver is one of the most decorated track athletes in the NFL (he is an Olympic class high jumper, being able to jump 7 feet 6 inches[1] and could have qualified for the 2000 Summer Olympics team). He was a five time "Athlete of the Year" in his conference for his track and football prowess.
Driver is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha, the first inter-collegiate Greek-letter organization established for African Americans.[2]
[edit] Professional career
[edit] Green Bay Packers
Donald Driver (lower right) lined up during a game against the Buffalo Bills
Driver's one of the most inspiring players in the NFL as he grew up homeless, and worked his way to the NFL.Driver showed a special connection with Brett Favre, and was Favre's most reliable receiver from 2002-2007. Driver has been referred to by a lot as the NFC's Hines Ward. Known as one of the toughest wide receivers in the game, Driver had the most catches in the NFL in the middle of the field in 2006. He set a career best for yards on November 12, 2006 when he caught six passes for 191 yards including an 82 yard touchdown against the Minnesota Vikings. A couple of weeks later against the 49ers, he and quarterback Brett Favre, connected on a 35 yard pass in which he made an acrobatic leap to turn around and out run former teammate Mark Roman, to the end zone for his seventh touchdown of the year. The play ended as a 68 yard touchdown catch. Driver finished the 2006 season in the top 5 of the league in reception yardage with 1,295 yards. He also recorded the most receptions in his career with 92 of them, earning a spot in the 2007 Pro Bowl. Driver is also the last seventh round pick to make it to a Pro Bowl as of 2007.
On December 16, 2007 during a 33-14 victory over the St. Louis Rams, Brett Favre broke Dan Marino's all-time record mark of 61,361 career passing yards. The new record came on a seven yard completion to Driver.[3]
Donald Driver, as well as team mates Chad Clifton, Aaron Kampman, and Al Harris, and head coach Mike McCarthy, went to Hawaii for the 2008 Pro Bowl. Brett Favre was scheduled to be in the Pro Bowl, but he was replaced by Jeff Garcia.[4]
In the NFC Championship game on January 20, 2008 against the New York Giants, Driver had the longest play in the playoffs of the Packers' franchise history with a 90 yard TD catch from Brett Favre.
Year
Team
G
GS
Rec
Yards
AVG
LG
TD
20+
40+
1st
1999 GB 6 0 3 31 10.3 12 1 0 0 2
2000 GB 16 2 21 322 15.3 49 1 7 1 16
2001 GB 13 2 13 167 12.8 37 1 3 0 9
2002 GB 16 16 70 1064 15.2 85 9 15 3 47
2003 GB 15 15 52 621 11.9 41 2 11 1 30
2004 GB 16 11 84 1208 14.4 50 9 16 4 59
2005 GB 16 16 86 1221 14.2 59 5 17 5 63
2006 GB 16 16 92 1295 14.1 82 8 21 5 53
2007 GB 15 14 82 1048 12.8 47 2 14 4 49
2008 GB 16 16 74 1012 13.7 71 5 44
TOTAL 145 108 577 7989 13.8 85 43 104 23 372
[edit] Personal life
On November 17, 2008 Driver's father Marvin Driver Jr. was arrested for outstanding traffic warrants during a traffic stop in Houston. Between being taking into custody and arriving at the station, Driver Jr. was allegedly severely beaten by the three officers and suffered from blunt force trauma. The officers, Bacilio Guzman, Gilberto Cruz and M. Marin were reassigned to administrative duty while an investigation took place. [5] An internal review by the Houston Police Department cleared all three officers of any wrongdoing, stating that there was no evidence to substantiate Driver's claims that he was beaten by the officers. The Police Department used medical reports and statements from independent witnesses to arrive at their conclusion.[6]
Donald Driver is the author of a children's book called Quickie Makes The Team. He currently resides in Flower Mound, Texas with his wife and their kids .
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