“But to be sitting here and have the opportunity to coach your dad, and now be blessed enough to have the opportunity to coach you, is surreal to me. “Obviously, your football ability jumped off the film right away when we watched it,” Franklin told Cristian Driver.
Fittingly, Green Bay Packers safety Adrian Amos introduced Driver during Penn State’s Signing Day ceremony.Ī match made for fans ? ? /7nd1B0zF07 He was a two-time team MVP and three-time first-team all-state selection.Ĭristian Driver is scheduled to play safety, though Franklin said the coaching staff still is “fighting over you.” He made 137 tackles and broke up 11 passes over the past two seasons. So to think that you have turned out as well as you have is no surprise.”Ĭristian Driver played receiver and defensive back at Liberty Christian High and is one of two players from Texas in Penn State’s 2022 class. But your mom and dad are two of the best, most impressive people I’ve ever been around. “Everybody talks about Donald’s career as a football player. And I was just so impressed with dad and mom from the very beginning. “I’ve obviously known the family forever, having coached your dad at the Green Bay Packers. “This is kind of surreal to me, to be honest with you,” Franklin said on Penn State’s Signing Day live stream. Now, Franklin will coach Driver’s son at Penn State. Franklin served as Green Bay’s receivers coach in 2005 and developed a bond with Driver in his year there. Penn State’s James Franklin will do that next season.Ĭristian Driver, whose father Donald played 14 seasons for the Green Bay Packers, signed with Penn State’s 2022 recruiting class Wednesday. Franklin now will coach Driver’s son Cristian at Penn State.įew college football coaches can say they’ve coached fathers and sons. Additionally, Donald owns and operates three Driven ELITE Fitness and Health centers in Texas.James Franklin coached Donald Driver in Green Bay. He has also appeared on Good Morning America to offer healthy living tips. The book is the ultimate workout and nutrition blueprint to get healthy and lean. Driver released the chart-topping book, The 3D Body Revolution. Known for his incredible fitness during his playing career Donald has become a renowned health and wellness expert. Co-hosted by himself and actress Emily Wilson, the inspirational docuseries showcases stories of ordinary individuals who are making extraordinary differences in their communities. Since then, Donald has served as a guest correspondent for ABC’s “Good Morning America” nearly a dozen times, guest-hosted “The View” and “Ellen,” and appeared on “Jimmy Kimmel Live,” “On Air with Ryan Seacrest,” “Entertainment Tonight,” CNN, ESPN, NFL Network, People Magazine, the Los Angeles Times, and numerous leading media outlets.ĭonald has continued to showcase his desire to give back through his television show “The Hero Effect” on Oprah Winfrey’s network OWN. With millions of fans behind Donald and his partner Peta Murgatroyd, the duo clinched the competition. He held his official retirement celebration in the Lambeau Field Atrium in front of thousands of fans who lined up in below-zero temperatures to thank him for 14 amazing seasons of playing for the green and gold.ĭonald’s on-field success and charismatic personality earned him an invitation to “Dancing with the Stars” with 35 million viewers tuning in every week. In 2013, Donald asked the Packers organization to retire the only way he knew how, by celebrating with the fans.
A top performer his entire career, he was a four-time Pro Bowl selection. Donald Driver overcame poverty and homelessness to become a Super Bowl champion, Green Bay Packers all-time leading receiver, Green Bay Packers Hall of Famer, New York Times bestselling author, “Dancing with the Stars” champion, and award-winning humanitarian.ĭonald is the Green Bay Packers all-time leader in receptions and receiving yards and is the only player in franchise history to record seven 1,000 yard receiving seasons.