At long last, the 2025 NFL Draft has arrived, and for the first time ever, the Green Bay Packers are serving as the host team.
And given the absurd amount of people who showed up to watch the first round unfold just outside Lambeau Field on Thursday night, don't be surprised if the league opts to come back in the very near future.
Everyone’s invited to our house party https://t.co/aZBHfdSCVD
— Green Bay Packers (@packers) April 24, 2025
It's been estimated that roughly 250,000 people will be in attendance during the three-day event, and it was noted during the early moments of the ESPN broadcast that about 125,000 showed up for Round 1. That's legit more than the entire population of Green Bay, by the way, which is in the 107,000 range.
Things got so crowded that entry even had to be shut down, as the venue reached maximum capacity.
— Green Bay Packers (@packers) April 25, 2025
As riding bikes is a popular pastime in town, the draft kicked off with Commissioner Roger Goodell pedaling his way onto the stage, and he was followed by several Packers legends (and superfan Lil' Wayne, of course), one of whom was six-time Pro Bowl linebacker Clay Matthews, who spent 10 of his 11 NFL seasons with the franchise.
Never one to shy away from the spotlight, Matthews made his way to the podium and quickly sent the crowd into a frenzy by doing the easiest thing one can do to get Cheeseheads to cheer: Take a shot at the Chicago Bears.
Matthews began his little jab by saying he'd just gotten off the phone with President Donald Trump—mixed reaction there, but that's not the point—and that his job was to relay a message.
He then proceeded to pull a piece of paper from his pocket and stated, "My fellow Americans, the Bears still suck!!!"
Naturally, the crowd went wild—well, except maybe the brave Bears fans who made the trip. And with that, the 2025 NFL Draft was underway.
Never change, Clay. Never change.