DETROIT, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — One fan at this year’s NFL Draft traveled over 3,600 miles from home for the opportunity of a lifetime.
Daniel Hanbridge — who hails from Manchester, England — was selected as the Green Bay Packers’ 2024 International Fan of the Year. He is set to announce the team’s third round pick at this year’s draft in Detroit.
“We’re here with the Packers as a ‘thank you’ for being a U.K. fan. We’re big Packers fans,” Hanbridge said. “It’s just exciting to sort of meet future Packers players. It will be incredible.”
Hanbridge added, “We wish it was Green Bay. But other than seeing Lions stuff everywhere, we think Detroit is very nice.”
Hanbridge said he thinks the 2025 draft in Titletown will be “even better” than this year’s event in Motor City.
“We’re hoping to get there next year. There would be nothing better than a draft experience and going to Kroll’s after it,” Hanbridge said.
“Yes! The butter burger!” Lauren Saddington, Hanbridge’s girlfriend, chimed in.
In his International Fan of the Year nomination, Hanbridge explained how he developed his love for the green and gold.
On a family holiday in 1998 my parents let me select any NFL jersey from a sports shop and I just so happened to go with a Favre Packers top. I grew up watching the late night games with my Dad and fell in love with the team. I lost my dad in 2008 and the bond we had over the Packers means this is much more than a team to me – it’s family. I still have my first ever jersey and I take it to every game I’ve been too, including Lambeau Field. Go Pack Go!
The 2024 NFL Draft runs Thursday through Saturday.
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