PFRPA Luncheon held in Green Bay June 12, 2024. PC: Fox 11 Online
GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Gold Jackets were donned at the Hotel Northland Wednesday. However, the event at hand focused more on life after football, rather than the game itself.
“A lot of times, people think that every retired player is living this like, wonderful luxurious lifestyle, and I think it varies from guys that played, you know, two or three years, and some guys that have played a lot longer,” said Darrell Thompson, former Packers running back and current Pro Football Retired Players Association Board Chair.
The Pro Football Retired Players Association held its inaugural fundraising luncheon Wednesday in Green Bay. Part of its focus is on providing health, welfare and educational programs for retired NFL players.
Hall of Fame linebackers Dave Robinson of the Packers and Mike Singletary of the Chicago Bears are both on the PFRPA board. They echo that not everyone’s story is the same after hanging up the cleats.
“Things that we didn’t have, and things that some of the ball players and some of the people realize that’s assumed in today’s market, wasn’t around in 1963 wasn’t around in 1973 in fact,” said Robinson.
“You know, a lot of guys come into the league and really think, ‘Man, I’m making a couple $100,000, that’s a lot of money’ and not realizing that it doesn’t go very far, especially when you start having kids and your family is growing and school and everything else,” said Singletary.
The association also recognized three people with ties to the Packers for their work in the community and with NFL alumni.
Those included Packers Director of Community Outreach and Player/Alumni Relations Cathy Dworak, as well as former players Harry Sydney and Chris Jacke.
“Player/Alumni resources, I started it, oddly enough when I was inducted into the Packer Hall of Fame. It’s just a way to keep the fans connected with alumni that I played with or even some of the guys that I didn’t play with,” said Jacke.
Those who gave it their all on the gridiron, are making sure past teammates and opponents are better set up for their life off the field.
The Pro Football Retired Players Association began its work to develop programs in 2016. The organization plans on holding similar events like today’s in the future in other NFL cities.
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