PHOTO: Courtesy of WLUK
GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Three upcoming sessions will help fans get ready for the NFL Draft in Green Bay by exploring the event’s nine-decade-long history.
The University of Wisconsin-Green Bay is offering a program called The Packers and the Draft. The instructor is Brent Hensel, curator of the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame.
Here is what the sessions will cover, according to UWGB:
Session 1: April 2
Before the inaugural draft in 1936, players were free to sign with any team. The Packers would select Russ Letlow, a future Packers Hall of Famer, with their first-ever selection. Learn the story of how Milwaukee hosted the 1940 draft, before the Packers played in the 1939 Championship game.
Session 2: April 9
The draft became a battleground between the National Football League and the American Football League. Vince Lombardi was at the forefront of integrating the league including through the draft. This included drafting black players with early round selections.
Session 3: April 16
The draft becomes a national phenomenon. Led by front office officials like Ron Wolf and Ted Thompson, the Packers find talent in all rounds of the draft and make bold trades for talented star quarterbacks.
Registration for the program costs $49. Sessions can be attended live over Zoom; recordings will also be available.
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