Green Bay Packers

Ex-Green Bay Packers WR Donald Driver ate like a maniac during playing career

Published Jun. 29, 2015 11:42 a.m. ET

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Donald Driver was a seventh-round pick in the 1999 NFL Draft who lasted the test of time, racking up over 10,000 receiving yards during a career that spanned 14 seasons. A veteran target when the Green Bay Packers transitioned from Brett Favre to Aaron Rodgers at quarterback, Driver was one of few to star in both eras.

To enjoy that level of success for such a long time, Driver must have paid close attention to his diet, right? Think again.

In a recent interview with Lori Nickel of the Journal Sentinel, Driver, now 40 years old, spoke about his initiative to improve health and increase activity among America's youth. He also spoke about how this mentality differs wildly from his eating habits during his playing career.

"It started when I was a kid," Driver told the Journal Sentinel. "Growing up the way I grew up, food was scarce. So when you had an opportunity to eat, you ate. When I graduated from high school and went to college, I weighed 160 pounds. So, I knew I had to put on the weight. I ate everything from fried food to fried chicken wings. When I came to Green Bay, I did the same thing because I was 172 pounds. I had to put on the weight. I just ate terrible. I had candy in my locker. Before I went home, I would stop at Wendy’s, get two cheeseburgers or deluxe, the fries, the Dr. Pepper and a large frosty. And then I got home, and Tina would cook—and I still would eat."

Driver did what he had to in order to stick in the NFL. Few nutritionists would recommend his method for a slender seventh-rounder coming up in the league today, but it's hard to argue with Driver's results—three Pro Bowls (2002, '06 and '07) and a Super Bowl victory ('10).

(h/t Journal Sentinel)

Photo Credit: Jeff Hanisch/USA TODAY Sports