With the 2025 NFL Draft just around the corner, all eyes are on Green Bay as they get ready to host the league’s biggest offseason event. But Detroit Lions president Rod Wood isn’t sweating it—he’s pretty confident the Packers won’t be able to top the Motor City’s epic showing last year.
Speaking at a Detroit Economic Club event, Wood couldn’t resist taking a jab at Green Bay. “There’s no way they come close. They’ll finish second—or third, like last year,” he quipped to WXYZ’s Brad Galli. That’s a not-so-subtle nod to the Packers’ third-place NFC North finish in 2024.
And honestly, the numbers back him up. Detroit shattered NFL Draft attendance records in 2024, drawing a staggering 775,000 fans—far beyond the previous record of 600,000 in Nashville back in 2019. Green Bay’s own estimates are significantly more modest, expecting around 250,000 attendees over the weekend.
Even the economic impact tells the story. Green Bay is expecting a $94 million boost statewide from the draft. Detroit? Try over $213 million, with fans from all 50 states and more than 20 countries showing up. A third of the attendees traveled over 100 miles just to be there.
So while Green Bay preps for its big weekend, Detroit’s still basking in the glow of its 2024 success—and Rod Wood’s not letting anyone forget it.
Lions President Takes Swipe at Packers as Green Bay Gears Up for NFL Draft
