Green Smoke

(International Fan of the Year #2)

By Olivia Peebles

As the 2024 International Fan of the Year and having already spent a day in Wimbledon, London, for the Jets’ Flag Football launch with Quincy Williams and Isiah Davis, I had the chance to now be part of the 2025 NFL Draft! As a self-certified draft nerd, I knew this trip was going to be incredibly special, and I was not let down. Held in Green Bay, Wisconsin, the home of the Packers, the event gave me a great look behind the scenes of the NFL, as well as a chance to cheer on the next generation of the New York Jets.

Wednesday

After a previous full day of travel, a group of us kicked things off with a free day in Green Bay. It was a good chance to get familiar with the area, grab some food, and enjoy the atmosphere of a city that absolutely lives and breathes football.

In the evening, we attended a Q&A session with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. He was somewhat surprisingly very charismatic, and it was interesting to hear him talk about the league from his perspective. We all got a group photo with Roger at the end. We also bumped into Hall of Fame running back Curtis Martin, which was a real highlight, especially getting a photo with a true Jets legend. I also received my IFOTY jersey, which is proudly being framed!

Thursday

Thursday started with a tour of the Draft Theatre and Green Room, where the prospects wait to hear their names called. After that, we spent time at the NFL Draft Experience, which had a mix of exhibits, games, and team activities for fans.

Later in the day, we headed to Lambeau Field to see the red carpet event inside the stadium. It was great to watch the players arrive with their families and see the excitement building. Lambeau Field is an absolute must for any football fan, a true Mecca of the NFL, with a real old-school vibe to it.

That evening was Day One of the Draft, and we were seated in the Jets Inner Circle, surrounded by fans and plenty of green and white. We were even treated to a cheese board – fitting for Wisconsin. Seeing Armand Membou, hopefully a staple in our O-line for many years to come, be announced as a New York Jet was amazing, even if he wasn’t there in person.

A great non-Jets highlight was Matthew Golden being announced as the Packers’ first 1st-round WR since 2002. If there was a roof, it would have been blown off with the fan’s reaction.

Friday

Friday started with a visit to the Draft Operations Room, where teams call in their picks. It was interesting to see how things work behind the scenes and how organised the process is. We were given a blank draft card as a memento.

Unfortunately, the weather didn’t hold up, and the rain was heavy, but that didn’t stop the fans by any stretch! John Abraham announced the Jets’ Day Two picks, and afterwards, he came over to our section in the inner circle and took a photo with us. A nice touch from a former player who clearly still enjoys being part of it. Day 2 was rounded off with an amazing drone show, paying homage to the city of Green Bay, the Packers and the NFL draft.

Saturday

Saturday was a big one. We had an early start to join Roger Goodell on stage as the final day of the draft began. As part of the prize of being International Fan of the Year, we knew we would get to announce a pick, but we didn’t know when and would be told as it happened.

When the Jets traded up to pick 130, an NFL official quickly came over; it was my turn. After a very fast dash backstage, I stood watching the screen as the pick was revealed: Malachi Moore, DB, Alabama.

Walking out onto the stage in front of the crowd was a moment I will never ever forget. I managed to get the name out smoothly enough and was more than proud to represent the team. The rest of the day was spent watching the final rounds, soaking it all in, before heading back to the hotel for a very early start.

Sunday

On Sunday, we travelled to the greatest city in the world, New York City, for the last part of the experience. After catching up with family over a meal, we had a quiet evening before heading to One Jets Drive the next day.

The tour of the facility was excellent! We were treated to lunch (which was fantastic, by the way!). We had a walk around the facility, training fields, offices and media room. As a Jets fan, it was so surreal to be where the actual players, coaches, and staff work. Every member of staff we met was absolutely lovely and a credit to the Jets. We met Jamien Sherwood and spoke to him for a while, congratulated him on his new contract, and he was kind enough to sign some items for us. He was very excited to be coming back to London.

Before we left, we were given a big bag of Jets gear, a wonderful way to wrap up the trip and something we’re all looking forward to wearing back in London.

Final Thoughts

The week was full of great memories and once-in-a-lifetime experiences and was an absolute honour. Green Bay as a city was such a unique and friendly host, and I couldn’t think of a better city to host it. Everyone truly bleeds green and yellow. A huge shout out to the fellow IFOTYs for being so friendly and creating friendships that will last a lifetime. The Jets did more than a fantastic job making us feel special for the whole week. I just wish I could relive it all again!

But as always, J-E-T-S, JETS JET JETS! And onto London for the October game against Denver. See you there!…