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Matthew Golden got to live out of his dream back in April when he heard his name called the NFL Draft – but he had another dream of accomplishing.
The Godl was the 23rd election in the 2025 NFL draft and landed with Green Bay Packers and became the team’s first wide recipient chosen in the first round since 2002. As an added bonus he got a busy ovation when he took the stage when the draft was just outside the Lambeau field.
“It was a crazy atmosphere. Fans in general – it’s different in Green Bay. Packer fans, they are so real and they really love Green Bay. I can tell by the energy of practice. It’s a cool place to be and kind of makes me practice. They are out there on practice that gives us juice and energy. It’s really cool,” Golden said in a recent interview with Pakinomist Digital.
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The broad recipient Matthew Golden of Texas sets with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and president and CEO of Green Bay Packers Mark Murphy after being elected twenty-third overall election of Green Bay Packers during the first round of 2025 NFL draft at Lambeau Field on April 24, 2025 in Green Bay. (IMagn)
It has been a whirlwind of an offseason for Golden. Right after his last season in Texas ended at the College Football Playoff semi -final, he had to almost immediately grind to the draft. Then came Rookie camp, OTAs, MiniCamp and now training camp. In essence, he has not been really out in about a year.
But Golden knew what he signed up for.
“That’s all I dreamed of as a kid was to be able to get to the NFL, go to the draft … I felt like the whole process, I definitely took it in and enjoyed it. Now I’m in a fantastic organization where I can just play football, have fun.”
To be drafted, however, was not even his “greatest performance.”
It was a promise he gave himself to himself many years ago as a child when he decided to give back to his family who had fought throughout his upbringing. When Golden was 12 years old, he and his family lost the property to his grandmother’s house.
The broad recipient Matthew Golden from Texas is after being selected twenty-two overall election of Green Bay Packers during the first round of the 2025 NFL draft at Lambeau Field on April 24, 2025 in Green Bay. (Kirby Lee/Imag- Pictures)
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“It always stuck with me that I would do something good for my family that was getting that property back.”
Shortly after getting a draft, Golden said the first thing he would do with his new money would be to buy his grandmother a house. He was unable to get the exact property because of its current state, but with the help of Re/Max he got a nearby house in Houston.
“It was great. Just looking the look of my grandmother’s face when I told her the house was hers, she had a lot of feelings, man. It was a cool moment for me.
“She lives well, man.”
Golden surprised his grandmother with the house on July 10. She celebrated her new farm and pulled out a “closet dance.”
It’s been a top notch 2025 for Golden, but there’s still another goal to reach.
Matthew Golden bought his grandmother a new house, a promise he gave as a child when she lost her home many years ago. (RE/MAX)
“As a team, we always talk about getting the Lombardi trophy. That’s the question we’ve been given in a team room,” he said. “And I feel like us every day, that’s what we’re trying to achieve. We’re getting better offensively and defensively. We push each other. We all know what the end goal is and that’s the Super Bowl. That’s what we’re hunting.”
