Green Bay financial advisor announces Chicago Bears’ pick at 2025 NFL Draft
As a lifelong fan, shareholder and season ticket holder of the Green Bay Packers, Bob Hoekstra understands the passion that fuels the franchise’s storied rivalry with the Chicago Bears. And so, it was particularly ironic that the managing director – investments at the Green Bay branch of Benjamin F. Edwards found himself center stage, literally, for a moment in Bears history.
At the invitation of longtime NFL sponsor Nationwide, Hoekstra was offered the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to announce an official team pick live on stage at the 2025 NFL Draft in Green Bay. When a league official informed him that the sixth-round pick belonged to the Bears, Hoekstra braced himself for the inevitable reception.
Amid roaring boos in the shadow of legendary Lambeau Field, Hoekstra acknowledged his lifelong allegiance to the Packers, thanked NFL fans for coming to his hometown for the Draft, and gave a “Go Pack, go!” before turning to the business at hand.
“For the 195th pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, the Chicago Bears select Luke Newman - guard, Michigan State,” Hoekstra declared. “Welcome to the NFL. We’ll see you at Lambeau.”
Hoekstra described the surreal moment as “overwhelming” and said he felt “lucky to be picked.”
“Thanks to Nationwide’s longstanding partnership with the NFL, we’re fortunate to have access to truly unique experiences that we are able to share with our valued distribution partners,” said Jim McCoy, associate vice president of sports marketing for Nationwide. “We’re glad to hear that Bob had an unforgettable time.”
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