GREEN BAY, Wis. (WFRV) — Local 5 News was proud to bring viewers wall-to-wall coverage of the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft, hosted in Green Bay for the first time in league history.
In what was arguably the station’s most ambitious broadcast to date, the Local 5 team delivered seven hours of continuous coverage — from interviews with former Super Bowl champions to conversations with business owners across the Greater Green Bay area.
The coverage kicked off at noon with Jade Henschel and Jordan Lamers anchoring early reports before longtime broadcasters Tom Zalaski and Millaine Wells took over later in the day. Chief Meteorologist Luke Sampe, who has helmed the region’s most accurate forecast for over a decade, provided live weather updates from the field.
Reporter Timothy Littau kept viewers informed throughout the day with dozens of packages and live shots, while Cam Ezeir reported from the red carpet, interviewing multiple prospects — including Green Bay’s first-round selection, Matthew Golden.
At Lambeau Field, sports reporters Lauren Helmbrecht and Kyle Malzhan broke down what the Packers might do with the No. 23 pick. Malzhan, who projected Golden as a potential target, nailed the prediction.
Kaitlin Corbett went live from the Green Bay Distillery, speaking with local business owners and fans tailgating ahead of the main event.
Meanwhile, Paul Steeno had a standout day, landing interviews with notable guests including former Bucks fan-favorite Thanasis Antetokounmpo and former New Orleans Saints quarterback and Super Bowl champion Drew Brees.
Throughout the day, public figures also stopped by the Local 5 set, including Green Bay Mayor Eric Genrich, Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers, Packers Hall of Fame curator Brent Hensel, Ashwaubenon Village Manager Joel Gregozeski, Emplify Health executives Randy Van Straten and Steven Wagner, sports personality Matt Ramage, Milwaukee artist Ike Wynters, and others.
Day one of the draft drew more than 200,000 fans, as Green Bay became the center of the football universe. With the Packers selecting their first wide receiver in the first round since 2002, Matthew Golden from Texas instantly won over the crowd at Titletown.
While there had been uncertainty over whether the NFL’s smallest market could host such a monumental event, Green Bay proved on day one that it was more than ready.
