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Packers to Welcome Bubba Franks and Ryan Longwell as Featured Alumni for Packers-Bears Weekend
The Apex Times

THE APEX TIMES

Sports/The Apex Times/Oct 8, 5:21 PM EDT

Packers to Welcome Bubba Franks and Ryan Longwell as Featured Alumni for Packers-Bears Weekend

Green Bay will spotlight two former stars near Lambeau Field ahead of Sunday’s matchup with Chicago, with fan meet-and-greet events scheduled across the weekend.

By The Apex Times Newsroom2 min readAI-assisted Apex article

The Green Bay Packers will welcome two former franchise standouts, Bubba Franks and Ryan Longwell, as featured alumni during the Packers-Bears weekend. The team announced that the alumni will be on hand for fan-facing appearances near Lambeau Field on Saturday and Sunday, aligning with the atmosphere surrounding one of the NFL’s most watched rivalries.

Franks, a former Packers tight end, is among the players the organization has chosen to bring back to the stadium area for this specific fan experience. For generations of Packers supporters, events like these are designed to connect current game-day crowds with the recognizable figures who helped shape the franchise’s recent history.

Longwell, a former Packers kicker, will join Franks as part of the featured alumni group. The Packers’ announcement frames the weekend as a chance for fans to greet the alumni in person, making the pregame experience more than just an arrival routine, particularly for supporters who grew up watching these players during their Packers tenure.

The alumni appearances come in advance of Sunday’s Packers-Bears game. The team did not position the events as affecting roster preparation or game plans, but as an organized way to elevate the surrounding stadium experience during a high-attention matchup.

While the Packers are treating the weekend as a celebration, it also reflects a broader league reality. NFL teams increasingly lean on structured alumni activations to maintain a sense of continuity between eras, especially at iconic venues like Lambeau Field where fan history is part of the identity of the franchise.

For fans attending this weekend’s events, the practical takeaway is straightforward: there will be additional opportunities to meet former Packers players near the stadium on both days. Looking ahead, the Packers’ approach suggests that similar themed alumni weekends could remain a recurring feature, particularly during matchups that draw larger national and local audiences.

Why It Matters

  • Featured alumni events help bridge current team culture with past franchise contributors, strengthening fan engagement at high-profile home games.
  • By scheduling appearances on both Saturday and Sunday, the Packers are extending the game-day experience beyond kickoff.
  • The move reinforces how NFL teams use alumni activations to add value to ticketed weekends, especially for rivalry games.
  • Expect continued emphasis on structured fan interactions that spotlight Packers history, not only on-field product.

Sources

Key Facts

  • The Green Bay Packers announced Bubba Franks and Ryan Longwell will be featured alumni for the Packers-Bears weekend.
  • The featured alumni will make appearances near Lambeau Field on Saturday and Sunday.
  • The Packers-Bears game is scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 11.
  • The team presented the weekend events as fan-oriented meet-and-greet opportunities tied to game day.