Former Packers receiver Donald Driver now an owner of Cousins Subs restaurants in Green Bay, Fox Valley

Donald Driver, the Green Bay Packers' all-time leading receiver, is now a co-owner of six Cousins Subs restaurants in Green Bay and the Fox Valley.

Cousins Subs and Driver entered into a joint venture agreement for the six restaurants, the first such arrangement in the company's 50-year history. Cousins Subs has its headquarters in Milwaukee. Driver has homes in Milwaukee and Texas.

“Since establishing Cousins Subs 50 years ago, we have been very protective of our family-owned brand,” said Christine Specht, CEO at Cousins Subs. “We only partner with people who understand our mission and have the desire to help us grow. Donald truly embodies everything our brand stands for. His philanthropic heart, moral compass and positive outlook closely align with our values and make him a great addition to the family.”

Driver, who was picked in the seventh round of the 1999 NFL draft, is the Packers' all-time leader in receptions with 743 and yards with 10,137. He is fifth in touchdowns with 61. He was a member of the Packers' winning Super Bowl XLV team, and retired from the Packers after the 2012 season.

A graduate of Alcorn State University, Driver is a member of the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame and the Black College Football Hall of Fame.

Earlier this year, Cousins Subs said it would reinvest in Wisconsin markets outside of Milwaukee,specifically in the Fox Valley area of northeastern Wisconsin. Cousins Subs operates nearly 100 restaurants in Wisconsin, Illinois and Indiana.

The restaurants Driver invested in include two in Green Bay, two in Oshkosh and one each in Appleton and Neenah. All six stores will continue to operate under the Cousins Subs corporate operations team.

Driver also will be featured in Cousins Subs advertising and promotions.

“Delicious turkey sandwiches aside, I’ve always admired the amount of time and effort the brand dedicates to giving back to local communities," Driver said. "Wisconsin holds a special place in my heart and I’m excited for the opportunity to reconnect with the Fox Valley community with the help of this meaningful brand."

Driver, a businessman and philanthropist, keeps his Wisconsin ties strong. His nonprofit, the Donald Driver Foundation, operates both in Texas and Wisconsin. He also has several ongoing projects in Milwaukee. He is a business partner to Brian Lammi of Team Lammi, a Milwaukee-based marketing and talent agency, and is the first-ever cultural ambassador for the Marcus Performing Arts Center.

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Contact Richard Ryman at rryman@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @RichRymanPG, on Instagram at @rrymanPG or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RichardRymanPG/.

This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Donald Driver now an owner of Cousins Subs in Green Bay, Fox Valley