Green Bay, Wisconsin – January 2026 — As the NFL enters its most unforgiving stretch, the Green Bay Packers have chosen to pause.
Not to argue seeding, strategy, or Super Bowl odds — but to honor a life lost and to stand beside a grieving family.

Ahead of their Wild Card matchup, the Packers officially announced they will hold a memorial ceremony for the victim of a fatal ICE shooting in Minneapolis, a case that has shaken and divided the United States.

The decision arrives during a season defined by resilience and survival in Green Bay.
The Packers closed the 2025 NFL regular season with a 9–7–1 record.
They finished second in the NFC North and secured a playoff berth as the No. 7 seed in the NFC.

That path placed Green Bay among the final teams to enter the postseason and set the stage for a difficult road challenge.
Their next game is the NFC Wild Card round against the Chicago Bears (seed #2) on January 10, 2026, at 8:00 p.m. ET, at Soldier Field.

Under ordinary circumstances, the narrative would center on rivalry, adversity, and postseason survival.
Instead, the Packers have shifted the focus to something far more human.

In a statement, the organization stressed that the memorial is not political.

“This is about recognizing the value of human life and standing with those who are grieving,” the team said.
A moment of silence will be held just before kickoff, with players from both teams standing still as the stadium falls quiet.

For a brief moment, wins, losses, and playoff pressure will recede.

The tragedy being honored began on the morning of January 7, 2026, in Minneapolis.
Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old American woman, was fatally shot by an agent of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement during a federal operation in a residential neighborhood.

Federal authorities claimed the shooting was an act of self-defense, alleging the victim used her vehicle in a threatening manner.

Minnesota state and local officials sharply disputed that account, calling the shooting reckless and unjustified.
Bystander videos spread rapidly online, igniting national outrage as the footage appeared to show Good’s vehicle moving slowly amid chaos before a sudden gunshot and screams from the crowd.

As the nation debated accountability and use of force, a devastating personal detail emerged within the Packers’ organization.
Later that evening, Green Bay confirmed that Renee Nicole Good was a relative of Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

The connection was initially kept private to protect the player and his family during the first wave of media attention.
When it became public, the story shifted from a national controversy to an intensely personal loss.

According to sources close to the situation, Rodgers left Green Bay that night and traveled to Minneapolis.
He returned to be with the children who had just lost their mother and who reportedly witnessed the events surrounding the shooting.

He is said to have stayed with them, observing mourning rites and placing family above football.
Rodgers made no public statements and avoided media appearances during that time.

Inside the Packers’ locker room, Rodgers’ influence extends far beyond the quarterback position.

Teammates and coaches consistently describe him as the emotional compass of the team.
His leadership, composure, and experience guided Green Bay through a turbulent season and were central to the team reaching the postseason against long odds.

Within the building, there is a shared belief that his grief, while deeply painful, has drawn the locker room closer rather than pulling it apart.

In a brief message shared privately with teammates and later confirmed by team sources, Rodgers offered a simple line.

“We will win to honor her,” he said.
The words spread quietly through the organization — not as a public slogan, but as a personal rallying point.
Coaches emphasized preparation and execution while acknowledging the emotional weight of the week.

When Green Bay takes the field at Soldier Field on January 10, it will do so as a dangerous underdog.
It will also do so carrying grief that cannot be measured on any stat sheet.

The memorial before kickoff will not only honor a single life lost — it will remind everyone that the NFL exists within the real world, where actions have consequences and families carry lasting pain.

For the Packers, this Wild Card game will be remembered not just for its result, but for the moment an entire stadium stood in silence and a team played to honor one of its own.