It was quite a scene, and traffic was backed up all the way to North Jefferson Street.
The second annual Javon Bullard Day certainly was a success, as Huley Park was transformed into a festival grounds last Saturday.
Bullard is fresh off his second season with the Green Bay Packers, where he continued to solidify himself as a starter in the secondary. Bullard appears penciled in next season as the Packers’ starter at nickelback, which is basically a fifth defensive back (five defensive backs on the field at the same time is a 'nickel' defense in football). Bullard is entering the third year of his fouryear, $6.7 million rookie contract, and his base salary next season is set at $1.4 million.
The 'second contract' in the NFL is where players really cash in, and the goal for Bullard is to continue to show his value in the 2026 and 2027 seasons. Right around this time next year will be pivotal from a contract standpoint. The Packers have a propensity for re-signing valued players to long-term contracts during the final year of a rookie deal, and 2027 will be the final year of Bullard’s rookie deal. The other option for Bullard, of course, is to play out the 2027 season and enter free agency.
Bullard was worried about none of that last Saturday, however, and the only goal was to have fun and enjoy the homecoming.
'Today has been amazing. It exceeded expectations. I can’t thank the city enough,' Bullard said as the event was wrapping up. 'I wouldn’t be the person I am without this city, and I’m so appreciative and honored and thankful for the city.'
In April 2024, Bullard became the sixth Milledgeville man ever drafted by the NFL after the Packers selected him in the second round. For a quick NFL Draft/Baldwin County history lesson, Earnest Byner was the first. Byner was drafted in round No. 10 of the 1984 draft, back before the draft was shortened to seven rounds. Sulecio Sanford, a BHS and Middle Tennessee State product, was taken in the seventh round of the 1999 Draft. John Milledge Academy’s J.T. Wall was selected in the seventh round of the 2003 NFL draft. Clemson linebacker Leroy Hill went in round No. 3 in 2005, while BHS and Florida Gator product Maurice Hurt was selected in the seventh round of the 2011 draft.
Bullard had one of the most storied college careers in Georgia Bulldogs history. He finished his college career with just as many national championships as losses – two. He was the Defensive MVP of both the College Football Playoff semifinal game and national championship game in 2022.