Arriving in Green Bay is a kind of homecoming for Brayden Narveson

GREEN BAY – The move to the Packers isn’t technically a homecoming for Brayden Narveson, but so far it has certainly felt like it.

Before Arizona-born Narveson signed with the Tennessee Volunteers as a non-drafted free agent this spring, he had an interview with Green Bay Packers assistant special teams coach Byron Storer ahead of the 2024 NFL Draft.

The 24-year-old kicker then told his fiancée Shelby Murphy about the conversation. The future Mrs. Narveson is from Prescott, Wisconsin, and was excited about the prospect of her future husband starting his NFL career in her home state.

“We talked about how fun it would be if I played for the Packers one day,” Narveson said. “She said, ‘Oh my God, I don’t know what I would do.'”

Well, the pair found out last week when Green Bay claimed Narveson off waivers from the Titans. In four days, he will become the first undrafted rookie to kick in a regular season game for the Packers since Ryan Longwell in 1997.

Brayden and Shelby were married in July, and their honeymoon in Mexico is the real reason the big-legged kicker has a pass for Friday’s game against the Philadelphia Eagles in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Before that, Narveson said, he had never been abroad.

Narveson had a strong training camp in Tennessee and thought he could still land on the Titans’ practice squad after being released last week, but instead the Packers called and offered him a spot on their 53-man roster.

This was accompanied by much jubilation.

“It was just a lot of excitement,” Narveson said. “When I called and told (my wife) that I was signed by the Packers, she said, ‘You can’t be serious.’ She hung up and immediately called her parents. So she was probably more excited than I was, but also very thankful for me.”

Shelby was obviously thrilled to learn her husband was joining the Packers – not only because of the natural ties to Wisconsin, but also because of Narveson’s preseason performance.

After playing at four schools in six college seasons, Narveson said the Titans were the only team he spoke to right before the 2024 NFL Draft. Tennessee had chosen 39-year-old Nick Folk but was open to developing a younger kicker behind the 16-year veteran.

The 6’0″ and 215lb kicker was responsible for most of the kicks in the preseason, converted 6 of 7 field goals (one hit from 55 yards and his only miss from 58 yards) and scored two extra points.

The performance caught the attention of the Packers. After a topsy-turvy competition between Anders Carlson and Greg Joseph, Green Bay claimed Narveson.

The sample size was small but promising last week, with Narveson already kicking twice, starting with last Thursday’s night practice at blustery Lambeau Field.

Narveson reported that he made 5 of 5 from 58 yards. He also sank first kicks from 48 and 56 yards, both into the wind. Narveson said he kicked six more times during team time on Sunday and made 5 of 6, with one miss from 51 yards but one hit from 53 yards.

“I saw enough to have confidence in him,” head coach Matt LaFleur said. “I know Rich (Bisaccia), Byron and Kyle (Wilber) and our scouting department really liked him coming out of college. He was one of the guys on a short list of guys they would like to work with. Obviously, when he became available, you saw what we did. We grabbed him.”

Narveson brings a lot of confidence to Green Bay, which he attributes to the coaches who have put their trust in him since high school.

Experience has also helped him. At Desert Mountain High School in Scottsdale, Arizona, he once scored a 58-yard field goal. Last year, Narveson managed the longest kick of his college career.

“When people start believing in you, like when I hit a 50-yard throw in college against Duke, it all adds up,” Narveson said. “All of that makes you better day by day. I’m very thankful that I had coaches who believed in me over the long haul.”

Narveson is aware of the pressure that comes with kicking in the NFL. This Friday, his kicks will be broadcast to a worldwide audience. While that may make him a little nervous, Narveson has earned the right to show how hard he has worked to get here.

His wife – and the entire city of Prescott – will cheer him on.

“She said, ‘I’m going to be the coolest person in my hometown,'” Narveson said, laughing. “I said, ‘All right. I’m happy for you.'”