Michael Pratt makes debut in honor of passed brother

QB Michael Pratt made his professional debut with the Green Bay Packers on Saturday. In doing so, he played for a lost brother who unfortunately never got to see him make it to the NFL.

Pratt spoke about the moment with Cody Krupp of Fox 11 going into the weekend. He said he wanted to honor his brother, Dave Pratt, who suddenly passed just over a year ago in July of 2022, as there was nothing he enjoyed more than watching his siblings compete.

“My big brother, Dave – he was definitely the biggest fan and I know he’ll be watching. So, you know, just having the family there and, you know, getting to celebrate his life and celebrate what he loved to watch which was my sister and I playing sports,” Pratt said. “Definitely means a lot to me, definitely excited to have that opportunity and know that he’s watching.”

Pratt was the 245th overall pick by the Packers in the seventh round of the 2024 NFL Draft. Green Bay drafted him after one of the best careers in school history at Tulane. They’ve since signed him to a four-year deal worth just over four million dollars, including a signing bonus of $86,940.

Last weekend, several members of the Pratt family were able to attend Packers Family Night. A week later, a few were able to return to watch his debut as a player in the NFL.

“Parents. You know, my sister is not going to be able to make it. But parents will be here for sure,” said Pratt. “You know, it was really awesome on Saturday for my family and I. My grandpa was here, both my parents, my cousins. It was awesome.”

One family member who was not present, though, was his niece, Aria, who was Dave’s niece that was born just before his passing. She is who Pratt certainly wants to see for a Green Bay game this season.

“She’s not going to be at the game but hopefully she’ll be coming up, you know, relatively soon for one of them,” Pratt smiled.

Pratt played for a time during the 23-10 win for the Packers over the Cleveland Browns on Saturday. He completed five of seven throws for no touchdowns or interceptions. QBs Jordan Love and Sean Clifford also played for stretches in the victory.

Pratt has had a heavier heart over this last year or so following the death of his older brother. Still, he’s remembering him the best way he knows how by continuing a career that Dave surely would have loved to have seen unfold to today.