Former Packers RB Franklin to intern for team after neck injury ends career

Former Green Bay Packers running back Jonathan Franklin, whose NFL career was cut short by a neck injury, will join the team's front office as an intern.

Franklin was drafted by the Packers in the fourth round (No. 125 overall) of the 2013 NFL draft. He made his NFL debut on Sep. 22 against the Cincinnati Bengals, coming off the bench and running for 103 yards on 13 carries and a touchdown.

Three weeks later, Franklin was injured on the opening kickoff against the Minnesota Vikings.

From Packers.com:

“I don’t even remember getting hit. I just woke up on the ground. The ball came out and I knew it came out but I couldn’t even move to the ball. I was ruled out with a concussion,” Franklin recalled of the play that ended his football career.

Packers head coach Mike McCarthy announced in June that Franklin would not be coming back to the team, and the running back confirmed that his NFL career was over.

Now, Franklin will work with the Packers' front office in the sales and business development, community outreach and media departments.

More from Packers.com:

“It’s a blessing to be part of the organization, to be able to intern, see how things are run behind the scenes. It definitely gives me a different perspective. I see people here at 7:30 in the morning, and they don’t leave until nine o’clock at night. You don’t see that as a player,” Franklin said.

- Sarah Barshop