IDAHO FALLS — Colby Pearson sat down for lunch, and before he knew it, he had company.

On his first day as a member of the Green Bay Packers, the Blackfoot High School alumnus began eating his meal with All-Pro quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Rodgers asked Pearson who he thought would win the NBA Finals, and the two chatted about the Warriors, who Pearson correctly picked to win the championship.

Pearson went from wishing for an NFL job to chatting with one of the NFL’s premier players. It has all been a part of Pearson’s journey since he graduated BYU. The wide receiver’s latest stop was southeast Idaho, as he signed autographs and gave a speech to the crowd at Friday’s Relay for Life in Idaho Falls at Bonneville High School’s Thunder Stadium.

It was the first time in two months Pearson was back in town. Earlier in the day, he held the first day of his two-day football camp at Blackfoot High School.

“It’s cool to meet him because I’ve been a Packers fan forever,” said Idaho Falls resident Scott Croxford. “To see a guy just starting out is pretty cool.”

Pearson signed a non-guaranteed three-year contract with the Packers on June 1 after going undrafted in the seven-round NFL Draft in April.

Before heading to the Wisconsin-based franchise, Pearson participated in a Chicago Bears rookie minicamp May 12-14 as a safety because the team did not have any open spots at wide receiver. He later returned to Provo, Utah, to finish his degree after leaving Chicago without an offer. The Bears never called back, but the Packers offered a one-day tryout and Pearson took advantage.

“It’s been a blur,” Pearson said. “It happened so fast. I went from doing rookie camp with the Chicago Bears and hoping to make a team to going back to training and getting a call and signing a contract with Green Bay. It’s been an awesome roller coaster ride.”

On his first day as a Packer, Pearson waited for his chance to catch his first pass in practice. When it was his turn in the wide receiver-quarterback drill, Pearson saw that it was Rodgers’ opportunity to throw. Pearson caught the pass, putting a cherry on top of his day.

“It was a baptism by fire,” Pearson said. “I signed a contract in the morning and they said, ‘Hey, suit up, we have practice in an hour.’ I didn’t have any idea what was going on.”

The southeast Idaho community has rallied around Pearson. The 2013 Blackfoot High graduate said he has received countless messages from people reaching out to congratulate him.

“It means a lot to me,” Pearson said. “This is where I came from, and it takes a village to raise a child. I view it that way and hope to put southeast Idaho football on the map.”

Pearson is one of three BYU rookies on the Packers’ roster. Taysom Hill, a Pocatello native and Highland High School graduate, signed as an undrafted free agent May 5, while running back Jamaal Williams was a fourth-round NFL draft selection who signed the same day as Pearson.

Pearson is one of 12 wide receivers on Green Bay’s roster, which will be cut to 53 players no later than 4 p.m. ET on Sept. 3.

“It’s been awesome,” Pearson said. “It’s been a positive experience, hanging out with the guys you see on TV. It’s really cool.”

Packers training camp begins July 27. It will be Pearson’s next opportunity to leave his mark on the franchise’s decision makers.

From hauling in passes from Aaron Rodgers, sitting in meetings with All-Pro wide receivers Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb and to meeting star linebacker Clay Matthews — who Pearson thought looked like Thor — Pearson has already made unforgettable memories, though he hopes his journey doesn’t end in camp.

“It was wild,” Pearson said. “They become normal people after you meet them.”