Jordan Love was never supposed to be Aaron Rodgers. But Green Bay didn’t pay him $220 million to be a placeholder, either. After a promising 2023 season, the Packers doubled down on their belief in the former first-round pick with a four-year extension. It was justified, though. Love threw for 4,159 yards and 32 touchdowns while leading a young roster to a playoff win in Dallas. He answered the noise. The decision-making improved, the downfield accuracy clicked, and the kid who once held a clipboard behind Rodgers looked like a quarterback capable of carrying a franchise.

But as 2024 wore on, that image began to blur. What started as a minor knee sprain in Week 1 became something more layered — an MCL tweak that lingered beneath the surface of a campaign marked by physical attrition. Love battled through groin tightness, elbow inflammation, and residual knee soreness throughout the year, per multiple team sources. The Packers downplayed the severity publicly, but inside the building, concern grew as the season wore on. Love’s footwork occasionally unraveled under pressure, and his timing over the middle lagged behind his outside rhythm throws. In the Wild Card win over Dallas, he posted a perfect 157.2 passer rating. But in the Divisional Round against San Francisco, he threw two costly interceptions, including a late-game misread on a dagger concept, reigniting questions about his decision-making in high-leverage moments.

And the questions still linger. On the May 2 episode of The Facility, Chase Daniel, former NFL QB, emphasized that there is room and a need for improvement. “1 in 2 record in the playoffs that’s where I think the put up or shut up time comes,” he noted. “You know, he’s a franchise quarterback. Now, when it comes to the playoffs, you have that great playoff win against Dallas smoked them two years ago in 2023. And then he only lost by three to the 49ers in the divisional round,” Daniel further added. 

Love’s potential doesn’t go unnoticed, that’s for sure. But he is not at his best; that is a glaringly obvious stance. “Look, last year did not go well…he missed a lot of time. He was hurt the whole year. And I think that his coming back into the season…there’s some situational awareness that needs to happen.” Daniel stressed that the young quarterback can’t afford to repeat the mistakes of last season, injuries or not.“When you get into the playoffs, you’ve got to be able to perform.” 

The front office, in public, seems content. LaFleur has praised Love’s leadership and toughness. General manager Brian Gutekunst told reporters in March he remains “very confident” in Love’s long-term upside. They made no serious push for a veteran backup this offseason, signaling trust in Love’s ability to bounce back.

Jordan Love is still hopeful

Love didn’t need to say much about how 2024 ended. On The Rich Eisen Show in April, he offered a succinct reflection: “Still got a bad taste from the last game in Philly.” It was a reminder of how sharply Green Bay’s season veered off course—and how personally Love took it. But he wasn’t dwelling. He spoke instead of mobility work, of refining footwork and extending plays with his legs. “Being able to, you know, get on the move, scramble a little bit more,” he said, noting an offseason emphasis on adding tools to a still-developing repertoire.

That self-awareness, paired with a growing sense of ownership, has defined Love’s offseason. In a separate appearance on Up & Adams, he turned the spotlight toward teammate Jaire Alexander. “Just the play style he plays with, who he is on the field—I mean, that’s a guy we need to have around,” Love said. Alexander, who was sidelined for the final seven games of 2024 with a knee injury, is currently reported to be embroiled in trade talks. Love’s message was subtle but pointed: he sees Alexander as essential to the team’s defensive identity, and he’s not afraid to say it.

But, his offseason hasn’t just been about introspection. In June, Love will return to his roots, co-hosting the Change the Game Quarterback Camp in Anaheim alongside his longtime private coach Steve Calhoun. It’s the same camp where he once trained as a teenager. Now, he’ll be the one mentoring the next wave of young passers.

This is the version of Jordan Love that the Packers were betting on. One who owns the past, leans into leadership, and understands that the job isn’t just about Sunday throws—it’s about showing up everywhere else, too.