Reminiscent of Patrick Mahomes, Packers’ Jordan Love Admits Childhood Love for Another Game Before Taking Up Football
Follow Us
Jordan Love was just 14 years old when his father died. But the Bakersfield PD sergeant Orbin had already passed on the one pipedream to his son—playing the quarterback position in the NFL. And boy, did he conquer! But before the bright lights of the gridiron shone, for Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love, the crack of the bat initially captured his youthful passion before the pigskin stole his heart, even though that meant his parents cussing him out.
During a mic’d-up segment at a Dodgers game in collaboration with the Bleacher Report, Love said, “I played baseball till middle school and I stopped playing.. once the pitches started getting faster. I was like, shoot.” His reaction to a ball nearly nailing in the stands showed a baseball fanboy, “I ain’t going to lie, I froze up. I seen that coming. I said that better not be coming over here cuz I’m not catching that.”
Love’s baseball nostalgia was on full display. Whether it was admiring a stolen base with glee, “That’s what I like, stealing bases right there. That’s my stuff, that’s excited! Imma get up in it” or missing Mookie Betts’ home run despite his plea, “I need to see a home run, I got to see one!” The QB couldn’t help but get wrapped up in the drama of the diamond until the Dodgers’ 5-4 victory over Giants.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Love’s baseball journey didn’t just end in middle school. His talent on the diamond carried over to high school, where he excelled as a dual-sport athlete. “Believe it or not, in college in the summertime, I used to be umpiring baseball games. I’d literally be umpiring baseball games. I’d be getting cussed out by parents,” Love revealed. When asked what age level, “It was like 8 to 12 year olds, hey really.”
This path from base paths to end zones is a well-trodden one in the sports world. Legends like Bo Jackson and Deion Sanders have shown that elite athleticism often transcends a single playing field. As Love etches his name into Packers lore, his baseball roots serve as a reminder that greatness can bloom from unexpected soil. That seamless transition echoes the journey of a fellow quarterback, Patrick Mahomes, who navigated a similar fork in the road.
Mahomes played with the bat and the ball, just like Jordan Love
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Before etching his name in NFL lore, Mahomes was a multi-sport phenom, with baseball scouts drooling over his cannon of an arm and pure athleticism. In true gunslinger fashion, he even tossed a 16-strikeout no-hitter in high school, leaving opposing batters buckled at the knees.
Pro MLB Players Asked Mom Randi About Patrick Mahomes’ Unwavering Love for Baseball in His Childhood
Trending
Big Day in Wilson Family as Ciara & Russell Wilson Celebrate Daughter Sienna’s Birthday
April 29, 2024 02:44 AM EDT
“Make Em Pay”: Caleb Williams Lights a Fire Under Brendan Rice to Force Antonio Brown’s Reincarnation for Chargers
April 28, 2024 04:39 AM EDT
“Got My Dawg Back”: Travis Hunter Took Over Bodyguard Duties for Shilo Sanders During His Playful Fight With Ryan Garcia
April 28, 2024 09:31 PM EDT
Jerry Jones Trusts Trey Lance to Succeed Dak Prescott as Dallas Cowboys Prepare to Move On From Veteran Stars
April 28, 2024 12:00 PM EDT
Kyle Shanahan Tired of ‘Limited WR’ as Deebo Samuel Could Leave 49ers Instead of Brandon Aiyuk, as Per Colin Cowherd
April 29, 2024 12:30 PM EDT
Get instantly notified of the hottest NFL stories via Google! Click on Follow Us and Tap the Blue Star.
Follow Us
Mahomes’ baseball pedigree runs deep, with his father, Pat, carving out an 11-year Major League career as a reliever. The younger Mahomes seemed destined to follow in those cleat prints, garnering comparisons to flamethrowers like Michael Kopech and earning a 37th-round selection by the Detroit Tigers in 2014. However, the allure of launching bombs on the gridiron proved too captivating for the Texas native to resist.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
While their journeys diverged, with Love embracing football and Mahomes pursuing his NFL dreams post-high school, both quarterbacks share a common thread: the ability to excel at America’s pastimes.
Edited by:
Tushhita Barua