Year 1 of the Jordan Love-era could not have much better.
Love made all 19 starts, threw 37 touchdown passes and just 13 interceptions while leading the Green Bay Packers to the NFC Divisional playoffs. During a two-month window between Week 11 and Green Bay’s NFC divisional playoff game at San Francisco, Love had a stretch where he threw a remarkable 23 touchdowns and just one interception.
Love completed 409 of 634 passes (64.5%) for 4,625 yards and finished with a 98.5 passer rating. For comparison sake, Aaron Rodgers threw 28 touchdowns and 13 interceptions during his first year as a starter in 2008 and had a passer rating of 93.8.
“He had a hell of a year,” Packers coach Matt LaFleur said of Love.
Now, Love is poised to cash in with a huge contract — potentially before the 2024 season begins.
Love, who’s entering the final year of his contract, has been attending the Packers’ organized team activities and met with reporters Tuesday. Here are five takeaways from Love.
1. Participation is paramount
In May, 2023, the Packers signed Love to a one-year, $13.5 million contract extension instead of exercising his fifth-year option. That deal allows Love to become a free agent at the end of the season, although it’s a virtual certainty he’ll never hit the open market.
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Love is a rising star in the league, a legitimate MVP candidate and Green Bay’s future at the position.
Because OTA’s are voluntary, Love could have certainly skipped them while he awaits a new deal. But he felt it was important to be available for this young Green Bay team.
“Yeah I mean that's just something that I've always done, trying to be here, get the reps in, get the work in with the guys and just start building that chemistry and getting ready for the season,” Love said. “I mean I think that's always a part of it, just showing up and the other guys will follow, too. I mean it's a testament to everybody wanting to be here.”
2. What if?
Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes still has the NFL’s largest overall contract valued at $450 million. Cleveland’s Deshaun Watson has the most guaranteed money at $230 million. And Cincinnati’s Joe Burrow has the highest annual average at $55 million per year.
Love will likely wind up with one of the NFL’s top quarterbacking contracts before the 2024 season begins. If that doesn’t happen, though, would he play on his current one-year deal?
“We'll see,” he said. “I don't know yet. We'll see.”
3. Live and learn
Green Bay led the 49ers, 21-14, heading to the fourth quarter of its divisional playoff game. In the final period, though, Love threw two interceptions and the 49ers rallied for a 24-21 win.
Love hopes to learn from those mistakes in 2024.
“It’s something that’s always with you,” Love said of those late-game interceptions. “But at the end of the day, that’s what you’ve got to do, is you’ve got to learn from it, be able to watch it, break it down, see what went wrong, learn from it and grow and move on.
“But that’s all my mistakes that I made throughout the season. I had a good amount of interceptions where you go back and see what you did wrong, see what you could have done better and learn from it and grow and try and just move on to the next play, move on to the next season. It’s something that is always there.”
4. Chemistry lesson
A year ago, Love was a first-time starter at quarterback. Wideouts Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs were just second-year players, while receivers Jayden Reed and Dontayvion Wicks, along with tight ends Luke Musgrave and Tucker Kraft were all rookies.
It took Love and that group half of the season to get into sync.
Now, Love and his pass catchers are miles ahead of where they were 12 months ago.
“Yeah it's night and day,” Love said. “Last year you have a lot of guys, young receivers that are learning the playbook, that the timing, the chemistry is just not really there yet and we go out there today and it’s just night and day.
“Guys know exactly where they're going to be at. We have so much chemistry from last year and built-up reps that we just kinda have a good feel and chemistry and know where guys are going to be at and know what we need to do. So it’s definitely a big difference.”
5. Unfinished business
Green Bay’s season-ending loss to San Francisco was a driving force for many Packers this offseason — including Love.
Green Bay felt it was as good as anyone left in the postseason when it let a late lead slip away to the 49ers. And the Packers are excited to start chasing a Lombardi trophy in 2024.
“I think every year I’ve been here, you make it to the playoffs, it’s going to be a tough loss or you’re winning the whole thing,” Love said. “Last year obviously, that 49ers game, being that close, a game we had right there and kind of let slip away from us, it’s tough. It definitely fueled us.
“Everybody was hungry in the locker room after and ready to get back to work and ready to get back here. Everybody being here, you can see how hungry guys are to get back to work and get ready for this season.”
