A first-round pick when the Green Bay Packers already had a future Hall of Famer at quarterback. Three years as a backup. Then the predecessor is traded to the New York Jets, and he finally has a chance to start. The similarities in Aaron Rodgers' and Jordan Love's trajectories are insane, and they are becoming even crazier.

After 11 starts — not counting Love's single game against the Kansas City Chiefs in 2021 —, Rodgers and Love had the exact same number of passing yards and total touchdowns. It's hard to believe, but it's true.

Aaron Rodgers through 11 games in 2008	Jordan Love through 11 games in 2023
2,599 passing yards	2,599 passing yards
17 passing TDs	19 passing TDs
9 INTs	10 INTs
21 total touchdowns	21 total touchdowns
5-6 record	5-6 record

It's obviously too early to make any definitive statements about what Jordan Love is or will be, but he has progressed during the season, which is everything the Packers could want.

After two strong starts against the Chicago Bears and Atlanta Falcons early on, Love struggled. But over the last month, everything seems to be on the right track again — including the command of the offense, something head coach Matt LaFleur praised after the Thanksgiving game.

"It's night and day," LaFleur stressed. "And it's given us a lot of confidence to be a little bit more aggressive with some of the calls. And just when you're trusting your offensive line, when you're trusting your quarterback to facilitate and get the ball where it needs to go and throw on rhythm, that allows you to do that."

During the win over the Lions, Jordan Love had the best passer rating (125.5) in a single start of his young NFL career. It was the third time this season in which he had three touchdowns and no interceptions in a game.

Aaron Rodgers early career

Aaron Rodgers hadn't had any start before becoming the full-time starter in 2008 — even though he played extensive time against the Dallas Cowboys in 2007. Rodgers finished his first season at the helm with 4,038 passing yards, 28 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions, with a 93.8 passer rating.

He reached his individual peak in the fourth season as a starter in 2011, when he won the MVP for the first time and had an NFL record 122.5 passer rating, with 45 touchdowns and six interceptions.

Is the Pro Bowl a reality?

Rodgers made the Pro Bowl for the first time in his second season as a starter, in 2009. There is still plenty of time left, but Jordan Love has a shot this year.

Considering the EPA+CPOE composite metric, Love is seventh in the NFC, and Kirk Cousins is out for season. The players ahead of him: Brock Purdy, Dak Prescott, Jalen Hurts, Jared Goff, and Baker Mayfield. There's also the potential for Love to enter the game as a replacement option, but this is another conversation.

Contract situation

Aaron Rodgers extended with the Packers for the first time during the 2008 season, and it was a long-term deal. Now, the situation is different. The looming fifth-year option forced the Packers to find an early solution, and the team gave Love a short-term deal, getting him under contract through 2024.

Eventually, both parties will sit again and talk about the future. If Love keeps his ascending trajectory, it will certainly result in a long commitment from the Packers.

There are six games left this season for Green Bay, and more if they reach the playoffs — something the Packers didn't do in Rodgers' first year as a starter.

It's a different reality and they are different players, but it's impressive how similar their stories are, and how the Packers have been able to make two similar quarterback transitions.

Back and forth between LaFleur and Love defined Packers big-play

Watson opened the game with a 53-yard reception