Aaron Rodgers praises Jordan Love's performance for the Packers
The last couple of years haven't been easy in the relationship between the Green Bay Packers management and quarterback Aaron Rodgers, which ended up leading to his trade to the New York Jets back in April. It's a fairly similar story to his predecessor, Brett Favre, fifteen years earlier. However, one aspect of the story […]
The last couple of years haven't been easy in the relationship between the Green Bay Packers management and quarterback Aaron Rodgers, which ended up leading to his trade to the New York Jets back in April. It's a fairly similar story to his predecessor, Brett Favre, fifteen years earlier. However, one aspect of the story has been totally different: the relationship between the future Hall of Famer and the guy picked by the Packers to be the successor.
Rodgers has always talked good things about Jordan Love, and their connection seemed to be better. In the 2000s, Favre said multiple times that his job wasn't to mentor Rodgers. But Rodgers himself was closer to Jordan Love. And now that Love is the starter, Rodgers has publicly praised the new Packers QB.
On his weekly appearance on the Pat McAfee Show on Tuesday, for instance, Rodgers said he texted Love after the Thanksgiving game to congratulate him for the performance in the win over the Detroit Lions.
"I sent J a message after Thanksgiving, he played awesome. That was a big win," Rodgers said. "Jordan is a great kid, people are getting to see his ability and his progression."
Succession plan
Jordan Love was drafted by the Packers in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft. By that point on, Aaron Rodgers relationship with general manager Brian Gutekunst and the Packers management became unstable at best. In 2021, Rodgers asked to be traded, and the Packers refused to do so. In 2022, the parties agreed to an extension, and this year the veteran quarterback was traded. In the meantime, Rodgers won two MVP awards, and Jordan Love was the backup for three years.
During this period, Love's only start was in 2021, against the Kansas City Chiefs — the same team Love and the Packers will face next Sunday.
Rodgers has played four snaps for the New York Jets before suffering a serious Achilles injury in week 1. He said the door is open for an in-season return, but it will depend on his health and the Jets chances of making the playoffs.
Friendship
Even though the Jordan Love pick triggered the end of the Aaron Rodgers era in Green Bay, the two quarterbacks have a relatively close relationship. During the season, they both shared instances of message exchanges.
Right after the Packers beat the Chicago Bears in week 1, Rodgers said he congratulated Love.
"I said congratulations on keeping the ownership in place," Rodgers said at the time. "That was pretty awesome for him."
And after Rodgers' Achilles injury, Love mentioned he had texted Rodgers to check how the former teammate was doing.
"I can't speak for him, but I know him. He's a very competitive person, and I have no doubt he'll be back," Love added. "He'll kill it in recovery and be back."
Film breakdown: Jordan Love gives signs he’s the Packers QB of the future
Love has played better over the last month
