Matt LaFleur has telling reaction to Jordan Love question that reveals what could change his national perception in 2026
The Packers head coach knows that it’s much more about team success than real individual performance at this point.
Matt LaFleur knows what he has in quarterback Jordan Love. The Green Bay Packers head coach was asked about what Love could improve in 2026 to become an elite quarterback, and he offered the perfect answer. For LaFleur, Love has already shown enough to warrant that distinction.
“I get so confused by that question every time because I think he’s an elite player,” LaFleur said. “So I don’t know, I’ll let you guys figure that out, what the next step is. I think a lot of times it’s due to team success, and the more success we have, the more people will view him in that light.”
QB wins count for perception, even if they shouldn’t
LaFleur’s response directly addresses Love’s national recognition issue, if there’s one. The Packers have been the seventh seed in the NFC in each of the last three seasons. With Love as the starting quarterback, Green Bay hasn’t won the NFC North division yet, even though Love has led the team to a playoff appearance in each of his three years as a starter.
That combination of individual excellence and team-level limitations has kept Love from earning the broader respect his play deserves. The Packers keep making the playoffs, but they keep entering as a wild card, and perception follows team success far more than individual production.
Individually, Love has been fantastic and one of the most efficient quarterbacks in football. The playoff numbers from last season illustrate the point clearly. Among 15 quarterbacks with at least 10 plays, Love was first in adjusted EPA per play, second in completion percentage over expectation, and second in air yards.
Even with that kind of production, the Packers ended up losing to the Chicago Bears in the wild card round. That result changed the perception around what Love can do and what the Packers are as a team.
Team success is the missing piece
If Love plays at a similar level compared to what he did last year but Green Bay achieves more team success, Love will certainly be more recognized as the type of quarterback he has been in the NFL.
The massive step forward Love took in 2025 is already well-documented within the building. A deeper playoff run is what’s missing for the narrative around him to catch up with what he actually does on the field.
