Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) and quarterback Jordan Love (10) listen to head coach Matt LaFleur during the fourth quarter of their game Sunday, December 4, 2022 at Soldier Field in Chicago, Ill. The Green Bay Packers beat the Chicago Bears 28-19.
The Green Bay Packers have been one of, if not the most fortunate franchise in the entire NFL regarding quarterback play since Brett Favre took the reins as QB1 in 1992.
To have Hall of Fame quarterback play spanning nearly three decades is a luxury most franchises could only dream of. But finding a way to prolong their unprecedented success while rolling out a generational quarterback talent like Aaron Rodgers was a situation that would later prove that time is indeed a flat circle–at least in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
The Packers Decision to Draft Aaron Rodgers Successor, Jordan Love
When Brian Gutekunst, the Green Bay Packers general manager, selected Jordan Love in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft, the move raised eyebrows and sparked ongoing speculation.
After all, the Packers already had one of the best quarterbacks in the league–Aaron Rodgers. Still, he was coming off his second straight pedestrian season (by his standards), leaving some within the organization wondering how long until the hourglass runs out of sand.
To some, it was a head-scratcher that the Packers would use such a valuable pick on a quarterback who might not see the field for years while they were in a window of contention, no less.
But Gutekunst had a plan, and it was an intelligent one because the worst time to be in the market for a quarterback is when you need one. And he knew full well that the transition to the NFL is challenging, especially for a young quarterback.
What the Front Office Saw in Jordan Love
In Jordan Love, Gutey saw a talented young signal-caller with enormous potential and knew he had the perfect situation to develop him.
The 6-foot-4 QB would have the opportunity to learn and grow in Green Bay’s offensive system under the guidance of head coach Matt LaFleur and a future Hall of Famer.
“Being able to be in Green Bay and be behind Aaron Rodgers, that’s one of the guys I grew up watching, learned how to do it from him,” Love said on draft day. “I would say that this is a really good situation to be in, not being thrown out there. I’m behind one of the great quarterbacks in the league. So just being able to sit behind him and learn, what’s better than that?”
Gutekunst and his scouting department had been tracking Love for years, and they saw in him a rare combination of physical tools and mental acuity. Love had a strong arm, mobility, and the ability to improvise under pressure. However, he had some significant flaws that needed to be ironed out.
“As far as his skill set, he’s a very natural thrower, can make all the throws, he’s a very good athlete, he has the kind of size we look for,” said Gutekunst on draft day. “I just think there’s some rawness to him, but I just think he’s got everything in front of him.”
Why the Timing Was Perfect for the Green Bay Packers
The front office became enamored with the raw tools and immense upside of Jordan Love, but more importantly, they saw an opportunity for him to learn from one of the best quarterbacks in history-a chance to have their cake and eat it too.
Rodgers had long been a mentor to the Packers’ younger quarterbacks, and he had a reputation for being generous with his time and knowledge.
“I’ll say this: The guy has been such an incredible mentor for Jordan,” coach LaFleur said last season. “He has done such a great job of communicating…It is pretty special. It’s like having another coach in the room.”
And Love would also benefit from working with head coach Matt LaFleur, who had already proven himself to be an innovative and successful offensive mind from the Shannahan/McVay coaching tree. It’s also worth noting that LaFleur’s system drastically differed from the spread system he ran at Utah State, so there would be an adjustment period.
Still, the coaching staff felt he would be a perfect fit, given his skill set, if he could develop within that system over time.
The Green Bay Packers Front Office Played Russian Roulette
The concept of the Green Bay Packers drafting a quarterback while they already had one of the leagues best in place is familiar to fans of the franchise.
Gutekunst’s mentor, Ted Thompson, laid out a similar succession plan during his time as GM, while controversial, that helped transition the Packers from Brett Favre as their quarterback into the Aaron Rodgers era and prolong their window of contention.
Of course, this plan isn’t foolproof. There were plenty of risks involved in drafting Jordan Love. The move was a clear signal that the Packers were planning for the future, and it caused tension between Rodgers and the front office in a way that was never truly repaired.
But Gutekunst was willing to take those risks because he believed in Love’s potential and saw the long-term benefits of having a talented young quarterback waiting in the wings.
Thus far, Love has appeared in 10 games, completing 50 of his 83 pass attempts for 606 yards, three touchdowns, and three interceptions, with a QBR of 79.7.
But he has been working hard behind the scenes, learning the playbook and improving his footwork. And he has the full support of his teammates and coaches, who believe in his ability to lead the franchise following the offseason trade of Aaron Rodgers to the New York Jets.
Final Thoughts
In the end, the decision to draft Love was a bold and forward-thinking move by Gutekunst, one that could pay off for the Packers in the years to come if the former first-round pick pans out.
Does anybody know for sure that the former Utah State product will hit the ground running? No. But there have been enough encouraging signs to suggest he’s worth an extended look.
By giving Love a chance to learn and develop in the Packers’ system under the guidance of LaFleur and Rodgers, Gutekunst set the stage for a (hopefully) smooth transition on the field.
“We’re excited about him. I think I’ve expressed to a lot of people that he needs to play. That’s the next step in his progression. He needs to play,” Gutekunst told reporters at the NFL scouting combine. “Jordan’s done a great job working hard, so he’s doing everything we’re asking.”
And by following in Ted Thompson’s footsteps, Brian Gutekunst gave Green Bay the platform to pass the baton from Rodgers to Jordan Love, hoping to replicate the same level of success.
Now it’s time to see if the Green Bay Packers can strike gold for a third consecutive time.
