Aaron Rodgers of the Green Bay Packers Offers An Unexpected Perspective On Jordan Love’s Late-Life Success
Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers will always be associated.
The future Hall of Fame quarterback for the NFL spent nearly two decades with the team, helping them win a Super Bowl and winning MVP of that game. He also won 10 Pro Bowl selections, four first team All-Pro selections, and four more NFL MVP awards during his tenure with the team.
Naturally, there is a lot of discussion about Aaron Rodgers’ eventual departure from a team that many thought he would play for until the end of his career. However, it’s hard to imagine the Green Bay Packers without Rodgers.
Tensions seem to have started to build between Rodgers and the Packers brass even though he posted some of his best statistical seasons after the fact, including back-to-back NFL MVP awards in 2020 and 2021. This was evident when the Packers traded up in the 2020 NFL Draft to select former Utah State quarterback Jordan Love.
Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst said at the time of Love’s selection that the team used its draft procedure and selected Love since he was unquestionably the best player available.
According to Sports Illustrated, Gutekunst stated, “Long story short, eventually, Love was the top guy left, and the gap was widening.” As those players were chosen, it seemed as though we were comfortable taking no other players at that level given the makeup of our board.
Additionally, he clarified that the team had not committed to selecting a quarterback with the first pick. It just so happened that they were able to trade up and acquire Jordan Love.
“We examined it as if it were something we did annually. We assess every player, but for an NFL franchise, a quarterback is unquestionably the most important position, according to Gutekunst. “We give those guys a very close examination. You then position your boards.
Once more, you have no idea what might occur. However, during my tenure in Green Bay, we have never encountered a situation where we felt compelled to acquire a quarterback for the upcoming season. This instance was not unique.
In the end, it seems that the decision was the right one. Despite the fact that the Packers haven’t made it to the Super Bowl since selecting Jordan Love, Rodgers had one of his best statistical seasons in the year that they selected his eventual successor.
He guided the Packers to the NFC Championship game, where they were ultimately defeated by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and he helped Green Bay secure a 13-3 overall record in 2020. While Rodgers and team amassed a 13-4 overall record in 2021, they were defeated by the San Francisco 49ers in the divisional round.
Even though the team was unable to repeat as Super Bowl champions, Rodgers was named NFL MVP in both of those campaigns.
However, the campaign of 2022 was a very different tale. Both Rodgers’ longtime top target, Davante Adams, who was traded to the Raiders, and offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett, who accepted the position of head coach in Denver, were gone.
The combination of those elements, along with a thumb injury he sustained in Week 5, and ongoing rumors of friction between the front office and the franchise quarterback resulted in an overall record of (8-9) and the Green Bay Packers missing the NFL Playoffs for only the third time in their previous thirteen seasons with Aaron Rodgers as the starting signal caller.
In the end, Aaron Rodgers was traded to the New York Jets; however, he has not appeared in a game in 2023 due to an Achilles injury sustained in Week 1.
The narrative of how Rodgers’ selection as the first overall pick of the Green Bay Packers in his rookie season sparked animosity between Love and the team has created a false impression that the two players don’t get along. Rodgers is the four-time NFL MVP.
However, now that things have moved on from both sides and Love seems to have cemented his position as the Packers’ long-term franchise quarterback, Rodgers is all praise for Love and his performance.
During his Tuesday visit on Pat McAfee’s show, Rodgers was asked about Love’s recent success, particularly in the last three weeks.
One of the co-hosts questioned the Jets signal caller, “Have you been surprised with what he’s done with the Packers over the last few weeks here, kind of confirming that maybe the Packers do finally have the next guy after Aaaron and he’s going to be the guy for the future?”
Without hesitating, Rodgers said, “No, No, I’m not.”
In particular, he has played exceptionally well in the last three games. Can we not crown him now that he is in his first year of starting and playing? for his own benefit. Because it is wrong to crown, cancel, or otherwise treat children in that way.
Rodgers went on to elaborate on his feelings.
“I adore Jordan and believe he will be a fantastic player in the league for many years to come, but can we please allow him to pursue his career? I’m not shocked by Jordan’s performance; in fact, I’m thrilled for him.
Rodgers continued by saying that even though he wishes his departure from the Green Bay Packers had gone differently and acknowledges that he could have handled things better, he still has a great deal of affection for the team, keeps in touch with former players, and has been following the new starting quarterback throughout the season.
All things considered, it’s encouraging to hear one of the greatest players in Packers history speak out and offer support to the young quarterback he helped develop before being traded.
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