After three seasons at Utah State, Jordan Love’s ascent on the NFL Draft boards began.
After finishing his junior year at Utah State in 2019 with 3,402 yards, 20 TDs and 17 INTs, the interest was there but it wasn’t as intense for big names from bigger programs including Joe Burrow, Justin Herbert, Tua Tagovailoa and Jalen Hurts overshadowed him.
At the 2020 NFL Draft, the Bengals made Burrow the first overall pick. Miami selected Tua fifth and the Chargers immediately followed with Herbert. From there, 19 other names were called before the Green Bay Packers selected Love.
Some questioned the pick as Aaron Rodgers was still in his prime. They also pointed out that Rodgers needed more help offensively instead of an understudy.
But the Packers obviously had a plan.
Over the next three seasons, Love sat on the bench as the future Hall of Famer’s understudy.
Then this past season, the Packers fleeced the Jets…er, shipped Rodgers to Met Life Stadium and handed the keys to Love.
After 18 weeks of the 2023 NFL season, it’s clear Green Bay made the right move.
In his first full season as the starter, Love threw for 4,192 yards, 32 TDs and 11 INTs while leading the Packers to a 9-8 record. This past weekend, he helped Green Bay upset the Cowboys 48-32 in Dallas with a historic performance in his playoff debut, going 16-21 for 272 yards and 3 TDs, earning him an almost perfect passing rating of 157.2.
Let's talk about Jordan Love.
— First and Pen (@firstandpen) January 15, 2024
Drafted 26th by Packers in 2020.
4th QB taken behind Burrow, Tua & Herbert.
Sat for 3 seasons behind Aaron Rodgers and became GB's starter this season.
Had a great first season, going 9-8 with 4,192 yds, 32 TDs & 11 INTs.
And today..1/2 pic.twitter.com/Y6DHXMXsRq
Love’s 35 TDs this season set the record for the most by a Packers quarterback in their first year. It also places him fourth all-time for TDs thrown by first-year QBs behind Patrick Mahomes (53), Kurt Warner (49) and Daunte Culpepper (36).
That’s elite company to be included with.
Love’s confidence increased with each game this season and he proved he could handle the spotlight in his first playoff experience.
“We came in here with a mindset of we’re going to dominate,” said Love after the game. “A lot of people were counting us out and we didn’t care about that.”
That’s the mindset of a veteran, not a first-year starter.
But Love is not a first-year player. He’s had what many quarterbacks, especially Black quarterbacks, are seldom given- the time and support to develop.
Not only was he given those crucial things, but he had a great QB to learn from, another opportunity many young Black NFL quarterbacks lack.
