Jordan Love has his Packers in the Divisional Round ready to take on the 49ers. But before this year, how long did he back up Aaron Rodgers?
One of the more fun stories of the NFL season, and now the playoffs, has been the emergence of Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love. Love has the youngest team in the NFL in the Divisional Round, heading west to take on the No. 1 seed San Francisco 49ers. While they are surely not satisfied, just getting here surely has the Cheeseheads excited for the future.
While Love is seeing success in just his first season as the starting quarterback, it is not his first season in the league overall, though. Before getting this opportunity, Love had the chance to learn behind NFL great Aaron Rodgers. But just how long did Love sit and wait behind Rodgers for this opportunity? Let’s take a deeper dive.
How Long Did Jordan Love Back Up Aaron Rodgers?
Love was drafted in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft by the Green Bay Packers. While they had Aaron Rodgers already under center playing at a high level, the team still opted to make a move for the future anyway.
Love spent two full seasons behind Rodgers watching the future Hall of Fame QB game plan, prepare, and eventually dissect defenses on Sunday.
In Love’s first season with the Packers, Rodgers was stellar. He won his second consecutive league MVP award and put up 4,115 passing yards and 37 touchdown passes while throwing only four interceptions.
While he won the award that year, it was a statistical down year for Rodgers compared to his 2020 MVP campaign, when he compiled 4,299 passing yards and 48 touchdown passes with only five interceptions.
As you look at Rodgers’ numbers, one could wonder why the team made the selection of Love in the first place, as their current QB was showing no signs of slowing down.
However, the Packers stuck to their convictions with the pick and, as a result, have been able to go from Rodgers to a young QB with as bright a future as anyone in the league.
Fast forward to the current season. Rodgers is in New York, and Love has been handed the keys to the kingdom in Green Bay as the team turns its attention to the future of the franchise.
Love Has Impressed in Year 1
In his first year as a starter in the NFL, Love has not disappointed. He has thrown for 4,159 passing yards, 32 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions en route to a playoff berth and an upset victory over a good Dallas Cowboys team in the NFL Wild Card Round.
The Packers as an organization had hoped they were making the right decision when they decided that it was Love’s time to take over. The fact is, it’s hard to argue with the results. While Rodgers is coming off a torn Achilles he suffered in Week 1 of this season, Love has his team readying to take on the 49ers in the NFC Divisional Round.
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The Packers had always hoped it would be a seamless transition from one talented QB to another, but in an honest moment, they would probably tell you that Love and Co. have exceeded early expectations at this point.
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