Love Ready To Be New Leader of Pack

A new quarterback means a new leader. Jordan Love will bring his own leadership style to the Green Bay Packers.

Author:
Bill Huber
Updated:
May 10, 2023 4:06 PM EDT
Original:
May 10, 2023

In this story:

GREEN BAY, Wis. – There isn’t just a new quarterback for the Green Bay Packers. There’s a new quarterback leading the Packers.

For 15 seasons, Aaron Rodgers wasn’t just the quarterback. He was the leader of the Pack, the face of the franchise and, in many ways, the No. 1 voice in the organization. With the trade of Rodgers to the New York Jets, Jordan Love has ascended into the role of QB1.

It’s a role that goes beyond throwing passes on Sundays.

While Love’s physical tools have been displayed the past two preseasons, a 2021 start at Kansas City, a 2021 relief appearance at Detroit in 2021 and the fourth quarter at Philadelphia in 2022, what does Love look like as a leader?

It sounds like a different approach than that of the exacting Rodgers, who had almost zero tolerance for mental mistakes.

“My main focus is to try to bring guys along, trying to give everybody else confidence in themselves, confidence that I believe in them, I trust them and just try to bring guys up,” Love said on Wednesday, his first conversation with reporters as the full-time starting quarterback.

“I never kind of want to be negative around guys. We all want the same goal. We all want to be great. We all want to work together. And just try to bring guys along.”

For six years, running back Aaron Jones played alongside Rodgers. For the last three years, Jones has watched Love biding his time for the opportunity that’s in front of him.

“Their confidence, the way both of them carry themselves, the way guys respect them in the locker room, the way when they talk they command the locker room or the huddle is, I would say, the biggest ways that they’re alike,” Jones said. “It’s cool to see. Jordan had time to sit back and learn for those three years. He’s ready. He’s going to make the most of his opportunities.”

For Love, the last three years felt like, well, “three years.” Love played a little and practiced a lot. What he couldn’t do was lead.

“You’re right, it is hard to lead when you’re not the guy. And he knows he’s the guy now,” coach Matt LaFleur said after the draft. “So, I think it just instills confidence in him and I think his teammates. He’s earned the respect by his actions, the way he works from all his teammates, I would say. I’m excited for him. It’s going to be a process but one that I know that he can handle.”

Rodgers was the face of the franchise for most of his run as the starter. Love will have to progress into that role. For now, though, he’s one of the leaders of the locker room as the new starter at the most important position in the game.

“It’s exciting,” Love said. “I think there’s a lot of energy around it for myself, and I think I can step up and be a little bit more vocal and things like that knowing that I’m the guy and not being a backup. I think from that aspect it changed a little bit.”

By going about his business without complaint and by working hard behind the scenes for three years, Love has won the support of his teammates. Now, it’s Love’s time. He’ll have the support of those around him.

“He has everyone’s respect and he works, just like everybody else,” Jones said. “We all love Jordan here and, like I said he has everyone’s full respect, and we’re all going to go lay it out on the line for him.”