ASHWAUBENON, WISCONSIN - AUGUST 01: Jaire Alexander #23 of the Green Bay Packers rides a bike to practice during training camp at Ray Nitschke Field on August 01, 2023 in Ashwaubenon, Wisconsin. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)
The Green Bay Packers faced a wave of criticism last offseason when they traded four-time NFL MVP and future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers to the New York Jets. This bold move was made to pave the way for Jordan Love, the Packers’ 2020 first-round pick, to take over as the team’s starting quarterback. Love had spent three years learning from Rodgers, quarterbacks coach Tom Clements, and head coach Matt LaFleur, preparing for this moment.
When Love took the reins, the skepticism was palpable. The media and even some fans doubted his readiness, drawing parallels to the scrutiny Aaron Rodgers faced when he succeeded Brett Favre in 2008. One of Love’s harshest critics was sports analyst Colin Cowherd, who suggested Love should quit football after a preseason game against the Cincinnati Bengals, where Love completed 7 of 10 passes for 46 yards and a touchdown.
Early in the regular season, Love and his inexperienced group of wide receivers encountered significant growing pains. The Packers had decided to pair their new quarterback with a receiving corps composed entirely of first and second-year players, leading to a rough start. The team’s record fell to 2-5, and some fans began calling for backup quarterback Sean Clifford to take over.
However, Love and his young offense turned things around spectacularly over the next ten games, achieving a 7-3 record and securing the final Wild Card spot in the NFC. Love’s leadership was evident as the Packers scored an impressive 48 points against the Dallas Cowboys in the playoffs before being eliminated by the San Francisco 49ers in the Divisional Round. Love finished the season with a 64.2% completion rate, 4,159 passing yards, 32 touchdowns (second in the NFL), 11 interceptions, and a passer rating of 96.1.
Jordan Love’s remarkable season culminated in a lucrative four-year contract extension worth $220 million, making him one of the highest-paid players in the league with an annual salary of $55 million and a record-breaking $75 million signing bonus. Throughout the 2023 season, one of Love’s staunchest supporters was two-time All-Pro cornerback Jaire Alexander. During training camp, Alexander had confidently declared Love the best quarterback in the NFL.
Alexander reiterated his support for Love in a recent interview, highlighting the quarterback’s substantial new contract as proof of his elite status. “I said he was the best QB last year, and his pay shows that he’s the best QB again,” Alexander stated. He praised Love’s consistent approach to practice and emphasized that Love’s success stems from being true to himself, rather than trying to emulate Rodgers.
In the end, Love’s breakthrough season and subsequent contract extension have silenced his critics and cemented his place as a rising star in the NFL. His journey from understudy to leading the Packers to the playoffs underscores the importance of perseverance and self-belief in the face of doubt.
