There are few Green Bay Packers players that were so universally loved, and remain so, than wide receiver Donald Driver. Known for his warm bright smile and choreographed dance celebrations, Driver is the Packers’ all-time leader in receiving yards and remains a fixture in the community with his charity work.
Driver was also one of the players on the team that saw Green Bay decide to draft a young Aaron Rodgers in 2005. He witnessed the fallout from the fans, the disgruntled Favre, and the messy aftermath of the Packers’ decision to move on from Favre after a 13-3 season in 2007.
He was, of course, on the 2008 Packers team that saw Rodgers as the starting quarterback for the first time, a team that went 6-10. Driver was also on the 2010 team that went from nearly eliminated from the NFL Playoffs to Super Bowl glory.
In other words, Driver has experienced the same thing that the current Packers team is facing now. The struggles, the questions, the uncertainty of whether or not the decision to move on from a future Hall of Fame quarterback was the right one.
While many fans and analysts are ready to move on from Jordan Love after a rough three-game stretch, Driver has a different message for them to consider.
Donald Driver Encourages Green Bay Packers Fans to Be Patient with Jordan Love
In a recent interview with Fox News Digital, Driver talked about the decision to move on from Rodgers to Love, and addressed some of the recent hate that the Packers’ new starting quarterback is receiving from fans:
“At the end of the day, Green Bay Packers fans, we have been spoiled. We’ve had two Hall of Fame quarterbacks over the last 30 years. You can’t complain about that, right? And both of them turned out to be Hall of Famers and great players. But Jordan Love can be that, too.
“It’s gonna take him time. I think the Packers organization is willing to give him time. He sat three years behind Aaron. Aaron sat two or three years behind Brett. So, it’s a learning thing. It’s a process. Jordan Love has gotta have the talent around him to be successful. That’s what it’s gonna take.”
This stance from Driver is the same one that has been voiced by other former Packers and NFL players such as Kurt Warner, Gilbert Brown, and Kurt Benkert.
The Green Bay Packers Have Not Given Jordan Love a Good Supporting Cast
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It is impossible to fairly compare Love in his first year as a starter to Rodgers’ and Favre’ first years starting. Not only did they all happen in different eras of football, but both Rodgers and Favre benefited from having veteran wide receivers and multiple Pro Bowl offensive lineman blocking for them in Year One.
Love and the Packers lost David Bakhtiari after Week One. Aside from Zach Tom, the rest of the offensive line, including Elgton Jenkins, have struggled. While pass protection has not been a major concern most weeks, the run blocking has been horrendous.
As everyone is painfully aware, the Packers have no veteran wide receivers beyond the three receivers they drafted last year in Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, and Samori Toure. And none of them are what one might consider “established.” Rodgers had Driver and Greg Jennings; Favre had Sterling Sharpe.
Driver’s point, then, is that Packers fans need to be patient and wait for the talent to develop around Love and/or wait for the team to be able to afford quality players in free agency.
And that will take time.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Donald Driver a Hall of Famer?
Yes, Donald Driver is a Hall of Famer. He was inducted into the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame on July 22 after an impressive 14-year career with the team. As a standout wide receiver for the Alcorn State University Braves, his status as a legendary player for the Packers is solidified.
When did Donald Driver retire from the Packers?
Donald Driver retired from the Green Bay Packers on January 31, 2013, after spending his entire 14-season career with the team. He made the announcement on ESPN2's Mike and Mike in the Morning. Throughout his career, Driver only missed four games, with his last absence being on November 18, 2012. This marked the end of his successful journey with the Packers.
