When the Green Bay Packers traded Aaron Rodgers to the New York Jets following the 2022 NFL season, many people (including the team’s own fans) believed the franchise was headed for another Dark Age. Jordan Love, whom the Packers selected in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft to one day replace Rodgers, did not play well in his first career start in 2021 when Rodgers was out with COVID.
Despite the fact that the four-time NFL MVP had a down season in 2022, many believed that Green Bay’s best chance to win the Super Bowl lay with him, and the decision to move on from love signaled a long rebuild.
But while the Packers did “rebuild,” they did so while returning to the postseason after missing the NFL Playoffs with Rodgers the previous year. What is more, Love turned out to be a star in his own right.
Jordan Love Has the Best First Season as a Starter in Green Bay Packers History
While Love and the Packers got off to a slow start in 2023, they went on a late season run during which the new starting quarterback was one of the best players in the NFL. He ended his season with a 64.2% completion percentage, 4,159 passing yards, 32 touchdowns, 11 interceptions, and a 96.1 passer rating.
Not only were these numbers better than Rodgers’ in 2022, they were better than the future Pro Football Hall of Famer’s numbers in his own first year as the team’s starter in 2008. They were also better than Brett Favre‘s all the way back in 1992.
| Quarterback | Completion % | Yards | Touchdowns | Interceptions | Passer Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jordan Love | 64.2% | 4,159 | 32 | 11 | 96.1 |
| Aaron Rodgers | 63.6% | 4,038 | 28 | 13 | 93.8 |
| Brett Favre | 64.1% | 3,227 | 18 | 13 | 85.3 |
As was the case last season, Love got off to a slow start this year based on the standard he set for himself during their push for the postseason. This year, however, he was dealing with multiple injuries (knee and groin) and did not get 100% healthy until only recently.
A big difference, though, is that the team was still successful around him. Now at 10-4, the Packers just need to win next week in order to clinch their second-consecutive appearance in the NFL Playoffs.
Jordan Love Has Tied a Green Bay Packers Record Held by Aaron Rodgers
Love and the Packers defeated the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday Night Football by the score of 30-13. Love completed 20 of his 27 passes for 229 yards, two touchdowns, no interceptions, and a 123.8 passer rating.
It was Love’s 30th career start and his two touchdown passes gave him 56 in those 30 starts. That tied the franchise record for the most touchdown passes through a quarterback’s first 30 starts, a mark also held by Rodgers:
Jordan Love has 56 TD passes through his first 30 career starts.
Tied with Aaron Rodgers for the most in #Packers history. pic.twitter.com/ce47S7x1Al
— Eli Berkovits (@BookOfEli_NFL) December 16, 2024
Favre, surprisingly, had just 36 touchdown passes through his first 30 career starts.
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