The Green Bay Packers have a great deal of work to do in order to prepare for the 2026 NFL season. While they made the NFL Playoffs for the third year in a row in 2025, the fact of the matter is that they fell well short of the expectations they had for themselves last season. They did not retake the NFC North despite leading the division early in the year, and they did not get past the Wild Card round in the postseason.
It was clear, too, from comments that newly extended general manager Brian Gutekunst made during his press conference this week that he was far from pleased with how the season ended. And the player who may benefit the most based on these comments is quarterback Jordan Love.
Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst addressed the offensive line
One of the biggest question marks regarding Green Bay’s roster this off-season is the offensive line. Rasheed Walker and Sean Rhyan are set to become free agents, and Elgton Jenkins is likely going to be a salary cap casualty.
Indeed, the only starting offensive lineman from 2025 that fans feel good about returning is right tackle Zach Tom because Aaron Banks underwhelmed in his first season with the team.
And based on comments Gutekunst made earlier this week, he is not going to stand for a repeat performance from the players tasked with protecting the franchise quarterback:
“You know how I feel about versatility, we’ve talked a lot about that up here. They need to be able to play multiple spots, and I don’t really care where they think they may be better, when they’re in, they need to perform.”
These comments indicate that the Packers are going to expect more from their offensive line, which will likely feature former first round pick Jordan Morgan at left tackle. Having better protection (and run blocking, for that matter) is only going to spell good things for Love as quarterback.
The Green Bay Packers need to match Jordan Love’s late-season level of play
Down the stretch, in November and December, there were few quarterbacks in the NFL playing as well as Love was.
Jordan Love’s rank in Total QBR over the final two months of the season
2023: 1st
2024: 2nd
2025: 1st— Bill Barnwell (@billbarnwell) January 31, 2026
The problem, though, was that as good as Love was playing, many players (and coaches) on the team were not matching his brilliance.
Gutekunst wants that to change in 2026 as well:
“I did think there were moments that we played at a very, very high level, championship-football type level, but it wasn’t consistent enough. We didn’t sustain it.
“As we go into this offseason, we continue to evaluate 2025 before we get on to 2026. It’s on the front of our minds.”
Love played well enough in 2025 to be a Super Bowl-level quarterback. The rest of the team, though, needs to match that level of consistency behind him.
Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love will get the players he needs around him
One of the things that plagued the Packers all season long were injuries. They never got a single game where they were able to field Love, Christian Watson, Jayden Reed, Tucker Kraft, and Josh Jacobs all at the same time.
Fortunately, they will have all of those players back in 2026, and Gutekunst also said he is going to make sure Green Bay has players who will finish games without letting their foot off the gas as they did too often in 2025:
“Finishing games is certainly something that we’ve got to concentrate on as we head into the 2026.
“It’s all of us, right? It’s players, it’s coaches, it’s everybody. n certain football situations, we have to be better, and we have to be more consistent.
“For me, there’s two things. One, do we have the right people out there that can handle those situations? And then two, are we doing everything to give them the best chance to succeed? We’re looking at it from all avenues.”
It is yet to be seen, of course, who the Packers will add on offense during the offseason. But whoever it is, Green Bay’s general manager is putting his team and his quarterback in the best position to be successful.
More Green Bay Packers news from Wisconsin Sports Heroics
- Packers’ Micah Parsons gets exposed by CeeDee Lamb for recruitment attempt
- Packers’ QB Jordan Love catches Brittany Mahomes attention with bikini shoot
- 324-pound anchor named as Packers’ top free agent to watch this offseason
For More Great Wisconsin Sports Content
Follow me on Twitter at @theotherRobin19 and follow us @WiSportsHeroics for more great content. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in Wisconsin sports, click here!
