What a difference a year has made for the Green Bay Packers and the quarterback position! Last offseason, the team made the controversial decision to trade four-time NFL MVP and future Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers to the New York Jets. Of course, this trade was made so that Jordan Love could take over under center.
At the time, no one was exactly sure how well Love would do as the Packers starting quarterback. However, he spent three years learning from Rodgers, head coach Matt LaFleur, and quarterbacks coach Tom Clements. It was time for Love to get his opportunity.
The Green Bay Packers Drafted Sean Clifford to Be Jordan Love’s Backup Quarterback
Tork Mason/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin
Of course, Love had formerly been Rodgers’ backup quarterback. Trading the future Hall of Famer and promoting Love meant that the Packers were in need of a new backup.
In order to fill that particular need, they signed USFL star quarterback Alex McGough and drafted Sean Clifford out of Penn State in the fifth-round of the 2023 NFL Draft. They had the two quarterbacks compete for the backup role throughout training camp and the preseason.
Clifford, of course, ended up winning the competition while McGough was relegated to the practice squad. There was a vocal portion of the Packers fanbase, though, that wanted the rookie to start instead of Love.
Some Green Bay Packers Fans Wanted Sean Clifford to Start Over Jordan Love
The Packers did not get off to a good start last season. At one point, they were 2-5, and Love had completed just 57.7% of his passes for 1,492 yards, 11 touchdowns, and eight interceptions to go with a 78.2 passer rating.
At that point, some Packers fans (and some NFL analysts) started calling for Clifford to take over as the starting quarterback:
The #Packers may bench QB Jordan Love in favor of rookie Sean Clifford, per Chris Simms of NBC.
“The inconsistencies of the #Packers offense. It’s even more than I thought it would be”
“I wonder with them if they’re going to start talking or getting Sean Clifford ready to go,… pic.twitter.com/SbUA6Svyid
— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) November 1, 2023
@AndyHermanNFL Sean Clifford will start for the Pack by Dec. 1st.
— Alan Lee (@AlanLee16883751) November 6, 2023
We need to let Sean Clifford start. He has a very different energy. Might be good.
— Juan Geshman 🇺🇸 (@JGeshman) November 2, 2023
Bench Jordan Love
Start Sean Clifford
Green Bay Packers— FOX (@jfox2088) November 1, 2023
You should start Sean Clifford at QB
Love isn’t the answer.
— NCNittany (@NittanyNC) October 30, 2023
Rodgers was able to win in LaFluer’s system, this isn’t a coaching problem it’s a QB problem. Packers need to start Sean Clifford next week.
— Thats O’Neill with two L’s (@carlphx1) October 29, 2023
Love is NOT the guy.
……. Start Sean Clifford https://t.co/JB0zgO0r3M— Conservative_Christian (@rg279266209) October 23, 2023
Idk who I’d fire or not but I definitely wouldn’t be starting Jordan Love next week. Start Sean Clifford. We already know it was an idiotic decision drafting Jordan Love, can’t hide that. At least make the right decision, bench him and start Clifford.
— Jesse Krizan (@jesse_krizan) October 23, 2023
All Love did after Week Eight, though, was light the NFL on fire. He ended the season with a 64.2% completion percentage, 4,159 yards, 32 touchdowns (second in the NFL), 11 interceptions, and a 96.1 passer rating.
And now it looks like Clifford may not even make the team in 2024.
The Green Bay Packers Traded for Malik Willis to Be Jordan Love’s Backup
Both Clifford and 2024 seventh-round pick Michael Pratt failed to have any productive games in the preseason. With the start of the regular season just two weeks away, the Packers felt it necessary to get a new backup, so they sent a 2025 seventh-round pick to the Tennessee Titans for Malik Willis.
Love, meanwhile, has signed a four-year $220 million contract extension to be the face of the Packers’ franchise for the long-term future.
Oh, and his 2023 season was better than either Rodgers’ or Brett Favre’s first season as Green Bay’s starting quarterback:
| 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 |
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