The Green Bay Packers made a difficult and somewhat unpopular decision when they traded Aaron Rodgers to the New York Jets last offseason. Obviously, the move was made to pave the way for Jordan Love, whom they traded up for in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft, to take over as their starting quarterback. At the time of the trade, and in the weeks leading up to it, general manager Brian Gutekunst took a great deal of heat from the media and some of his team’s own fans.
Despite the fact that Rodgers had the worst statistical full season of his career in 2022, many questioned whether or not Love would be an improvement over the four-time MVP and future Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee. Green Bay also gave Love a pass catching group that was made up of just rookies and second-year players. Meanwhile, Rodgers had his former teammates Allen Lazard and Randall Cobb to go with star wide receiver Garrett Wilson.
There were many who believed it would be Rodgers who had the better season in 2023.
Green Bay Packers Quarterback Jordan Love Surprised a Lot of People
As everyone knows, Rodgers’ first season in New York did not go as plan. He tore his Achilles just four snaps into his season and was lost for the year.
Love, meanwhile, got off to a slow start leading the youngest offense in the NFL. After going 2-5 in their first seven games, there were some who believed the Packers might look to replaced him in the 2024 NFL Draft.
However, Green Bay went 7-3 in their final 10 games and Love ended up with the best numbers of any first-year starting quarterback in franchise history:
| 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 |
Most importantly, Love was able to do something in his first year as a starter that Rodgers was not able to do in his first and last year: lead the team to a winning record and a berth in the NFL Playoffs.
Pat McAfee Praises Jordan Love While Slamming the Green Bay Packers’ Treatment of Aaron Rodgers
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On today’s episode of the Pat McAfee Show, McAfee was full of compliments towards Love and how he developed as a bonified starting quarterback in the NFL. However, while he acknowledged that having the 2020 first round pick as their starter was exciting for Packers fans, he also took some shots at the way Green Bay handled Rodgers’ exit:
Jordan Love feels GREAT about where the Green Bay Packers are at #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/tgHMWNhq8U
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) June 5, 2024
“You have to love [the team’s cohesion] if you’re a Packers owner or fan because there was a chance your team was going to stink forever like other teams stink forever,” he began. “Because if Jordan Love wasn’t going to work out because you forced Aaron Rodgers out of the building after winning multiple MVP’s. Instead, Jordan Love is the guy. Instead, Jordan Love is in line for a massive contract. Instead, Jordan Love is talking about this being the tightest locker room he’s seen since he’s been here.”
Obviously, McAfee still is not a fan out the Packers’ front office, despite the fact that Love showed the world that he is a top-10 quarterback in the NFL.
Was Pat McAfee Fair to Take a Shot at the Green Bay Packers for How They Treated Aaron Rodgers?
It is no surprise that McAfee would take Rodgers’ side in the matter as the two have become good friends. That being said, it is hard to justify any position that says that the Packers were wrong in what they decided. As mentioned, Rodgers had his worst statistical season in 2022. Love, from just a playing standpoint, was the best option.
It also should be noted that Rodgers ignored the Packers’ calls after he left Green Bay for the offseason following their Week 18 loss. Whether or not they would have worked something out for 2023 will never be known because Rodgers simply did not give them the opportunity to talk to him.
After they could not get a hold of him, they officially decided to move on. Perhaps that was their plan all along, but with more of a discussion to help ease the blow.
If anything, Rodgers forced himself out of Green Bay, rather than the other way around.
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