Monday, September 16, 2024
By Tori Wittenbrock
Sports Editor
GREEN BAY – After a successful 2023 rookie season at the helm of the team, Green Bay Packers Quarterback Jordan Love said that his goal is to keep his head down and live up to the expectations of the organization amid signing a four-year $220 million contract.
“I am truly blessed and grateful and humbled to be put in this position. It’s taken a lot of hard work, dedication and sacrifices, not only for me, but for so many people around me,” said Love.
Love’s new contract places him in a three-way tie for the highest paid player in the NFL with an average yearly salary of $55 million with Cincinnati Bengals’ Joe Burrow and Jacksonville Jaguars’ Trevor Lawrence.
“I’m excited to have the opportunity to go out and earn this every day and to prove to the people that believe in me right. I’m ready to go to work and prepare ourselves for the season ahead and chase the ultimate goal that we have of winning the Super Bowl,” said Love.
After unexpectedly taking such a young team to the NFL Divisional Round of the postseason, Love said that his work ethic is stronger than ever and he hopes to take the team all the way this season.
According to Love, becoming the Packers’ next franchise quarterback has been an ongoing process and one he has been proud to be a part of.
“It’s all about the work. I’ve been here with the Packers, I feel like in the shadows in the background at practice everyday, just trying to work on my craft and learn. I was obviously very blessed and fortunate to be behind one of the best to do it and learn so much through my time with Aaron (Rodgers) and just play the waiting game. There were a lot of questions going into last year and I just had to go out there with my team and be the best player I could be and have my play speak for itself,” said Love.
Despite earning the highest paid position in the League, Love said there is still work to be done on and off the field.
“I’m just being the person I am and just trying to find ways to improve the best player I can be and the leader I can be, and that’s the mindset. You’re always trying to get better, but I try to keep the main thing the main thing. Don’t change who you are and stay true to yourself,” said Love.
Love said that the hefty income is accompanied by plenty of pressure as well.
“It’s definitely a blessing. That’s why I’m very grateful that the Packers believe in me and are putting that faith in me. Any time you make it to the NFL — it’s just something that has been important to me to be able to go out there and put on my best and be my best every day, come in here and work. Work hard and prove these guys right and obviously put in the work for my teammates to be able to be the best I can be for them,” said Love.
“Just being an NFL quarterback there’s always pressure. Being a first round pick there’s pressure. Becoming a starter there’s pressure. There’s always pressure. I think that’s part of the job that we signed up for. You’ve got to find ways to deal with that pressure and handle it as best you can to be the best player you can be every day.”
“Right now you have to anticipate all of our guys are going to play at some point. It’s just a matter of when is that point. A lot of it is just going to be where we are at. There is going to be a little bit of feel to that. We’re less than two weeks from our first preseason game, so we’ll know sooner rather than later,” said Packers Head Coach Matt LaFleur on whether or not fans can expect to see their starting quarterback take the field in their early preseason games.
As Love has jumped back into the swing of things at training camp, LaFleur said that he is excited to see him back on the field.
“I think like all young players, they’re just trying to figure it out and he had a really good day the other day,” said LaFleur.
“I definitely have been impressed with the person and how he approaches the game and how he goes out there and competes.”
At the end of the day, according to LaFleur, Love is more than just a great quarterback and he has full faith in his ability to live up to the expectations of his contract.
“He’s naturally a pretty quiet guy, but the more you’re around him, the more you’re around him, the more you get to learn the person and see what they’re all about.”
