The Green Bay Packers’ new era after Aaron Rodgers appears to be off to a positive start.
The Packers traded Rodgers to the New York Jets just days before the 2023 NFL Draft. Now it looks set to be Jordan Love that will be the starting quarterback for Matt LaFleur’s side next season.
Love was a first-round draft pick by the Packers in 2020 with the 26th overall selection, but has been forced to be the understudy to Rodgers so far. He’s played just 10 times in three seasons, and has thrown for 606 total yards with three touchdowns.
The 24-year-old will now be working with quarterback coach Tom Clements, who was apparently brought back to Green Bay under the insistence of Rodgers. But LaFleur has credited Clements for getting Love ready to be the Packers’ new starting QB after the departure of the man who brought him back.
LaFleur also revealed how Love has talked up Clements and his impact in helping put him in a position to become the Packers' starter.
"I asked Jordan after the season how he felt about him and he said he loved Tom, and thought he did a helluva job helping him, you know, develop over the course of the year," LaFleur told ESPN.
"For me, it was a no-brainer. It was just whether or not Tom wanted to come back, so I'm happy he wanted to be here, and you know, we're lucky to have him.
"He does a great job, too, not only with the quarterbacks but just helping out with our offense and bringing suggestions and great ideas. You know, it's been a fun process getting to know him and just the standards that he holds, that room, too, and he does a hell of a job."
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This will be Love’s first year as an NFL starter, and he has big shoes to fill after the exit of future Hall of Famer Rodgers. But LaFleur says he has already seen signs that the future of the Packers is in safe hands.
"Just watching him last year. I think Jordan's made some huge strides," said LaFleur.
"I really do and I think a lot of it is a credit to Tom, and just, he knows how to train these guys. He knows how to drill them and he's very, very consistent. He doesn't sugarcoat anything. He just is matter of fact and I think there's no doubt."