Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers remembers his first few offseasons sitting behind future Hall of Famer Brett Favre. Vividly. And so when uncertainty over his own football future dominated the offseason this summer, the NFL’s MVP made sure to keep Jordan Love in the loop, an offering he knows he would have appreciated 13 years ago.
Rodgers said he reached out to Love several times during the turbulent offseason.
“I didn’t hold things from him. I let him know where I was at mentally and what I was thinking about, and hopefully he appreciated that, Rodgers said. “I just felt that’s what I would want in that situation, just to hear from the guy.”
Rodgers understands in great detail what it’s like to go through an offseason with such uncertainty at quarterback – and taking all the reps as the No. 1 quarterback like Love, only to have the veteran starter eventually return and reclaim the starting job. It can be a cruel process for a young player itching to play.
“Thankfully I went through that, and I can understand a little bit about what he’s going through, so I just try to keep that in mind the entire time,” Rodgers said.
Rodgers sat out the entire offseason workout program. He reached agreement with the Packers to return on a restructured deal.
With Rodgers back for 2021, Love is back on the bench as the backup. For now.
Rodgers said he has a lot of “love and respect” for Love, the team’s first-round pick in 2020 and Rodgers’ potential future replacement.
As it was for Rodgers, the extra offseason reps for Love will likely be valuable for his long-term development. And the Packers are planning to play Love for much of the preseason.
If there’s any animosity between Rodgers and Love, the veteran hasn’t expressed it through words or actions. He has the experience in Love’s shoes. And he’s making sure Love feels differently in this situation than he once felt behind Favre.