GREEN BAY – Jordan Love's journey of patience and perseverance reached new heights Saturday morning when the Packers quarterback officially signed his long-awaited contract extension.
Instead of basking in the glow of one of the richest contracts in NFL history, however, Love did the most Jordan Love thing ever – he threw on his pads, jumped on a kid's bike and rode down to Nitschke Field to rejoin his teammates on the practice field.
After all, there was work to be done.
"I think since I've been here, it's just something that I've found important – to be able to go out there and be my best every day," Love said.
"Come in here and work hard to be able to prove these guys right. And then obviously put in the work for my teammates to be the best player I can be for them."
While Love reported on time for training camp and attended every meeting, he sat out the first four non-padded practices, as his agents, David Mulugheta and Andrew Kessler, worked to finalize a long-term deal with the Packers.
After five long days, Love finally got the FaceTime call he'd been hoping for on Friday night when Mulugheta and Kessler informed him the two sides had a deal. As even-keeled as they come, Love admits it all made for an emotional moment.
He thought of his mom Anna and late father Orbin, both of whom gave so much for him to realize his dreams. He thought of his fiancé Ronika Stone, to whom Love proposed last month during a vacation in Italy.
During a 200-word introductory statement at the start of his news conference, Love expressed gratitude for the Packers' belief in him and all the teammates who stood by him through the highs and lows of his first four NFL seasons.
Perhaps most importantly, Love thanked the Packers fans who have watched his development from a first-round prospect to the face of one of the NFL's most prestigious franchises.
"I feel like we have the best fans in the league, and I appreciate all their support throughout my time being here," Love said. "I'm excited to have an opportunity to go out and earn this every day and prove people who believe in me right. I'm ready to get to work, prepare ourselves for the season ahead and chase the ultimate goal that we have of winning the Super Bowl."
For the Packers, Saturday represented a seminal moment at the QB position. While not one to take a victory lap, General Manager Brian Gutekunst made a bold move in 2020 when he traded up to draft Love 26th overall.
Playing three seasons behind future first-ballot Hall of Famer Aaron Rodgers gave Love ample time to pick up the offense and understand what it means to play quarterback in Green Bay. When the changing of the guard happened last year, Love showed he was more than ready for the opportunity.
Over the final eight games last season, Love completed 196 of 279 passes (70.3 pct.) for 2,150 yards and 18 touchdowns with one interception for a 112.7 rating. In doing so, Love joined Rodgers (Nov. 14, 2021-Jan. 9, 2022) as the only Green Bay QBs to post 2,150-plus passing yards, 18-plus passing TDs, one/zero interceptions and a completion percentage of 70-plus over an eight-game span in a single season.
"It's hard to argue that anybody played better the back half of the season last year," LaFleur said. "Even going through our (early) struggles, we were probably better for it. I think most people are. You go through some struggle. You stay resilient. You come out the other side."
Love said he spoke with Rodgers on Friday night after the four-time NFL MVP quarterback reached out to congratulate him. As Love retook the practice field Saturday, dozens of teammates flocked to Love to offer similar sentiments.
Love's return seemed to add juice to the offensive side of the ball, as the No. 1 offense drove 70 yards on four plays during the final two-minute drill. A 47-yard pass to Christian Watson helped set up Love's 10-yard touchdown to Romeo Doubs.
Love understands the added responsibility that comes with such a huge contract but doesn't expect that to change anything. Pressure is nothing new for Love as a former first-round pick who succeeded one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time.
Neither Gutekunst nor LaFleur disagree with their cool-as-a-cucumber QB, who has proven time and time again that bright lights don't blur his vision. For Gutekunst, the way Love bounced back from an up-and-down first half of 2023 to lead Green Bay back to the playoffs told him the Packers had another franchise QB on their hands.
"Whether it's the ups and the downs and all the things you go through, he just doesn't seem to flinch. He doesn't seem to react," Gutekunst said. "All these guys feel pressure at different times but he's very focused to get through those things. He's been through a lot of different kind of adversity whether it's been off the field or on the field, and he has a very good way of handling those things and getting to the other side of them."
For everything that changed financially for Love once he put pen to paper on his contract extension, the 25-year-old quarterback said everything still feels very much the same.
Love isn't planning any big purchases, other than the price tag of his upcoming wedding possibly increasing. It's July again and that means life revolves around football. With the 2024 NFL season fast approaching, the burgeoning QB can't wait to finally get to work.
"You've got to keep the main thing the main thing," Love said. "I've stuck to that, just being the person I am and trying to find ways to improve the player I can be and being the leader I can be. And that's the mindset. Always trying to get better."
