Green Bay Packers: Quarterback Jordan Love Reveals Emotional Reason Why He Wears #10

The Green Bay Packers have achieved something that very few NFL teams have in the history of the league: found a third-consecutive franchise quarterback. Their unbelievable run of stellar quarterback play began in 1992 when Brett Favre came in for an injured Don Majkowsi, who himself was a Pro Bowler. After 15 years with Favre under center, the franchise moved on to Aaron Rodgers, who established himself as arguably the best quarterback of his generation.

And of course, last season the Packers decided to move on from Rodgers to Jordan Love. There were many who doubted Green Bay’s decision to move on from a four-time NFL MVP and future Hall of Fame quarterback, but the organization felt that the time was right.

And it was.

Green Bay Packers Quarterback Jordan Love Had the Best First Season as a Starter in Franchise History

Love’s first season as the Packers starting quarterback got off to a rocky start. While Green Bay won their first game of the 2023 NFL season (against the Chicago Bears) in convincing fashion, and Love threw three touchdown passes, he completed just 55.5% of his passes. The next week, the Packers lost to the Atlanta Falcons. Love threw another three touchdown passes but completed just 56% of his passes.

Green Bay limped to a 2-5 record in the first seven games while Love put up a 57.7% completion percentage, 1,492 yards, 11 touchdowns, eight interceptions, and a 78.2 passer rating.

It looked like the doubters were right.

But then something clicked for Love and his offense, the youngest in the NFL. They rattled off seven wins in their final 10 regular season games to finish 9-8 and clinched the final spot in the NFC Playoffs. In these 10 games, Love completed 68.7% of his passes for 2,667 yards, 21 touchdowns, three interceptions, and a 108.2 passer rating.

All told, Love finished his first season as the Packers starter with a 64.2% completion percentage, 4,159 yards, 32 touchdowns, 11 interceptions, and a 96.1 passer rating. These were all better numbers than either Rodgers or Favre had in their first seasons under center for Green Bay:

Love turned his production into a four-year $220 million contract extension that he signed with the Packers a few days after training camp started. His $55 million average annual salary is tied for the highest in NFL history and his $75 million signing bonus is the most ever.

Green Bay Packers Quarterback Jordan Love Reveals Why He Wears #10

Now that Love is now one of the most recognized names in the NFL, it stands to reason that people want to know more about him. Earlier today, Love revealed to the Packers media why he chose to wear jersey number 10:

Never heard this story about Jordan Love before: Why does he wear number 10?

It’s a tribute to his late father, who wore No. 10 in high school. pic.twitter.com/rxdEG4fHGT

— Ryan Wood (@ByRyanWood) August 13, 2024

“No so, my dad wore number 10 when he was in high school. So that was a tribute to him, you know, when I was younger. I think I was in sixth grade or seventh grade when I started wearing 10. It kind of just stuck with me.

“But yeah, tribute to my dad because he wore number 10.”

For fans unfamiliar with Love’s history, his father, Orbin Jr., was a police officer with the Bakersfield Police Department in California. As many people do, Orbin struggled with depression and mental illness. After a doctor changed his prescription medication, his behavior became unusual.

Tragically, Love’s father died by suicide soon after. Love was 14 years old.

After his father’s death, Love wanted to give up on football. His mother, Anna, herself a member of law enforcement with the Californica Highway Patrol, encouraged him to keep playing, though.

Now, over a decade later, Love pays tribute to his father every time he steps on an NFL field.

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