When the Green Bay Packers traded four-time NFL MVP quarterback Aaron Rodgers to the New York Jets, their star running back, Aaron Jones, knew exactly what he had to do. The Packers’ third all-time leading rusher, who lives in Texas during the offseason, bought a plane ticket and flew to California.
The purpose of his trip: to get an early start working with his new starting quarterback, Jordan Love.
Green Bay does not go through a changing of the guard at the quarterback position very often. Since 1992, they have had fewer players start at the position than any other team in the NFL. Of course, this is due to the long careers of Brett Favre and Rodgers, giving the Packers an unprecedented 30 years of Hall of Fame quarterback play.
Green Bay Packers and NFL Fans (and Media) Were Skeptical that Jordan Love Would Succeed
As was the case when the Packers decided to move on from Favre to Rodgers, fans were livid that the organization would dare part ways with one of their most beloved players. Not only was general manager Brian Gutekunst and the organization the target of their ire, but Love was as well.
Love and his teammates were not unaware of the comments made by fans and so-called NFL experts. Instead of retaliating, though, they worked even hard. Jones and Love organized workouts with the Packers’ wide receivers and running backs outside of the team activities so that they could prove the world wrong.
And they did.
While Green Bay got off to a slow start in 2023, they went 7-3 in their final ten games as Love emerged as one of the top quarterbacks in the league. For his part, Jones became the first player in franchise history to rush for at least 100 yards in five consecutive games, which he did in Weeks 16-18 and in Green Bay’s two NFL Playoff games.
Green Bay Packers Quarterback Jordan Love Responds to Aaron Jones’ Letter
Jones, as fans are well-aware, was released by the Packers following the 2023 NFL season. He subsequently signed with the Minnesota Vikings and will make his return to Lambeau Field this Sunday as a visitor for the first time.
On Wednesday morning, Jones published a letter on the Players Tribune where he thanked the Packers organization and the fans in Green Bay for all of the love and support he received from them during is seven-year tenure with the team.
When asked about Jones after practice, Love gave a highly complimentary response:
Jordan Love on what Aaron Jones meant to him as a leader in #Packers offense, and what it will be like facing him Sunday.
“He always puts his absolute best on the field every time he touches the field. So I definitely expect nothing less.” pic.twitter.com/BDnRx1VPcq
— Ryan Wood (@ByRyanWood) September 25, 2024
“[Aaron Jones] was the leader of our offense before. Just the way he carried himself. It meant a lot to me. You know, I can’t say enough good things about Aaron Jones as a person because he’s a great person.”
Love also said he expects Jones to put his best on the field in his return on to Green Bay on Sunday.
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