Jordan Love, the former Utah State quarterback, is entering the 2025 NFL season fully healthy and aiming to establish himself as a top ten quarterback. While a recent poll of NFL executives, coaches, and scouts did not place Love in the top ten, he earned an honorable mention among the league’s signal-callers.
The poll featured familiar names like Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, Joe Burrow, and Lamar Jackson firmly in the top five, signaling that Love faces stiff competition. Although he may not yet be in that elite group, he has the potential to compete with quarterbacks such as Baker Mayfield and Matthew Stafford, who is approaching the end of his career at 37 years old.
Reviewing Love’s Recent NFL Performance
Last season, Love experienced a notable dip in the NFL Top 100 rankings, falling to 68th—34 spots lower than his 2024 position. Despite missing two games due to injury, he passed for 3,389 yards with 25 touchdowns and also contributed 83 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown. His yardage and touchdown totals decreased compared to the previous year, but his interception numbers remained steady.
Interestingly, despite some statistical regression, Love’s quarterback rating improved in 2024, and he experienced far fewer sacks, dropping from 30 in 2023 to just 14 the previous season. If he can combine his 2023 passing volume with the efficiency improvements seen last year, aided by new offensive faces and a strengthened offensive line, Love could have a breakthrough year in 2025.
Challenges Within the NFC North Division
The Green Bay Packers will likely need Jordan Love to elevate his play as they enter a highly competitive NFC North division. The previous season saw three of the four teams finish with at least 11 wins, making it arguably the toughest division in the league.
For 2025, the Detroit Lions remain a formidable force, while the Chicago Bears have the potential for progress with their youthful roster. The Minnesota Vikings, led by second-year quarterback J.J. McCarthy, present a variable factor after a strong season from Sam Darnold. Should Love stay healthy and step up, the Packers have a reasonable chance to contend for a postseason berth.
Jordan Love’s Early Years and Path to Starting Quarterback
Hailing from Bakersfield, California, Jordan Love played at Utah State University from 2016 to 2019, where he threw for 8,600 yards, 60 touchdowns, and 29 interceptions, completing 61 percent of his passes. The Packers selected him 26th overall in the 2020 NFL Draft after trading up.
Love’s rookie year saw him inactive for all games, and he remained a backup to Aaron Rodgers through his second and third seasons, appearing sparingly and accumulating 606 yards, three touchdowns, and three interceptions in 10 career games with a 60.2 percent completion rate.
Following the 2022 season, Aaron Rodgers was traded to the New York Jets, opening the door for Love to take over as the Packers’ starting quarterback in 2023. During his first full year as a starter, he threw for 4,159 yards, 32 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions, also rushing for 247 yards and four touchdowns, leading Green Bay to a 9-8 record.
In two playoff appearances, Love added 466 yards, five touchdowns, and two interceptions, demonstrating his potential in the postseason spotlight.
The Road Ahead for the Packers and Jordan Love
Jordan Love’s development remains central to the Packers’ future success, with the quarterback poised to improve on his dual-threat capabilities while maintaining health. The combination of a more experienced offensive line and new skill position talent could provide him with better opportunities to thrive in 2025.
The outcome of the NFC North race depends heavily on Love’s performance, especially given the division’s depth and talent level. If he can elevate his game to a consistent top ten QB level, Green Bay’s playoff chances will increase significantly, marking an important turning point for the franchise’s hopes in the coming season.