Packers' Matt LaFleur Rejects 'Narrative' Jordan Love Regressed During 2024 NFL Season

Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur challenged the idea that quarterback Jordan Love took a step back last season compared to his first year as a starter in 2023.

According to ESPN's Rob Demovsky, LaFleur discussed the topic following the Packers' OTA practice on Wednesday, saying: "I think there's like a narrative out there for whatever reason that he wasn't as productive as the year before. Well, he missed significant time."

Love was indeed hampered by injuries for much of the 2024 season, as he sprained his MCL in a season-opening loss to the Philadelphia Eagles and subsequently missed two games. He also suffered a groin injury later in the year.

Still, Love posted a 9-6 record in 15 starts and completed 63.1 percent of his passes for 3,389 yards, 25 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.

The Packers went 11-6 and reached the playoffs, but they fell to the Eagles in the NFC Wild Card Round.

In 2023, which was Love's first year as the full-time starter after sitting behind Aaron Rodgers for three years, the Packers went just 9-8, but they snuck their way into the playoffs and upset the Dallas Cowboys in the Wild Card Round before falling to the San Francisco 49ers in the Divisional Round.

Love also unquestionably put up better numbers during the 2023 campaign, completing 64.2 percent of his passing attempts for 4,159 yards, 32 touchdowns and 11 picks.

On top of that, Love rushed for 247 yards and four scores in 2023 and followed it up with only 83 yards and one touchdown on the ground last season, which suggests the knee and groin injuries severely limited his mobility.

While the statistical output wasn't as good for Love in 2024 as it was in 2023, the 26-year-old signal-caller questioned what people mean when they claim he regressed, saying:

"I mean, what is a step back is what I'd ask? You know what I mean? Everybody has different opinions, things like that. You got to block that stuff out. It's all about the goals of the team at the end of the day. I'd say we won more games than we did the year before. That's why I ask people, 'What is a step back?'"

LaFleur clearly isn't buying into the narrative, and his comments indicate that he has all the confidence in the world in his quarterback.

The coach said he believes Love has "gained a lot of confidence" during his time as a starter and "knows this offense as well as anybody in regards to the details and what we're trying to get accomplished."

While 2024 was a challenging year for Love in some respects, his up-and-down performances opened the door for Green Bay to improve elsewhere.

Most notably, running back Josh Jacobs rushed for 1,329 yards and 15 touchdowns, and he helped the running game become the most potent part of Green Bay's offense.

If that continues and Love is far healthier in 2025, then the Packers have a chance to be one of the most complete offensive teams in the NFL.