Jordan Love spent three years in Aaron Rodgers’ shadow. After just one year as a starter, Love performed well enough to tie the record for the highest average new money for any player in NFL history.
Appearing Saturday on NFL Network as part of “Back Together Weekend” (which still isn’t resonating with anyone other than those pushing him), Rodgers addressed Love’s massive new contract.
“I want to thank Jordan Love who became the highest-paid player in the NFL,” Rodgers said, via USA today. “J-Love, don’t spend it all in one place. But if you do, I still have a house for sale in Green Bay.”
Love later addressed the house joke.
“Someone will buy it, but probably not me,” Love said.
While Love isn’t the highest-paid player — he tied Joe Burrow and Trevor Lawrence for average new money at $55 million — Love is paid $78.5 million this season, including a massive $75 million signing bonus which will be paid in full by December 27. And it’s a huge development for the only guy in the last three years of dysfunction between Rodgers and the Packers who didn’t volunteer for assignment. Love was dragged into that mess, and he kept his head down and his mouth shut while a Shakespearean drama unfolded around him.
Unfortunately, we probably won’t see Rodgers and Love facing off at any point in their careers. They could have crossed over this season under the 17th game formula, but they didn’t finish in the same position in their respective divisions in 2023. (The Jets will play the Vikings.) As a result, the Jets and Packers are not. t should play until 2026.
Unless they meet this year in the Super Bowl (which would be awesome), the only way we’ll see Rodgers vs. Love is if Rodgers leaves the Jets after this season and signs with a team the Packers are expected to play in 2025 — like, e.g. the Steelers. Who will likely choose between Russell Wilson and Justin Fields after next season and who, in theory, could choose neither.
