Jordan Love enters the 2026 season with a level of command at the line of scrimmage that Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur says is the best he has ever been around — a statement made even more striking given LaFleur’s years of working with Aaron Rodgers. “He’s got to be the best I’ve been around in terms of protections and adjustments, and rarely does he get out-schemed,” LaFleur said. “It’s pretty remarkable. ”
LaFleur added that Love’s consistency and even-keeled demeanor allow him to perform at a high level in critical moments, and that his ability to manage the run game, checks, and protections at the line of scrimmage is everything a coach could want in a quarterback.
That mastery did not come naturally. Love entered the league without a strong grasp of NFL protections, and LaFleur said the opportunity to sit back and learn from Rodgers was invaluable in Love’s development. But for all the progress Love has made reading defenses, the 2025 season exposed a different problem. The Packers kept coming up short when it mattered most, and Love knows exactly what the 2026 offense needs to change.
“The biggest difference I think is our ability to finish,” Love said. “That’s kind of where we had a letdown last season — being able to finish late in games, late in the season. So this year, that’s the mindset, that’s the goal for us, is being able to go out there and finish no matter what the situation is. Just have that killer mindset.
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Green Bay reached the playoffs for a third straight year in 2025, but once again entered as the NFC’s seventh seed and ended the season with a 31–27 wild-card loss to Chicago. Love has now started four playoff games in his career, holding a 1–3 record in those appearances. When asked what finishing better tangibly means, Love pointed to focus, execution, and scheme. “Especially when you have a lead in the game, not losing focus and continuing to focus on all the little details so everyone can go out there and execute every play,” he said.
“It’s just that mindset, having that killer mindset that we got to put teams away. If you’re up in the game or down in the game, find ways to climb back in that game. It’s never over until it’s over. ”
Love also named wide receiver Jayden Reed as the most underrated player in the Packers offense.
While the spotlight falls on players like Tucker Kraft, Christian Watson, and Josh Jacobs, Love said Reed does so many good things as a playmaker and in the little intangible areas, like blocking and working away from the ball. “That’s my guy right there,” Love said. Beyond finishing, Love’s offseason focus includes protecting himself. He recalled his first career start at Kansas City, where the defense pressured him with cover-zero looks virtually the entire game and Green Bay had no answer.
LaFleur has since taken blame for that game, saying he should have prepared Love better for that scheme. Love said learning protections was one of the hardest adjustments for him in the NFL. As a young quarterback, he was so focused on reading coverage that he often did not know how to respond when teams brought pressure. Understanding when he was “hot,” when protection broke down, and when the ball had to come out quickly became essential to his survival.
“When you get here, you see how quickly these windows close, how fast guys are able to react and break on things,” Love said. “That’s what they mean when they say the game’s faster. ”
Love also acknowledged that facing NFL pass rushers is an entirely different challenge than college defensive linemen. The windows close quicker, and defensive fronts get home fast, so holding the ball is not an option.
Looking ahead to 2026, Love identified a specific technical weakness he is working on this offseason: balance in the pocket. “When I miss some throws from time to time, it usually comes back down to being balanced in the pocket or falling off,” he said. “So being balanced, trying to go through my reads, be consistent in the pocket, smaller movements, and still be as accurate as possible. ”
In 2025, Love threw for 3,381 yards, 23 touchdowns, and just six interceptions, finishing with a 101.
2 passer rating. But the numbers no longer define his progress. Green Bay’s need is clear: a quarterback who can control the defense before the snap must now learn to control the ending of games. The Packers are not asking Love to become someone else.
They are asking him to become the most complete version of himself. The command at the line of scrimmage is there. The question that remains is whether that control can finally turn into clutch wins when the season is on the line.