Aaron Rodgers Details Recent Conversations With Jordan Love, Zach Wilson
Sep 22, 2023, 6:21 PM | Updated: 6:25 pm
Jordan Love #10 and Aaron Rodgers #12 of the Green Bay Packers on July 29, 2021 in Ashwaubenon, Wisconsin. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) and Rodgers #8 and Zach Wilson #2 of the New York Jets on August 3, 2023 in Canton, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images)
(Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY – New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers revealed some of the recent conversations that he’s had with local NFL products Jordan Love and Zach Wilson.
The future Pro Football Hall of Fame member discusses some of his latest talks with his former Green Bay Packers teammate and current Jets teammate during his weekly appearance on The Pat McAfee Show with former NFL punter Pat McAfee.
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Rodgers joined McAfee on Friday, September 22.
Aaron Rodgers details texts with Jordan Love and Zach Wilson
Aaron Rodgers on Jordan Love and Packers
Rodgers was asked if Love’s success to start the 2023 season made the veteran signal-caller proud.
RELATED: Packers QB Jordan Love Records Hat Trick In NFL’s Week 2
“First of all, I think you’ve got to just not listen to any of those expectations outside the facility, outside your own mind, and I think he does a good job at that. He’s always had a good head on his shoulders,” Rodgers said of Love.
WARNING: Explicit language is featured in the video above
Rodgers continued by praising Love’s confidence as a reason for his success in taking over as Green Bay’s starter.
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“He put in a lot of great work last year that I think set him up to be confident. I think that’s what I saw in the preseason — he just looked very confident. He was throwing the ball well…Ball security is job security. So for him so far to not throw a pick in two games is really, really important. He’s been efficient.”
Love and the Packers opened the regular season with a blowout victory over one of their division rivals in the Chicago Bears. Rodgers said that he watched the game and thought Love “played excellent” and that he was “really happy for him.”
Under Rodgers, the Packers were dominant in recent years against the Bears. During the season opener, Rodgers sent Love a text so the former USU standout would have the message on his phone after the game.
“I’m happy to see him picking up where I left off,” Rodgers said on Love beating the Bears. “I did send J a text right after the Bears — when they had pulled away — I sent him a message ’cause I wanted him to see it when he got back to his phone.”
Rodgers said that he believes Love will continue to improve throughout the season.
“The more he plays, the more I think he’s gonna shut people up. I’m happy for him. He’s a great kid,” Rodgers said of Green Bay’s new QB1.
"Jordan Love always had a good head on his shoulders and he looks very confident..
I texted him after the Bears game saying congratulations on keeping the ownership in place" ~ @AaronRodgers12 #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/W0Bxq4E5TH
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) September 22, 2023
Through two games this season, Love has thrown for 396 yards and six touchdowns with no interceptions. He’s had a completion rate of 55.8 percent and a rating of 118.8.
The Packers currently own a 1-1 record this season.
Green Bay’s next game is at home against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, September 24 at 11 a.m. (MDT) on FOX and NFL Sunday Ticket.
Can @jordan3love keep it going in his first home game of the season?
📺: #NOvsGB — Sunday 1pm ET on FOX
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/Bfm2DQnP77— NFL (@NFL) September 22, 2023
Aaron Rodgers on Zach Wilson and Jets
Following Rodgers’ season-ending Achilles injury in New York’s season opener, Wilson was named the Jets starting quarterback once again.
Rodgers said that he talks with the former BYU star on a regular basis.
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“I talk to Zach all the time. That’s my guy. We talk, you know, every single day and [I’m] pulling for him. Just want him to go out and play free and confident this week.”
"We've just gotta give him time…and I think he'll show how much he's improved."
Coach Saleh on QB Zach Wilson pic.twitter.com/HxUjpcYAMn
— New York Jets (@nyjets) September 22, 2023
Through the first two weeks of the season, Wilson has thrown for 310 yards, two touchdowns, and four interceptions with a 54.2 percent completion rate. He’s also run the ball nine times for 42 yards and posted a rating of 53.3.
The Jets are 1-1 entering Week 3. New York’s next game is at home against the New England Patriots on Sunday, September 24 at 11 a.m. (MDT) on CBS.
About Jordan Love
Prior to his time in the league, the Bakersfield, California native played at USU from 2016-19. During his time with the Aggies, Love threw for 8,600 yards, 60 touchdowns, and 29 interceptions with a completion rate of 61 percent.
In 2020, the Packers traded up to select Love with the No. 26 overall pick in the NFL Draft.
Since then, Love has played sparingly while backing up Aaron Rodgers. During Love’s first two seasons in Green Bay, the young quarterback watched Rodgers win back-to-back NFL MVP awards.
.@jordan3love is dealing right now.
The former USU QB records a hat trick with his third touchdown pass of the afternoon. 🎩🎩🎩#LocalsInTheNFL #NFL #GoPackGo #GBvsATL #AggiesAllTheWay @kslsports pic.twitter.com/O3mDjc1FVf
— Kyle Ireland (@kyleireland) September 17, 2023
Love was inactive for every game of his rookie campaign. However, in 2021 and 2022, the signal-caller saw his first playing time, including a start against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Although Love’s in-game experience has been limited, he’s shown flashes of the potential that made him a first-round pick. Love, like Rodgers with Brett Favre, had the chance to sit behind an all-time great and watch how the quarterback position is played at the highest level. Love patiently waited for his opportunity to start.
In April, the Packers traded Rodgers to the New York Jets. Green Bay also inked Love to a new deal. The former Aggie signed a contract extension that keeps him tied to the Packers for the next two seasons. The new deal let Green Bay keep Love an additional season without having to pick up the fifth-year option on his rookie contract.
Now as QB1, the Packers have the chance to see Love as a starter without Rodgers in Green Bay. The opportunity will allow Green Bay to evaluate Love in a greater role before deciding on a longer-term deal.
Prior to the 2023 season, Love had thrown for 606 yards, three touchdowns, and three interceptions with a 60.2 percent completion rate in 10 games played.
About Zach Wilson
Before his time in the NFL, the Corner Canyon High School product had a standout career at BYU. Wilson helped the Cougars to an 11-1 record during his final season in Provo.
Following his college career, the Jets selected Wilson with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.
During the quarterback’s rookie season, Wilson missed four games due to a knee injury. He finished the year throwing for 2,334 yards, nine touchdowns, and 11 interceptions with a 55.6 completion rate.
Before his second season, the former BYU star underwent surgery after suffering a knee injury in New York’s preseason opener. Without Wilson, the Jets opened the 2022 season with a 1-2 record. After returning, the Jets posted a 5-2 record before Wilson was benched for the first time. After a month on the sidelines, Wilson returned to action for a couple of contests before he was benched again.
.@ZachWilson tosses a touchdown pass to Garrett Wilson, who makes an UNREAL catch. 🤯#LocalsInTheNFL #NFL #TakeFlight #BUFvsNYJ #BYUFOOTBALL @kslsports pic.twitter.com/GePRzFbgGo
— Kyle Ireland (@kyleireland) September 12, 2023
Last season, the Jets posted a 7-10 record and missed the NFL Playoffs.
Wilson finished the 2022 season having thrown for 1,688 yards, six touchdowns, and seven interceptions with a 54.5 percent completion rate. He has a rating of 72.9 and a QBR of 37.1. The Jets missed the playoffs with a 7-10 record.
During his first two seasons in the league, Wilson passed for 4,022 yards, 15 touchdowns, and 18 interceptions. He also ran for 287 yards and five touchdowns.
Kyle Ireland is a Sports Producer and Locals in the NFL Insider for sports.ksl.com. He’s also co-host of the Yards After College Podcast. Follow him on X/Twitter (@kyleireland), Instagram (@kyleirelandksl), and Threads (@kyleirelandksl).
