When the Green Bay Packers made the decision to trade up in the first round and take quarterback Jordan Love in the 2020 NFL Draft, they were met with a large amount of criticism. The harsh words directed at Love and general manager Brian Gutkekunst came from the Packers’ own fanbase as well as national media members.
Of course, this was because Green Bay already had Aaron Rodgers, who at the time was a two-time NFL MVP and Super Bowl Champion. The criticism grew even louder when Rodgers went out and won the next two NFL MVP Awards and led the Packers to the NFC Championship in 2020.
And they grew louder still when Rodgers was traded to the New York Jets and Love got off to a slow start in his first season as the Packers’ starter.
Through it all, one voice has seemingly screamed louder than all others.
Colin Cowherd Was a Huge Critic of Green Bay Packers Quarterback Jordan Love
One of the loudest critics, at the time, was national sports analyst Colin Cowherd. For three years following the pick, Cowherd was one of Love’s harshest doubters. Interestingly, before the 2020 NFL Draft, the famous analyst had said, “I wouldn’t be shocked at all’ if Jordan Love had the best career of the 2020 QB Draftees.”
He even had suggested himself that Green Bay should draft Love to be the successor to Aaron Rodgers:
But he changed his tune when the Packers actually made the pick. In addition to knocking Love and the Packers’ decision to draft him for years after the pick was made, Cowherd said the following about Green Bay’s quarterback following a preseason game against the Cincinnati Bengals last year:
“Less than seven yard per completion. Less than five yard per attempt. What am I supposed to make of it? Well, what I make of it is that the biggest throw of the game, clean pocket, wide open tight end, and he missed it badly.
“Bro, it’s year four in the NFL. That’s a layup. That’s bad. I know you say, ‘But what about this and what about that?’ They are handholding him! That is a third down, clean pocket, bad miss for a college quarterback.
“He is what I was told throughout the offseason that I thought he would be: he’s a game manager. There’s no special there.
“You can say what you want about Justin Fields at 5-20, but see wow all the time. I saw wow this weekend with Anthony Richardson. I don’t expect Anthony Richardson to be refined and polished.
“But if you’re still wearing floaties year four in the pool, you’re not Michael Phelps. In fact, maybe swimming’s not for you.”
Love, by the way, completed seven of 10 passes for 46 yards and a touchdown in that game.
A few other key points that Cowherd made that are worth noting include:
- Jordan Love is not special
- Justin Fields is special
- Cowherd thought Love should quit playing football
Love went on to have a 64.2% completion percentage, 4,159 yards, 32 touchdowns (second in the NFL), 11 interceptions, and a 96.1 passer rating in 2023.
Now Colin Cowherd Thinks Green Bay Packers Quarterback Jordan Love Will Win the NFL MVP Award
As established above, Cowherd is prone to flip-flopping his opinions. It should come as no surprise, then, that after seeing Love excel in his first season as the Packers’ starter, he now is predicting yet another NFL MVP Award going to a Green Bay quarterback:
“I think Jordan Love wins the MVP,” Cowherd said as his fourth of five bold predictions for the upcoming season. “First of all, the last 10 starts of last year, he was the best quarterback in football… Also, I think [the Packers] are stacked offensively with an offensive coach.”
What a difference a year can make, huh?
