Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love is eager for training camp and the 2024 season to begin. Love has much to look forward to. Both he and the team finished the 2023 season strong and made the playoffs with the youngest roster in the league. They also soundly defeated the Dallas Cowboys in the first round of the playoffs before falling to the 49ers in a close game that the Packers led most of the way. Love is also currently in negotiations with the team to sign a long-term extension that will make him a wealthy man.

Love hasn’t forgotten the way the previous season ended but that only makes him more eager to get back on the field to take the next step.

“I think that’s something that’s just always in the back of your mind,” Love said. “The way you end the season, it’s something you’ve always got to think about. Obviously, you move [on], you grow, you learn from that game but, at the same time, I think it’s something that’s just always in the back. It leaves a bad taste in your mouth. And I think we’re all ready to get back on the field after losing that game to San Fran.”

Like many of his teammates and the coaching staff, Love was disappointed to have lost that game. He threw two interceptions in the fourth quarter which prevented the Packers from coming back to tie or win the game.

For Love, those mistakes are part of his learning process as he looks ahead to his second season as a starter in the NFL. “The main thing for me is understanding where to go with the ball, always making the right decision, not forcing the ball downfield and trying to fit it in certain windows. Things like that,” Love said. “Just process and understanding where I need to go with the ball. And then pocket movement, making smaller movements in the pocket, not being so quick to try and get out of there, but to stay in the pocket and try and find those receivers downfield. That’s something I’ve been working on. Also throwing on the move, going right, being able to get my shoulders downhill, my body downhill and not be drifting away from the throw.”

Love has worked to get better this offseason. In fact, in a show of trust, head coach Matt LaFleur even allowed the quarterback to call some of his own plays during OTAs.

“I just want him to experience it a little bit more,” LaFleur said, “so you put him in some of those 2-minute situations, I just want to see kind of what he was thinking.”

Love felt it would only help him learn more about play calling. “If anything, it helps being able to understand the play calls, be always thinking of that next play kind of as you’re going on the play and knowing the situation. I think it helps prepare me and just understand the 2-minute situations better, what we need, what plays work and what don’t work, getting more comfortable with plays and calling them.”

Love is also expected to sign a new contract before training camp opens on July 22. Rumors say he will be earning more than $50 million per season which would make him one of the highest paid quarterbacks in the league if not the highest. Right now, Cincinnati’s Joe Burrow is the highest paid signal caller in the league at an average of $55 million per season.

While that would put pressure on most people, Love just seems to be taking it in stride. He’s eager to start the 2024 season and prove his strong finish last season was no fluke.

Love also wants to see the team build on last year’s surprising success. “I think it’s just excitement,” Love said after practice. “Everyone, I think, from when the season ended last year, the way it ended for us, I think everybody was hungry and ready to just get back to it, get back to training camp and get the new season rolling. There’s been a good amount of time since that game, so I think everyone’s still hungry and just excited to get rolling.”