Jordan Love was one of the best stories of the entire 2023 NFL season.
After patiently waiting for a chance to prove himself, Love officially became the Green Bay Packers starting quarterback following the departure of Aaron Rodgers to the New York Jets. (Still sounds strange to write that.)
After an impressive season, Love and the young Pack will look to build upon their success to take the next step in 2024.
Love will in many ways be a new and improved man when he takes the field this coming season.
That’s because he just got engaged to his girlfriend, Ronika Stone.
Love dropped to a knee and proposed to Ronika while the couple vacationed in Italy.
“First step to forever,” Loved posted on Instagram.
Needless to say, congratulations have been pouring in for the newly-engaged couple…
While Love certainly has to improve his passing accuracy, he flashed enough during the 2023 season to convince head coach Matt LaFleur and company that he can be their franchise quarterback going forward.
For the season, Love passed for 4,159 yards, 32 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. He also added 247 yards on the ground to go along with four rushing scores.
Most impressively, Love played his best football when the lights were brightest.
Love was absolutely instrumental in Green Bay’s shocking 48-32 road upset over the Dallas Cowboys in the Wild Card Round of the playoffs.
He followed that brilliant performance up with a strong outing against the loaded 49ers out in San Francisco in the Divisional Round.
You could certainly make the argument that Love did more than enough to win that game. In many ways, the Packers actually outplayed the Niners that evening and could have easily come out victors.
Interestingly, the Packers will open their 2024 season on Friday, September 6th against the Philadelphia Eagles.
The matchup is not only notable because it features two of the NFC’s best teams but also because it will be the NFL’s first-ever game played in South America.
The showdown will be played in São Paulo, Brazil with the Eagles designated as the “home” team.
Green Bay’s complete 2024 schedule goes as follows (all times CST)…
Week 1: vs. Philadelphia Eagles in Brazil – 7:15 p.m., Friday, Sept. 6. (Peacock)
Week 2: vs. Indianapolis Colts – noon Sunday, Sept. 15. (Fox)
Week 3: at Tennessee Titans – noon Sunday, Sept. 22 (Fox)
Week 4: vs. Minnesota Vikings – noon Sunday, Sept. 29 (CBS)
Week 5: at Los Angeles Rams – 3:25 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 6 (CBS)
Week 6: vs. Arizona Cardinals – noon Sunday, Oct. 13 (Fox)
Week 7: vs. Houston Texans – noon Sunday, Oct. 20 (CBS)
Week 8: at Jacksonville Jaguars – noon Sunday, Oct. 27 (Fox)
Week 9: vs. Detroit Lions – 3:25 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 3 (Fox)
Week 10: Bye
Week 11: at Chicago Bears – noon Sunday, Nov. 17 (Fox)
Week 12: vs. San Francisco 49ers – 3:25 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 24 (Fox)
Week 13: vs. Miami Dolphins – 7:20 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 28; Thanksgiving (NBC)
Week 14: at Detroit Lions – 7:15 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 5 (Prime)
Week 15: at Seattle Seahawks – 7:20 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 15 (NBC)
Week 16: vs. New Orleans Saints – 7:15 p.m. Monday, Dec. 23 (ESPN)
Week 17: at Minnesota Vikings – noon Sunday, Dec. 29. (Fox)
Week 18: vs. Chicago Bears – Saturday or Sunday, Jan. 4 or 5 (TBA due to flexible scheduling)
Maybe it won’t end up meaning much – but there have been players in the past who have said that getting engaged (and ultimately married) undoubtedly helped them develop into better players.
Will this be the case with Love?
Could him getting engaged indirectly – yet directly – help him and the Packers accelerate their growth and surprise the league in the meantime?
Are the Pack legitimate Super Bowl contenders entering the new season?
As for Love, have you seen enough to be 100% sold on him as the true franchise quarterback in Green Bay???