Alright, let’s talk about Jordan Love’s moment in the spotlight at American Family Field, where the Green Bay Packers’ quarterback stepped up to the mound for the ceremonial first pitch before the Milwaukee Brewers took on the Boston Red Sox. Spoiler alert: it wasn’t exactly a highlight-reel moment for the star signal-caller. With all due respect to Love, who’s got a cannon for an arm on the gridiron, his toss to Brewers All-Star Christian Yelich was, well, a bit wild—think less “strike” and more “where’s that ball even going?” It was the kind of pitch that’d make even the tallest NBA stars duck for cover.
Social media, as you’d expect, didn’t hold back. Fans were quick to roast Love’s delivery, with one quipping, “Mid pitch for a mid franchise,” taking a playful jab at both the throw and the Packers. Another fan channeled The Sandlot with a classic, “Yur killin me, smalls!” vibe. One user even threw shade, saying, “He’ll never be like Bo Nix,” while another jokingly called the pitch an “interception.” The best might’ve been the fan who pointed out, “Amazing how a world-class athlete can look unathletic throwing a baseball.” Ouch. And let’s not forget the gem about never throwing “high and late over the middle”—a football jab that landed perfectly in this baseball context.
Now, to be fair, throwing a baseball isn’t the same as slinging a football. The mechanics are different, the feel is different, and Love’s arm, tuned for 50-yard spirals, didn’t quite translate to the mound. But you’ve got to give him credit for stepping up in front of a packed house, with Brewers fans chanting “Go Pack Go!” as he took the stage. It’s a fun crossover moment for Wisconsin sports, even if the pitch itself was more of a blooper than a strike.
Meanwhile, the Brewers gave fans plenty to cheer about, grinding out a nail-biting 3-2 win over the Red Sox in the series opener. Despite a stellar performance from Boston’s ace Garrett Crochet—who racked up 11 strikeouts and allowed just two earned runs over 6.2 innings—Milwaukee’s bats found a way to get it done. The victory bumped the Brewers to 27-28, with a solid 16-10 record at home. But with the team sitting four games out of the National League’s final wild card spot, they’ll need to string together some wins to make a serious postseason push. Nights like this, with a tight win and a lively crowd, could be the spark they need.
Shifting gears back to Love, he’s got bigger challenges ahead than a wayward pitch. The Packers are gearing up for a tough Week 1 matchup, hosting their NFC North rivals, the Detroit Lions, at 4:25 p.m. EST. The Lions have had Green Bay’s number lately, sweeping the season series last year and going 5-1 against Matt LaFleur’s squad since 2022. The Packers haven’t exactly been fast starters in recent years, dropping three of their last four season openers. For Love, who’s shown flashes of brilliance as Green Bay’s QB1, this game is a chance to flip the script. Can he harness that big-game arm we’ve seen in clutch moments and lead the Pack to a statement win? If he can, it’ll be a lot more memorable than that first pitch—and trust me, nobody will be talking about his mound mishap if he’s carving up Detroit’s defense.
This is the kind of moment that makes sports so great—when a football star steps into a baseball world, the crowd roars, and the game delivers drama. Love’s pitch might’ve missed the mark, but the energy at American Family Field and the Brewers’ gritty win reminded us why we’re all glued to these games. And for Packers fans, it’s a fun appetizer for what’s coming when Love takes the field against the Lions. Buckle up, Wisconsin—it’s going to be a wild ride.
