The third year.
This is the year for Jordan Love.
Josh Allen (4,544 passing yards, 37 touchdowns and 10 picks), Jalen Hurts (3,701, 22 and 6) and Joe Burrow (4,475, 35 and 12) all skyrocketed their status with huge third years.
“If he has that special ability to perform at the highest level during the most difficult times, you will see that emerge in Year 3,” said former NFL executive Bill Polian in 2023. “At the conclusion of year three — and only then — will you know with a firm degree of certainty that you have the person who can lead you to championships.”
We all saw surprising things in Love’s first season as a starter in 2023. He passed for 4,159 yards, with 32 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. Last year, he battled injuries but still passed for 3,389 yards.
There are still plenty of people that are unsure about what Love brings. They want to see more, especially in big spots. He’s 1-2 in the playoffs thanks to five touchdowns and five interceptions. I think Love is the guy. He has shown plenty of poise, especially after taking over for Aaron Rodgers.
The problem is his supporting cast. Jayden Reed and Dontayvion Wicks are questionable for Week 1 and Christian Watson is out for awhile while he recovers from a torn ACL.
“When you talk about Aaron and what he did in his third year, I never try to compare because that’s just so hard to do,” Love during OTAs this summer. “There’s so many different situations that go on, but at the end of the day, I’ve been here in Year 6, going on my third year of playing. Everything is right there in front of us for this team.”
In Rodgers’ third season as a starter, he brought back the title to Titletown as the Packers beat Pittsburgh 31-25 in Super Bowl XLV. Ironically enough, Rodgers wasn’t a Pro Bowler that season, but a year before he was, by throwing 30 touchdowns and only seven interceptions — and that team lost in the first round of the playoffs.
It’s the same way with Love. He doesn’t have to shoulder the load by himself to be a success. He just needs to realize that this team has many ways to win. That could be Josh Jacobs, Tucker Kraft, Luke Musgrave or the fleet of wide receivers. There’s also the added layer of Love’s feet, which he barely utilized last year because of the sprained MCL he suffered in his left knee in the season opener.
This is Year 3 for Love. Last July, Love signed a four, $220 million extension, but this is when a quarterback is supposed to show real growth and consistency. If Love’s season resembles Trevor Lawrence’s (4,016 passing yards, 21 touchdowns and 14 interceptions) third year, there will be more questions than answers.
If people aren’t sure right now, they will be roaring questions after the season. This is the season where the 26-year-old needs to take the next step.
Welcome to the volatile and unpredictable third year.