Packers HC wants QB Jordan Love to take next step by evolving in one key area

Green Bay Packers QB Jordan Love heads into the offseason on the heels of a disappointing wild-card round loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.

As he looks to improve on an injury-riddled and turnover-plagued season, he will have to do so without longtime QBs coach Tom Clements, who the organization announced was retiring on Tuesday.

As head coach Matt LaFleur spoke at Tuesday's season wrap-up news conference, he said he would like to see Love "evolve as a vocal leader," via NBC Sports' Josh Alper.

"They all respect him, but I think, when things aren't quite right, I think he can voice that as well," LaFleur said at his news conference. "When guys aren't quite doing what they're supposed to be doing, and he's one of the guys to talk to about that. I just think it means more when it comes from your quarterback than it does from me or one of our other coaches."

In each of his last two seasons as Green Bay's starter with Clements as the QBs coach, Love has combined to pass for 7,548 yards, 57 TDs and 22 interceptions.

Two areas Love struggled with during the 2024 season were injuries and turnovers. He injured his left knee during the team's season-opener against the Eagles and missed the Packers' next two games. Love additionally battled a left groin injury that he suffered against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Oct. 27.

Love threw 11 interceptions during the season, including at least one pick in each of his first eight starts. Although he did not account for any interceptions from Week 12 through the end of the regular season, his three picks in the wild-card game proved to be costly, given the Eagles' inability to move the ball consistently.

Despite the uncertainty surrounding who Love's QB coach will be next season, LaFleur remains confident in his ability, calling Love "an ascending player that is going to get better and better and better," per Rob Demovsky of ESPN.

Considering Clements is the only person to coach Brett Favre, Aaron Rodgers and Love, the Packers have some big shoes to fill during the offseason. Green Bay is coming off an 11-win season, but finished on a three-game losing streak and only had two wins against playoff teams when it defeated the Los Angeles Rams and Houston Texans.

With that said, there is a lot to like about the Packers. The defense had several bright spots throughout the season and was a major reason the wild-card game never got away from them. According to NFL.com, RB Josh Jacobs was fourth in the league in rushing TDs (15) during the regular season and finished the season with a TD in nine straight games, which broke Paul Hornung's record of seven straight games with a TD in 1960.

Keep in mind that Love had Green Bay in the divisional round with a chance to knock off the San Francisco 49ers to get to the NFC Championship Game one season ago. The Packers have a lot to be excited about, especially if Love stays healthy and limits his turnovers.