Love spoke with Rodgers after trade: 'Just grateful to be around him'

Jordan Love said he's spoken with Aaron Rodgers since the Green Bay Packers traded their former franchise icon to the New York Jets.

"Yeah, we talked after the trade," the 24-year-old quarterback said during a Wednesday press conference. "It was kinda just, 'Wish you the best going forward,' and he wished me the best, and he's always there for me if I need anything, if I have any questions or anything."

Love added: "I'm always just grateful to be around him."

Selected by the Packers in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft, Love spent three seasons as Rodgers' teammate. Love reflected on what he learned from Rodgers during that stretch.

"Watching the confidence he has, watching how he operates every day, how quickly he makes calls and is able to process information," he said. "How well he knows his system. All those little things. It's good to see it from someone who's been doing it for a long time."

Green Bay drafted Love to be Rodgers' successor under center, but the veteran started playing some of the best football of his career the following season.

Rodgers won back-to-back MVP awards in 2021 and 2022 before signing a three-year, $150-million contract extension with the Packers last offseason.

"I'll admit, I think the hardest time was when he re-signed the contract last year," Love said. "It was kinda like, 'OK, well, where do we go from here?'"

The Packers traded the 39-year-old Rodgers to the Jets in April after missing the playoffs for the first time since 2018, opening the door for Love to take over as Green Bay's starting quarterback.

"It's exciting ... I think I can kinda step up and be a little more vocal and things like that, knowing I'm the guy," Love said.

Love filled in for an injured Rodgers in Week 12 last season, throwing for 113 yards and one touchdown. He's only started one NFL game in his career, doing so in 2021 against the Kansas City Chiefs.