“Play for the badge on the front!” That’s the mantra echoed across locker rooms and players respect it. But sometimes they want to take a notch further and that’s what Green Bay Packers QB Jordan Love does. While he’s proudly leading Green Bay on the field, the #10 on his jersey tells a deeper story. It’s not just a number; it’s a tribute, a reminder of where he came from. Love is playing for more than just the Packers’ badge—he’s carrying a piece of his past with him every time he steps onto that gridiron.

On 13th August, Love shared with Packers media that his late father was the reason for his choice of jersey number. “No, so, my dad wore number 10 when he was in high school. So that was a tribute to him, you know when I was younger,” he said, before adding, “I think I was in sixth grade or seventh grade when I started wearing 10. It kind of just stuck with me. But yeah, definitely a tribute to my dad because he wore number 10.” A nod to the man who first handed him a football.

What Love endured as a young teen is something no one can ever prepare for. And why should they be? No one must! He grew up in a loving family with three sisters, a dedicated mother, and a father who was his hero—and taught him to throw his first spiral. But it only took one instance to shatter Love’s world.

His father, Orbin Jr., a police officer with the Bakersfield Police Department, struggled with depression and mental illness. When a change in his prescription medication shifted his behavior, it led to a tragedy no one saw coming. Orbin committed suicide on July 13, 2013. And suddenly, the then-14-year-old Jordan found himself thrust into the role of “man of the house.” The pain was overwhelming, and pressure did eat him.

But that’s where his mother came to his rescue. Not only that! She made sure that over a decade later, Love isn’t just playing for the Packers. Every snap, every pass is a tribute. That number 10 isn’t just for the jersey. It’s for the promise he made—to keep his father’s memory alive, push forward, and play for something bigger than football.

Anna Love: The MVP behind the Packers’ green-caped hero Jordan Love!

The young ‘Cheeseheads’ see Jordan Love as their QB superhero. And why not? The guy’s got the arm, the poise, and the charisma that could rival any comic book legend. Well, imagine him in a cape—c’mon, he has an aura about him! Don’t you think? But for Love, the real superheroes were his parents. Orbin’s dream of seeing his son in the NFL was as bold as any Hail Mary pass, but he never got to see it come to fruition. And Anna, his mom, became his rock, guiding him through life’s toughest tackles.

On The Pivot podcast in March 2024, Love took fans behind the curtain, sharing, “That was a difficult time. Just losing my father, that was tough, the man I look up to, the man who raised me, losing a parent is a very hard situation.” Picture this: a young Love, his dream team suddenly down by a touchdown, grappling with grief. Alas, he soon found himself wrestling with the thought of quitting. “Stuff wasn’t going my way,” he admitted on the podcast.

But there was Anna Love, who stepped up like an MVP in the game of life for her son. With her husband gone, she took up all the roles and she became everything for Jordan! Mother, mentor, guide, support, cheerleader, family, and the leader. When her young one found it hard to sail his ship, she was there to give wind to his sails—urging him to keep pushing through the rough patches. “My mom knowing my dad’s dream was me being an athlete [she said], ‘Stick it out another year, see what happens’,” Love recalled.

Guess what? That one pep talk changed the whole complexion. It shaped him from a backup quarterback into the QB1 role. This real-life turnaround was better than a fourth-quarter comeback! “The list goes on [extended support system], but I think the biggest one was my mom,” the 24-year-old concluded.

So, when you see Jordan Love in action in 2024, remember: it’s not just about the game, but the incredible support system that’s played alongside him every step of the way, and his father’s spirit. The ‘Go Pack Go’ chant should be deafening every time he leads the pack to victory!