From “Mr. Rodgers’ Neighborhood” to “Big Money Boulevard,” the Green Bay Packers‘ quarterback legacy continues its storied march.  The Packers have signed Jordan Love to a new historic contract that shows they continue to bet on him. Love, once the understudy in football’s version of “The Apprentice,” has now become the master of his domain- and his teammates are making sure he knows it.

But as the young QB steps into the spotlight, he’s carrying more than just a hefty paycheck; he’s shouldering the weight of a franchise accustomed to Hall-of-Fame-caliber play under center. Having last featured in an NFC Championship in 2021 and having not won the Super Bowl since 2011, the Packers will look to Love for inspiration. However, for now, his teammates have come up with a nickname for him alluding to his new massive deal.

According to Kyle Malzhan’s post on X today, Packers running back Josh Jacobs spilled the beans on Love’s new locker room moniker: “Big Money.” This comes right off Love’s freshly inked $220 million contract extension. This isn’t just any old deal – it’s a record-breaker that would make even the most seasoned Lambeau Leapers do a double-take.

Love’s four-year contract includes a whopping $75 million signing bonus, the highest in NFL history. At $55 million per year, he’s now tied with Joe Burrow for the fattest paycheck in the league. The $155 million in new, full guarantees and makes Love the highest-paid quarterback in NFL history. Not bad for a guy who, until last season, was best known for holding a clipboard.

But Love isn’t just cashing in on potential. He finished the 2023 season with a flourish, posting 100-plus passer ratings in eight of his last 10 games. During that span, he threw 23 touchdowns and just three interceptions, while being sacked only eight times in his final eight games as the Packers went 7-3 in their last 10 games.

In contrast, they were 3-6 at the halfway point last season. Love had thrown 14 touchdowns and 10 interceptions, his completion percentage was a poor 58.7% in nine games. But he turned things around. It’s this kind of perseverance and improvement that has the Packers brass seeing green – and we’re not just talking about the team colors.

Despite the massive contract, the Packers still maintain financial flexibility. A source said Love’s deal will raise his salary cap number to around $21 million, leaving the team with between $20 million and $25 million in cap space for the rest of this season. It seems the Packers are betting big on Love while keeping their options open for supporting talent.

This new contract also shows continuous faith in Love by the franchise, especially GM Brian Gutekunst. He went for Love as a first-round draft, when it seemed they needed receivers and defensive reinforcements to help them. Moreover, with Rodgers, the team had just reached the NFC Championship Game. But they went with Love as a long-term investment.

The first two years proved to be difficult, but in 2022, Love started to come into his own in 2023 as a first-year starter he delivered on the early promise. Love is also keen to repay the faith shown in him by Gutekunst and the Packers.

“I’m excited to have an opportunity to go out and earn this every day and prove the people who believe in me right,” Love said Saturday after his first training camp workout of the year. He also has his eyes set on the prize as he added, “I’m ready to get to work, prepare ourselves for the season ahead and chase the ultimate goal that we have of winning the Super Bowl.”

But let’s not forget the man who paved the way for Love’s ascension. Aaron Rodgers, now donning Jets green, didn’t let old rivalries get in the way of congratulating his former protégé.

Speaking on the NFL Network on Saturday, Rodgers said, “I want to give a shoutout to Jordan Love becoming the highest paid player in the NFL. J-Love, don’t spend it all in one place. But if you do, I still have a house in Green Bay up for sale.” Love responded with some bit of humor like true protégé: “Somebody will buy it, but probably not me.”

This gesture echoes a similar moment from 2022 when Love expressed his happiness for Rodgers’ contract extension, which made him the highest-paid NFL player back then.

“I was super happy for Aaron,” Love said at the time. “Obviously, the dude deserves it with what he’s done the last two years.” It seems the student has become the master, but the respect remains mutual.

The Rodgers-Love relationship wasn’t always smooth sailing. When Green Bay drafted Love in 2020, many saw it as a signal that Rodgers’ time was winding down. But instead of animosity, a mentorship blossomed. Love described watching Rodgers as an “honor” and a source of motivation. “It motivates me to just to be able to see someone play at such a high level and do the things he’s able to do on a daily basis,” Love once shared.

This apprenticeship paid dividends in 2023 when Love finally got his shot. He didn’t just fill Rodgers’ shoes – he outgrew them. Love threw for 4,159 yards and 32 touchdowns, joining Kurt Warner and Patrick Mahomes as the only quarterbacks to surpass 4,000 yards and 32 touchdowns in their first season with multiple starts. Talk about stepping up to the plate – or in this case, the frozen tundra.

Aaron Rodgers’ lasting influence on Jordan Love’s career

It would be grossly unfair to think of the Rodgers-Love tale in the history of Packers as just a footnote. There recent exchange underscores an exceptional association between two quarterbacks which was created through tough competition and mutual respect. Interestingly, Rodgers’s mentorship didn’t end when he packed his bags for New York.

Before Love’s playoff debut, Rodgers sent a text as revealed by Love in the Up & Adams Show that showcased their enduring bond: “Don’t be like me and throw a pick on your first pass in the playoffs.” Love took the advice to heart, completing a 22-yard pass on his first playoff throw. This playoff debut against the Dallas Cowboys is what made the Packers hold so much hope for their costly investment in Love.

He threw for 272 yards and three touchdowns en route to a 48-32 win over the Cowboys with an almost perfect passer rating. Cheeseheads were fantasizing about another long love story between them and their quarterback after this showmanship. Even the NFL legend himself, Tom Brady, weighed in on Love’s development under Rodgers.

Speaking on The Herd with Colin Cowherd back in May, Brady emphasized the value of Love’s apprenticeship: “He had Aaron Rodgers to watch. That’s the best type of training in my opinion – watch someone else do it at a very high level and then try to emulate them with your own personality.”

When Love steps into the spotlight, he drags with him more than just a big payday but the knowledge gained from one of the greats of the game. He understands what is expected of him fully too. “I see it all the time, people are saying we’ve [Packers fans] been spoiled with really really high-level quarterback play over the years,” admitted Love while discussing this matter.

He sees being anointed as Aaron Rodgers’ successor as a “blessing” albeit admitting it is an “added level of pressure.” The massive new contract will certainly add to the pressure and the expectations, but Love will be eager to prove himself to the Packers faithful and justify the investment.