The Green Bay Packers finished the 2024 calendar year with a 13-6 record. They’ve gone 12-5 in the regular season and 1-1 in the postseason.
It was a year full of memorable moments for Titletown. Jordan Love stepped up in his first year as a starter and led the Packers to the playoffs, a feat future Hall of Famer Aaron Rodgers didn’t achieve in his debut season.
The year brought a change at defensive coordinator for the Packers. They moved on from Joe Barry and brought in Jeff Hafley. Under Hafley, Green Bay’s defense ranks as the best in EPA per play since 2010.
Brian Gutekunst signed Josh Jacobs and Xavier McKinney in free agency. McKinney has recorded seven interceptions this year, one fewer than Green Bay’s safety group managed in 2022 and 2023 combined. Meanwhile, Jacobs ranked top three in rushing touchdowns, yards after contact, and missed tackles forced.
The Packers kicked off their 2024 season in the NFL’s first-ever game in South America. They traveled to São Paulo, Brazil, to face the Philadelphia Eagles. Being from Brazil myself, I’m a bit biased, but the experience was a big win for the NFL.
“We’re really excited to be down here in Brazil,” Matt LaFleur said. “Your country has been great to us. The people have been fantastic. We are looking forward to making history tomorrow and looking forward to playing the Philadelphia Eagles to start off the 2024 season.”
The Packers lost 34-29, and Love injured his MCL with only five seconds left in the game. Despite the lousy outcome, Brazilian Packers fans will remember that night for years to come.
Green Bay also drafted the top linebacker and safety of the 2024 class without using a first-round pick.
Edgerrin Cooper didn’t play 30-plus snaps until Week 5 and has been disruptive in both the run and pass game since taking on a larger role. He’s always around the football, regardless of the play’s direction. Cooper is probably the best inside linebacker the Packers have had since Clay Matthews III transitioned from pass rusher to an off-ball role.
Twelve rookie safeties have played at least 200 snaps this season, and Evan Williams is PFF’s highest-graded in defensive and coverage grades. He logged over 300 snaps as a free safety, 36 in the slot, 71 in the box, and 21 on the defensive line. Williams is highly instinctive and reminds me of a young Micah Hyde.
The Packers saw several of their 2024 resolutions come to life. Their rookies made an immediate impact, the defense improved, and special teams found stability.
Like everyone else, Green Bay surely has its own resolutions for 2025, and the following should probably be at the top of the list:
Hoisting the Lombardi Trophy (duh)
Green Bay’s playoff run begins in less than two weeks. However, it is unclear whether it will start in Philadelphia, Tampa, or Los Angeles. To reach the Super Bowl, Green Bay may have to face the Eagles, Detroit Lions, and Minnesota Vikings on the road.
The Jordan Love-led Packers have already shown they can win on the road as underdogs in January. The NFC North hasn’t represented the NFC in the Super Bowl since 2010, and it’s time for Green Bay to change that.
A healthy Jaire Alexander
Alexander has missed 20 of Green Bay’s last 34 games and 34 of their last 68. On Monday, a reporter asked Matt LaFleur if Alexander would play again this year. “Yeah, I don’t know,” he responded, which didn’t inspire confidence.
After the Week 11 game against the Chicago Bears, Alexander revealed that he suffered a torn PCL, leaving his return timeline uncertain. With Green Bay’s depth at cornerback as thin as it gets, they desperately need their superstar back.
Continued stability on special teams
Chatter about Rich Bisaccia’s job security has quieted recently, thanks to Brandon McManus stabilizing Green Bay’s kicking game and Daniel Whelan becoming a weapon in the punting game. Poor special teams play was a recurring issue in the Packers’ playoff losses over the past decade, but they are determined not to let it define them moving forward.
Zach Tom’s contract extension
We can debate whether Zach Tom is the best player on Green Bay’s offense, but he’s undoubtedly the most important. Love’s production in the Packers’ divisional loss to the San Francisco 49ers highlights Tom’s value. Under NFLPA rules, Tom becomes eligible for an extension this offseason, and the Packers should prioritize locking him in as soon as possible.
For Toyotathon to be extended into February
We’re all familiar with the Jordan Love-Toyotathon conspiracy theory. Outside Toyotathon season, Love has 29 touchdowns and 25 interceptions. During Toyotathon, though, he’s thrown for 28 touchdowns and just 2 interceptions.
“I’ve definitely seen all that stuff that has been out there on social media for quite some time now,” Love said.
Shoutout to my marketing agent. He did a good job and reached them after and made it come to life, so it was pretty cool. But I’ve seen a lot of stuff out there is quite sometimes so shoutout to whoever started that. I might need to go buy a Toyota now, buy something for our whole line, too.
As long as Toyotathon keeps fueling Love’s powers, Green Bay fans will fully embrace the conspiracy. It’s a fun idea, but his numbers reflect his ability to adjust mid-season. Love began the year with four touchdowns and six interceptions versus the blitz. Since the bye, he’s turned it around with six touchdowns and no picks.
This season, Toyotathon runs from November 15, 2024, to January 2, 2025. It would be fitting if Toyota extended its sales pitch through January and mid-February, just in time to reach the Super Bowl and fuel Love’s magic in the big game.
Only time will tell if any of these resolutions will come to life. However, the Packers have every reason to be hopeful about their future. They are the youngest team in the league again, with plenty of room to grow and improve. Meanwhile, fans only hope their beloved franchise enjoys a prosperous 2025.
