Tom Clements is trying to repeat history with Jordan Love
GREEN BAY, Wis. (BVM) – Tom Clements has only been back in Green Bay for a short time but the longtime quarterback coach is already having a positive effect on the QB room. Obviously, Aaron Rodgers, who played a pivotal role in bringing Clements back to Lambeau, has enjoyed having his old coach back, but second–string quarterback Jordan Love has also appreciated Clements’ presence.
“It’s been good with Tom,” Love said about Clements. “He is a great quarterback coach. He is pretty much a legend, Aaron loves him and I see why like just working with him for a couple months…Our relationship is good so far and I really enjoy working with him.”
Love has shown improvement throughout training camp, earning praise from head coach Matt LaFleur and Rodgers.
“I think he’s light years ahead of where he was a year ago,” LaFleur said about Love after the Packers first preseason game against the San Francisco 49ers.
Love is entering his third season and all that time has certainly helped him understand Green Bay’s system. He is more confident and comfortable with the Packers. Each of his three preseason games have showcased his improvement from his poise in the pocket to his footwork to some of the throws he has made showcasing his potential.
Jordan Love looked…really good..again last night.
— Dan Orlovsky (@danorlovsky7) August 26, 2022
However, the addition of Clements has certainly helped. Clements was the quarterback coach in Arizona when Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray was named AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. He also coached Rodgers from 2006 to 2016 and it is that time when Rodgers was still a backup that is giving many Packers fans hope about Love.
This week in Jordan Love: Young Aaron Rodgers would never
(H/T @TylerHerrick for inspiring me to go find some of these other old clips) pic.twitter.com/tSuOUA54aZ
— Peter Bukowski (@Peter_Bukowski) August 24, 2022
Those comparisons to a young Rodgers will continue and Clements is giving Love the same opportunities Rodgers had. Since replacing Luke Getsy, who became the Chicago Bears offensive coordinator this year, Clements is sticking with what he knows works.
“We’ve been working on the things that we used to do a lot in the old quarterback school we had here in Green Bay,” Clements said.
It’s hard to argue with Clements’ methods. While in Green Bay, he played a part in Rodgers winning two MVPs, being named to six Pro Bowls and leading the Packers to a Super Bowl victory. He also oversaw the end of Brett Farve’s career with the Packers and the growth of Matt Flynn. Clements’ success with Rodgers and the relationship they developed is why Rodgers asked him to come back.
Even before his time in Green Bay with Rodgers, Clements already had a successful career. Prior to his first stint with the Packers, he was a quarterbacks coach for the New Orleans Saints, Pittsburgh Steelers and Kansas City Chiefs. At each of those stops, the quarterbacks he coached reached Pro Bowls. Clements also was the offensive coordinator for the Buffalo Bills and got his start in coaching at his alma mater, Notre Dame.
When he was a quarterback at Notre Dame, Clements was a first-team All-American in 1974. In 1973, he threw a 36-yard pass to Robin Weber to secure the Fighting Irish’s win over Alabama in the Sugar Bowl to win the national championship.
Following his time at Notre Dame, Clements began a Hall of Fame career in the Canadian Football League. He was named Rookie of the Year while playing for the Ottawa Rough Riders and in his second year, led the team to their last Grey Cup win.
After a short stint with the Saskatchewan Roughriders, he was traded to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats but then spent a year as a backup for the Kansas City Chiefs. Once he was back in Hamilton, Clements had back-to-back seasons of throwing for over 4,500 yards.
Clements would then finish his career in Winnipeg with the Blue Bombers. He won his second Grey Cup with Winnipeg in 1984 and was named Most Outstanding Player in 1987. Clements retired after the 1987 season with 39,041 career passing yards. In 1994, he was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame.
Love is still the heir apparent and Rodgers is trying to finish his career as a Packer and on a high note. The return of Clements and his lifetime of knowledge as a successful quarterback as well as a quarterback coach bodes well for both players.
