Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love has been identified as the 2026 midseason NFL MVP, a distinction earned by his ability to succeed with limited support through the first nine weeks of the season. The Packers currently hold a 6-3 record, with victories in five of their last six games. If the season were to conclude at this point, the team would secure a postseason berth. This achievement is considered remarkable given the significant challenges facing the offense.
The Packers are currently the last team in the NFL in rushing offense, averaging just 68.2 rushing yards per game. This marks the fewest rushing yards per game for a team with a winning record through nine weeks in NFL history. Running back Josh Jacobs is sidelined following finger surgery, further limiting the ground game. Consequently, defenses are fully aware that Love must rely heavily on his arm to move the ball.
Supporting Love has been difficult for Green Bay. The team has dropped 23 passes, seven more than any other club, and has committed 39 accepted offensive penalties, the third highest total in the league. The offensive line is under constant siege, allowing an average time to pressure of 2.48 seconds. This is the second fastest time in the league, surpassed only by the Carolina Panthers. These struggles intensified after right tackle Zach Bako-Bewele suffered a season-ending injury in Week 2, forcing the team to start their third-string center. Love has absorbed 57 hits this season, the fifth most among quarterbacks.
Despite these hurdles, Love has dominated statistically. He leads the NFL with 2,618 passing yards and 40 completions of 20 or more yards. He also ranks third in passing touchdowns with 19. Notably, Love has recorded three games with five or more completions of 30-plus yards, which is the most in any single season in the last 35 years. His performance against the Minnesota Vikings was particularly impressive, as he leads the league in passing yards, yards per attempt, and passing touchdowns against that specific defense.
Love's prowess was on full display in a recent Sunday game against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium. He completed 23 of 29 passes for 372 yards and three touchdowns, while also adding a 13-yard rushing score. The Packers led 45-21 with eight minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, prompting coach Matt LaFleur to substitute in the second-team offense. The 45 points allowed represent the most the Patriots have conceded in a home game since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger. The final score was 45-27.
During that matchup, Love completed six of his eight deep passes for 235 yards and a touchdown. This was his second game this season with at least six completions of 20-plus air yards. According to league Next Gen Stats, no other quarterback has achieved that feat in any other game this season. LaFleur praised Love's ability to make difficult throws look routine, noting that Love takes hits while still delivering the ball accurately.
Analysts point to the physical skill Love displays to maintain an edge over his peers. In one notable play, Love faded off his back foot under heavy pressure to complete a 28-yard pass to wide receiver Christian Watson. A similar attempt by Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen against the Minnesota Vikings on Monday Night Football resulted in an interception, highlighting the difficulty of such throws.
The Packers' defense has also faced setbacks, with All-Pro edge rusher Micah Parsons still rehabbing a torn ACL and meniscus sustained in December 2025. His absence has placed even more burden on the offense. Love has managed to keep the team competitive without him, a feat that has earned him the respect of fans and analysts alike.
Following the victory over New England, Packers fans who traveled to New England chanted MVP as Love entered the tunnel. Love expressed his appreciation for the support, stating it was a cool feeling. The narrative of an MVP-caliber quarterback in Green Bay is not new, given the legacy of Aaron Rodgers and Brett Favre, but Love has established his own identity as a key figure in the franchise's current success.
Love's ability to thrive in these adverse conditions has solidified his status as the top performer in the league at this stage of the 2026 season. His leadership has powered the Packers into playoff position, proving that he can elevate the team's performance even when the supporting cast is struggling.
