In 2018, when Brian Gutekunst became the Green Bay Packers’ general manager, he took over from Ted Thompson, the architect of the Packers’ Super Bowl XLV-winning team and the man who selected Aaron Rodgers in the 2005 NFL Draft. While Thompson’s legacy remains revered by fans, Gutekunst faced significant backlash in 2020 when he selected Jordan Love in the first round of the NFL Draft. Rodgers’ immediate response, winning back-to-back MVP awards, only fueled criticism of Gutekunst’s decision to draft a quarterback while Rodgers was still at the helm.
However, with Love now the starting quarterback for the Packers, the narrative around Gutekunst has started to shift. Some view him as a visionary who wisely drafted a quarterback while the team wasn’t yet in desperate need of one, securing the future of the franchise. Despite the rocky start, Love’s potential success has caused fans to reconsider Gutekunst’s controversial move.
Recently, the Netflix documentary “Enigma,” which focuses on Aaron Rodgers’ departure from the Packers and his time with the New York Jets, made headlines. In it, Packers head coach Matt LaFleur appeared to credit Ted Thompson with the decision to draft Jordan Love. LaFleur was quoted saying that Thompson thought the opportunity to draft Love was too good to pass up, suggesting that Thompson, not Gutekunst, was responsible for the pick.
This claim quickly went viral, stirring up discussions about who was truly behind the decision to draft Love. If Thompson played a central role, it would diminish Gutekunst’s credibility, especially as a general manager whose career could be defined by selecting a franchise quarterback. The idea that Thompson influenced the pick cast doubt on Gutekunst’s leadership and decision-making.
However, LaFleur soon addressed the controversy. During a media session after a Packers practice, he clarified that the remarks in the documentary were misrepresented. He explained that he did not recall saying what was attributed to him and suggested the quote might have been the result of selective editing by the documentary’s producers.
LaFleur went on to assert that Thompson had no involvement in the decision to draft Love. He explained that the intention behind his comments was to highlight the parallels between Thompson’s decision to draft Aaron Rodgers in 2005 and Gutekunst’s decision to draft Love in 2020. LaFleur emphasized that while both decisions required courage, especially given the backlash they faced, Thompson had no role in the 2020 draft.
In conclusion, LaFleur wanted to make it clear that he was not trying to imply Thompson had any influence over the selection of Love. He acknowledged the bravery required in drafting a quarterback with no immediate need for one but reiterated that the decision was entirely Gutekunst’s. The situation has caused a stir, but LaFleur’s clarification puts the responsibility for the pick squarely on the shoulders of Green Bay’s current general manager.
