Packers backup QB Tyrod Taylor
spending offseason building his relationship with Jordan Love
[June 06, 2026]
By STEVE MEGARGEE
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Green Bay’s Tyrod Taylor has been a reserve
quarterback long enough to know the importance of building a
relationship with the guy he’s backing up.
That’s why the 16th-year pro has been getting more familiar with
Jordan Love since signing with the Packers last month.
“We didn’t know each other coming into this opportunity,” Taylor
said. “We had a lot of respect for one another. Always talked
pregame. But this is our first time working alongside one another.
It’s about learning one another for sure.”
Taylor, who turns 37 on Aug. 3, has made 62 starts but has spent the
majority of his career in a reserve role. He realizes the value of
establishing trust between a starting quarterback and his backup.
“We’re each other’s eyes when we’re not on the field,” Taylor said.
“Whether it’s looking for certain things while he’s on the field
that he may not be able to see before he gets the tablet in his
hands. Just keeping the communication as open as possible. Some
people love more talkers on the sideline. Some people want things to
be quiet. It’s about learning one another.”
The Packers had one of the NFL’s best backup quarterbacks the past
two seasons in Malik Willis, who performed well enough in that role
to graduate out of it by signing a three-year, $67.5 million
contract to become the Miami Dolphins’ starter.
Green Bay hopes it has found an ideal replacement in Taylor, who
started four games with the New York Jets last season.
The Packers believed in Taylor enough to sign him while releasing
Desmond Ridder, who made 17 starts with Atlanta from 2022-23 and one
with Las Vegas in 2024.
“He’s been at it for a long time, so it’s nice to have a guy in the
room that’s played a lot of ball,” Love said. “He’s been in a lot of
different offenses, and (he’s) just somebody that you can piggyback
off and pick his brain."
The other quarterbacks on Green Bay’s roster are Kyle McCord and
rookie undrafted free agent Kyron Drones.
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Green Bay Packers quarterback Tyrod Taylor (6) stretches during an
NFL football practice, Wednesday, May 27, 2026, in Green Bay, Wis.
(AP Photo/Mike Roemer)
Taylor commanded immediate respect from his new
team because of a track record that has included stints with the
Baltimore Ravens (2011-14), Buffalo Bills (2015-17), Cleveland
Browns (2018), Los Angeles Chargers (2019-20), Houston Texans
(2021), New York Giants (2022-23) and Jets (2024-25).
“The cool part (is) when he walked in the room, you
could feel the presence, the confidence, the composure,”
quarterbacks coach Luke Getsy said. “He’s seen a lot.”
Taylor completed 59.7% of his passes with five touchdowns and five
interceptions for the Jets last season.
Over his career, he has thrown for 13,033 yards and 73 touchdowns
with 34 interceptions while also rushing for 2,424 yards and 20
touchdowns.
He won a Super Bowl with Baltimore in the 2012 season and would like
to get another. He believes Green Bay provides that opportunity.
“I was fortunate enough to be part of a Super Bowl-winning team in
Year 2,” Taylor said. “Over the course of the career, you realize
how hard it is to get back. You definitely try to look for teams
that have the best talent, but that doesn’t always win championships
as well. It’s about the nucleus. It’s about the chemistry. Obviously
it’s about staying healthy.
“Every team, this time of year, feels they have the pieces to do so.
It’s about putting in the work, day in and day out, keeping the
right mindset. And I think the guys in this locker room have the
right mindset to achieve what we all want to achieve.”
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