Logo

Brian Gutekunst Affirms Faith In $220 Million Investment Despite Debate: “I Expect Him To Shine In Big Moments.”

Green Bay, WI — Amid debate over Jordan Love’s recent form in high-leverage spots, general manager Brian Gutekunst doubled down: the Packers are built to contend for a championship, and the organization stands firmly behind its $220 million commitment to its franchise quarterback.

The standard in Green Bay is to contend for championships; when Jordan Love is healthy, I believe he’s the one to carry us through January, and I fully believe in the $220 million contract I brought in — that’s my commitment to Jordan and to the Lombardi,” Gutekunst said. He added a clear expectation for 2025: “I expect him to shine in big moments.”

The January pressure — and a front-office answer

Criticism of Love centers on ball security and execution in “gotta-have-it” situations (red zone, two-minute, and third-and-long). Gutekunst acknowledged the pressure as the cost of chasing trophies, but emphasized the club’s belief in Love’s trajectory when healthy and surrounded by a complete supporting cast.

The support plan: from playbook to depth

Internally, Green Bay has prioritized:

  • More under-center and play-action to unlock rhythm throws at intermediate depth.

  • Two-TE and condensed-split packages to create cleaner releases in money time.

  • Streamlined two-minute operations, simplifying reads in high-stress sequences.

  • “We’ve built a better scaffolding — protection integrity, run-game rhythm, and concepts that fit Jordan’s strengths,” a coach noted.

    The message to the locker room

    Gutekunst stressed a closed-loop standard of accountability: front office, staff, QB1, and every room on the roster. “When we say ‘compete for championships,’ that’s not a slogan. It’s the expectation for every practice, every clutch drive, every fourth-quarter decision,” he said.

    What “shine” looks like this season

    The Packers will track Love’s money-time barometers in tight games: red-zone TD rate, two-minute scoring efficiency, late-down EPA on 3rd-and-6 to 10, and turnover-worthy play rate in the fourth quarter. “We’re not chasing pretty highlights,” a staffer added. “We’re chasing answers in defining moments.”

    Preseason always amplifies both skepticism and hope. With Gutekunst’s public vote of confidence, Green Bay’s stance is unmistakable: close the slogans, open the Lombardi ledger — and put Jordan Love at the center of the moment.

    8 views
    Raiders Reunite with a Former Starter to Fortify the Offensive Line
    Las Vegas, NV   The Las Vegas Raiders have brought back a familiar face in a move that screams both urgency and savvy: versatile offensive lineman Jermaine Eluemunor is returning to the Silver & Black on a one-year deal (terms not disclosed), reuniting with the franchise where he logged some of the best football of his career and immediately fortifying a position group that has been stretched thin. Eluemunor, 31, started for the Raiders from 2021–2023, showing rare position flexibility across right tackle and guard while anchoring pass protection against premier edge rushers. His technique, anchor, and ability to handle long-arm power made him a steadying force during multiple playoff pushes. After departing Vegas, Eluemunor spent time elsewhere refining his craft, but a confluence of roster needs and scheme familiarity has set the stage for a timely homecoming. For the Raiders—fighting to keep pace in a rugged AFC—this is about stability and fit. Injuries and week-to-week availability on the right side of the line have forced constant shuffling; protection packages have leaned heavily on chips and condensed splits to survive obvious passing downs. Eluemunor’s return allows the staff to plug him at RT or slide him inside at RG, restoring balance to protections and widening the run-game menu (duo, inside zone, and the toss/ pin-pull that Vegas fans love when the edge is sealed). “Jermaine knows who we are and how we want to play,” a team source said. “He brings ballast. Assignment sound, physical, and smart—he raises the floor for the entire unit.” Beyond the X’s and O’s, there’s an unmistakable emotional charge to this reunion. Eluemunor was a locker-room favorite in his previous stint—professional, detail-driven, and accountable. The belief internally is that his presence stabilizes communication on the right side (IDs, slides, and pass-off rules vs. games and simulated pressures), which in turn unlocks more vertical concepts and keeps the quarterback cleaner late in games. On social media, Raider Nation lit up the timeline with a simple refrain: “Welcome back, Jem.” Many fans called the deal the exact kind of “rival-poach, ready-to-play” move a contender makes in October: low friction, high impact, zero learning curve. What it means on the field (immediately): Pass pro: Fewer emergency chips, more five-out releases—OC can re-open deeper intermediate shots without living in max-protect. Run game: Better edge control on toss/duo; more confidence running to the right on money downs. Depth & versatility: One injury doesn’t force a cascade of position changes; Eluemunor can cover two spots with starting-level competency. The timetable? Swift. Because Eluemunor already speaks the language—terminology, splits, cadence rules—he could suit up as early as this weekend if the medicals/check-ins continue to trend positive. The message is clear: the Raiders aren’t waiting around for the line to gel—they’re engineering it. If Jermaine Eluemunor plays to his Raider résumé, this reunion could be the precise mid-season jolt that steadies the offense and keeps the Silver & Black firmly in the postseason race. Raider Nation, the question writes itself: Plug-and-play stopgap—or the catalyst that reclaims the right side