The Green Bay Packers survived an early-season injury to Jordan Love, won seven of eight games after a 2-2 start and clinched a playoff berth at 11-4 but then limped into the postseason, losing back-to-back games to division rivals before falling 22-10 to the Philadelphia Eagles to open the playoffs as the NFC’s No. 7 seed.
While the Packers won more regular season games and improved in almost every meaningful statistical category, the disappointing finish — featuring three straight losses — greatly tarnished the second year of the Love era and left the Packers stuck somewhere between “good” and “great” entering the 2025 offseason.
Last year, an inspired second-half run and a near upset of the San Francisco 49ers in the playoffs sent the Packers to the offseason with incredible optimism. The feeling is much different a year later, and Matt LaFleur’s team must now use disappointment — instead of optimism and potential — to fuel improvement in 2025.
The Packers swept the NFC West and AFC South but finished 0-6 against the Eagles, Minnesota Vikings and Detroit Lions. This was a good team that consistently failed to play well enough in big games to beat a great team.
It was a bumpy ride. Now it’s time to hand out some awards for the 2024 season, starting with team MVPs. Incredibly, all three were veteran additions made before or during the season.
Offensive MVP: RB Josh Jacobs
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In his first season in Green Bay, Jacobs created 1,671 total yards, scored 16 touchdowns and made the Pro Bowl. He became the first Packers running back to rush for at least 1,300 yards and score 15 or more rushing touchdowns since Ahman Green, and he was one of only three running backs with at least 1,500 total yards and 15 scores in 2024. Per PFF, Jacobs rushed for over 1,000 yards after first contact, forced 67 missed tackles and created 33 runs of 10 or more yards. He also caught 36 of 43 passes and scored his first career receiving touchdown. The Packers slowly made him the focal point of the offense and Jacobs consistently overcame mostly average run blocking. Jacobs finished the season scoring rushing touchdowns in eight straight regular season games, setting a new team record. In the postseason, Jacobs was a lonely star for the Packers. He did fumble four times. Counting playoff games, Jacobs had 10 games with 100 or more scrimmage yards and 12 games with a touchdown. His 31-yard run in the NFC Wild Card Round was one of the highlight plays of the season.
Defensive MVP: S Xavier McKinney
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The former Giant intercepted eight passes, becoming the first Packers player since Charles Woodson in 2009 to get to at least eight picks in a season. His turnover-bonanza to start the season — five interceptions in his first five games — set the Packers defense on track to be a top-5 team in takeaways. McKinney also had a third-down sack and a fumble recovery. His reliability — both in coverage and as a tackler — limited big plays over the top and explosive runs at the second level. Teams just stopped throwing in his direction during the second half of the season, and McKinney ended up not giving up a single touchdown in coverage despite playing almost 1,100 snaps. In almost every way, McKinney was the perfect safety for Jeff Hafley’s defense, and his presence and playmaking helped the Packers make huge strides defensively in 2024. McKinney finished tied for first among NFL players in total takeaways (nine) and was named a first-team All-Pro at safety.
Special teams MVP: K Brandon McManus
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Honorable mention to Edgerrin Cooper, who produced nine special teams on only 64 kickoff or punt coverage snaps. The rookie was a demon covering kickoffs. McManus, who stabilized the kicker position and was nearly perfect during the regular season, is the pick. He made 20-of-21 field goals (only miss was in cold, rainy conditions at Lambeau Field vs. Lions) and all 30 extra points as the kicker over the final 11 games. The veteran hit two game-winning kicks (vs. Texans, at Jaguars) and made all three of his kicks over 50 yards, including a 55-yarder in the cold during the fourth quarter of the season finale. He made 15 straight field goals to end the season, but his season finished in disappointment when he missed from 38 yards in the playoff loss to the Eagles. His field goal percentage during the regular season was 95.2, the second-best mark in team history and first among kickers with at least 20 attempts. The Packers want him back in 2025.