How Packers rookie Matthew Golden has made a shining first impression on Jordan Love
APPLETON, Wis. — Jordan Love wasn't just wrong.
'I was very wrong,' the Packers quarterback says now.
Before the Super Bowl earlier this year, Love made a prediction with 'Up and Adams' host Kay Adams on Radio Row in New Orleans.
'Knowing the Green Bay Packers, I think we're gonna go defense,' Love said of the team's upcoming first-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
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The Packers didn't use their first-round pick on a defensive player. Instead, they broke the franchise's 22-year streak of not taking a wide receiver in the first round and selected Texas wideout Matthew Golden.
'I'm glad to be wrong,' Love said Friday at his charity softball game in his first comments about Golden since the draft.
Jordan Love to @heykayadams on the Packers first-round pick: 'Knowing the Green Bay Packers, I think we're gonna go defense.' pic.twitter.com/7z1p0vgKUD
— Matt Schneidman (@mattschneidman) February 7, 2025
Golden was one of the marquee names in attendance, along with head coach Matt LaFleur, defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley, Love, tight end Tucker Kraft and backup quarterback Malik Willis. Among players, Golden probably received the second-loudest ovation from the packed house behind his starting quarterback.
'It was a great time just to be able to get in front of the fans, first time showing my face in Green Bay,' Golden said. 'So it was definitely fun and exciting to be here.'
Golden's answer when asked why he volunteered to play in Love's charity game shows that the Packers' potential top QB-WR tandem of the future is off to a good start.
'You always gotta be there for your quarterback,' Golden said.
Not just on the softball field, but on the football field, too. That's where the Packers will rely on the No. 23 pick to catch the ball as well as he did in college for a Packers team that struggled to do so last season. And to run past defensive backs like his sub-4.3 speed indicates he can.
Love and Golden only met in person recently, as veterans and rookies didn't report to Lambeau Field at the same time this offseason, but Love has been impressed with his new flashy weapon so far.
'He's a great dude,' Love said. 'I'm excited to see just his potential on the football field. But just the start we've had, doing routes on air and things like that, he looks like a stud, looks like a very polished receiver, so I'm excited to see just how far he can take it.'
First time Jordan Love has discussed Matthew Golden since the draft:
'Just the start we've had … he looks like a stud, looks like a very polished receiver.' pic.twitter.com/fwXrpavFfn
— Matt Schneidman (@mattschneidman) May 24, 2025
LaFleur FaceTimed his starting quarterback the night Green Bay drafted Golden.
'You always want to kind of connect with the quarterback when you give him some pieces, so I Facetimed him and he's like, 'Man, sub-4.3 … I gotta get that arm loose,' ' LaFleur said. 'So he can roll, and I said, 'Hey, man, you're just going to have to get that ball up on time and out early.' '
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Love said he immediately watched Golden's college highlights, perhaps daydreaming about how he could get Golden the ball in the NFL.
'The speed speaks for itself. Running a 40-yard dash, any time you get a 4.2, that's some blazing speed right there, so I'm excited to see how fast he is on the field,' Love said. 'I've seen all the highlights, all the good stuff, so we'll see once we get practice rolling and everything how good he is.'
Matthew Golden: 'Starting to realize Green Bay not too big, so a lot of people gonna recognize me. But it's a blessing just to be able to be around people that care about you … for me it's just being able to show my face and show that I love being here.' pic.twitter.com/1qFPzsMuT0
— Matt Schneidman (@mattschneidman) May 24, 2025
The Packers' first full-team OTA practice open to the media is Wednesday. Wide receivers Jayden Reed, Romeo Doubs and Dontayvion Wicks are still on the team and expected to contribute significantly this coming season. But all eyes will be on No. 22 as he catches what fans hope is the first of many passes from Love. That's the territory that comes with being the organization's first wide receiver drafted in the first round since 2002.
While Love and Golden aren't best friends just yet, Golden said the two are going to hang out outside of football and get to know each other better. Showing up in support of Love's foundation might just be a small gesture by the rookie, but it's a promising sign that Golden will be ready to deliver when Love needs him on the field, too.
'Just gain his trust, man,' Golden said of developing a relationship with Love. 'That's from me just being able to put my best foot forward every day. Just go out there and create that chemistry with him.'
(Photo of Matthew Golden: Jeffrey Phelps / Associated Press)
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