In recent years, Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love has become a household name and one of the highest-paid players in the NFL. Since his ascent to stardom, many fans are curious about his personal life, including his upbringing and family. Here’s everything you need to know about Love’s father, Orbin.
Who Is Jordan Love’s Father?
Love was born on Nov. 2, 1998, to Anna and Orbin Love in Bakersfield, California.
Orbin played JUCO football at Bakersfield College before becoming a sergeant in the Bakersfield police department and a youth pastor at Fellowship Baptist Church.
Orbin played quarterback in high school but transitioned to running back while in college. Orbin would constantly tell his fellow police officers that his son would become a star quarterback. “Whatever, Big O,” they’d respond.
“A doting dad like few others with a pipedream like a million others, Love saw something in his son that nobody else saw. Believed what nobody else believed,” wrote Chase Goodbread of NFL.com.
Orbin was described as Love’s “father, his friend, his coach, his mentor, his role model and his spiritual beacon.”
“Orbin Love never cursed. He didn’t drink, smoke, use drugs or even — to anyone’s notable recollection — lose his temper,” Goodbread wrote.
Orbin’s Tragic Death
Tragically, in 2013, Orbin took his own life at 51 years old. Jordan was just 14 at the time of his father’s death, and he was understandably devastated.
“My darkest moment was definitely the day it happened, just hearing about it right there in the car,” Jordan told NFL.com. “I didn’t want to believe it.”
Several days before the tragedy, Orbin’s doctor changed his blood pressure medication, and he immediately started displaying bizarre behavior. In Orbin’s obituary, Anna explained that he was “taken suddenly by a medical demon.”
“I just wanted the world to know this was not depression,” she told NFL.com. “And to know that even though people would find out it was suicide, that it was because of the medication. There is no way Orbin Love would’ve ever considered taking his life. His medicine did this to his mind.”
“If you knew him, he was the happiest dude you would ever see. He was always smiling,” Jordan added. “Even if things in his life got him down, he never showed that. Our family knew it was the medication messing with his head, not acting like himself, not acting right. If people make assumptions about depression that aren’t right, there’s nothing that can be done about that. It’s good enough for me to know it was the medication. As long as I know, I’m good with it.”
Shortly after losing his father, Love decided to quit football and focus on basketball instead. However, Anna encouraged her son to stick with football for one more season rather than making the decision based on emotion.
Love agreed, and he went on to become the starting quarterback on his JV team that year and make a big leap forward. The rest is history. When Jordan declared for the NFL Draft, he took to social media to thank both of his parents.
“I want to thank everyone who has helped me get to this point in my life, including my mom and my dad,” he wrote on X. “Words cannot express how grateful I am for your love and continued support.”
If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, please call the 24-hour National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
