25.23 Years. That is the average age of the 2025 Green Bay Packers. The youngest team in the NFL for the second consecutive year, you’d have a hard time being able to recognize that this year.  There are many words that come to mind when summarizing the now 5-1-1 Packers sitting atop the NFC, few are more fitting than “poise.” No moment has been too big for this bunch, but it isn’t just about certain plays that have shown such growth, but a reflection in the maturity from the core group of players. Learning from previous mistakes and accelerating their development both on and off the field.

Perhaps the greatest metaphor for development would be Jordan Love outplaying his predecessor, Aaron Rodgers. Comparable to a passing of the torch, with the entire country watching Sunday Night Football, on the road in a hostile environment, Love was as close to flawless as you can be. Yet still, it’s more than just Sunday Night. Love continuously has risen to the moment when presented. Converting game-deciding plays, taking care of the football (13 TDS, 2 INTS), to becoming a true leader and face of the franchise.

The QB is dawning the captain badge on his jersey for the first time in his career. The words from Tucker Kraft and Rashan Gary following the Week 8 win over the Steelers speak volumes to the leader he’s become. “He took control of the huddle in between the whistles, he kept us on the same page, he was locked in on his protections with the O line and the running back, and he put the ball where he wanted to all night." Said Kraft. “Everybody in the league, if y’all not woke, please wake up. 10 is coming. Period.” No offense to Rashan Gary who also has been terrific this season, but Love has arrived and isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.

Now how about Tucker Kraft. Highlighted on Sunday Night vs the Steelers for his small-town roots of Timber Lake, South Dakota, Kraft’s game is anything but small. We saw flashes in 2024 from Kraft, but 2025 is his true breakout onto the scene. Ranking top 2 in Yds & TDs, and 10th in receptions for all tight ends. Kraft also has worn the C on his jersey for the first time this season, and his play shows you all the reason why. There is a personality to how Kraft plays the tight end position. Refusing to go down vs would be tacklers, taking full pride in blocking when assigned to, and more than reliable set of hands leading to yards after the catch. Kraft kip-upped his way to a career-game in Pittsburgh and continues to prove why he is so relied upon beyond just targets.

Another captain on the other side of the ball, is Quay Walker. The MLB plays with a tenacity that cannot be denied. Walker’s ferocity ran him into trouble early in his career for misconduct penalties. Walker had to deal with reality that he wouldn’t be able to get to where he wanted to in his career without self-reflection and controlling of his emotions. Sunday Night displayed yet another sign of maturation in these young Packers. Chirping one another late in the game, Steelers WR DK Metcalf would snap, as he grabbed Walker’s facemask, along with a finger inside his helmet. Walker didn’t react. Metcalf would be flagged, derailing any hope of a Steelers conversion and comeback. How would Walker react to that situation a few years ago, probably an offsetting penalty. Instead, Walker on top of his stellar play from the middle linebacker position this year, is showing just as much improvement in the man he is becoming leading this Packers defensive unit.

What is another way to allow someone the chance to show growth and maturity? Few better examples than injury and adversity. Christian Watson has dealt with both of those. Returning to practice 274 days after tearing his ACL in the final week of the 2024 NFL season, with a plethora of injuries in his early career, Watson returned to game action in week 8. Watson went after rehab from day 1, with determination to get back onto the field with his guys. 9’s impact was felt all night long, bringing in all 4 of his targets for 85 yards, and countless big blocks leading to Packers scores and first downs. A tribute to what makes Green Bay’s offense so effective is the importance of blocking for one another on the outside. A selfless feat as a Wide Receiver, Watson embodies this side of the game as good as anyone, proving to be much more than just a big play threat earlier in his career.

For the typical NFL player, 25 years of age would result in a player in their third of fourth year. That is exactly the year that the Packers are seeing the most drastic jumps in performance from their players. Love, Kraft, Walker, and Watson each fit into that category in years as starters. Green Bay did not wear season long captain patches from years 2021-2024, but rather weekly elects for the title. This year the captain patches returned, and the players wearing the patch for the first time are living up to the very reason they were chosen. For the team supposedly with the least experience in the NFL, it’s hard to find a situation this core group has not already faced.

Quay Walker started meditating and seeing the Packers behavioral health doctor after two rookie year ejections.

His restraint with D.K. Metcalf?

“Came a long way,” Walker told me.

He might be earning a second contract both on and off the field.

Story: https://t.co/tgEP5ozMuR pic.twitter.com/kpKuKG0PPq

— Matt Schneidman (@mattschneidman) October 28, 2025

Every Christian Watson catch and key block in his return from injury 😤 pic.twitter.com/ouey2viz5p

— Eli Berkovits (@BookOfEli_NFL) October 27, 2025

Tucker Kraft on Jordan Love's big night: "He took control of the huddle in between the whistles, he kept us on the same page, he was locked in on his protections with the O line and the running back, and he put the ball where he wanted to all night."

— Ryan Wood (@ByRyanWood) October 27, 2025