Packers roster age: How Jordan Love, WR corps led youngest team in NFL to historic playoff berth

Edward Sutelan

Packers roster age: How Jordan Love, WR corps led youngest team in NFL to historic playoff berth image

The 2023 offseason signaled the Packers were headed to a rebuild. Aaron Rodgers was traded for picks. Jordan Love was signed to a unique, though not long-term contract. The team spent little in free agency and instead focused on building up its weapons through the draft.

If a "rebuild" happened, it took place overnight. Love turned into a star quarterback, the wide receiving group is one of the brightest young groups in the NFL, and the defense is loaded with young standouts like Rashan Gary, Karl Brooks, and Jaire Alexander.

Instead of a lengthy, multi-year rebuild, the Packers finished second in the NFC North and earned the No. 7 seed in the playoffs this season.

Green Bay's turnaround is one of the most successful youth movements -- not just in 2023, but in NFL history. 

Packers roster age

According to Bookies, the Packers are the youngest team in the postseason with an average age of 25 years, 8 months, and 3 days as of Jan. 7, the end of the regular season. By comparison, the Dolphins are the oldest at 27 years, 5 months, and 14 days.

The closest team in average age to the Packers is their first-round playoff opponent, Dallas, who averages 26 years, 4 months, and 15 days.

Per the team's roster on Pro Football Reference, there are only three players on the Packers over the age of 30: De'Vondre Campbell, Preston Smith, and David Bakhtiari, the latter of whom is on injured reserve.

Youngest NFL teams to make playoffs

The Packers aren't just the youngest team in this year's field; they're also one of the youngest teams in any season.

Per Elias Sports, the Packers are the fifth-youngest team since 1970 to reach the playoffs based on average age weighted for playing time. StatMuse tracked the Packers as the youngest team since the NFL expanded the regular season to 16 games in 1978.

According to Stathead, the Packers are one of only two teams since 1994 to reach the playoffs with three or fewer players over the age of 30 on their roster, joining the 2018 Cowboys.

Packers starters

The average age isn't just a litany of young, bench players. Most starting spots — on both sides of the ball — are filled with youngsters. Only two starters listed on PFF's lineup are over the age of 30.

Here's a look at the starters and average age, per PFF.

Offense

Position Starter Age
QB Jordan Love 25.1
RB Aaron Jones 29.1
WR Christian Watson 24.6
WR Romeo Doubs 23.7
WR Jayden Reed 23.7
TE Luke Musgrave 23.3
LT Rasheed Walker 23.9
LG Elgton Jenkins 28
C Josh Myers 25.4
RG Jon Runyan 26.4
RT Zach Tom 24.7

Defense

Position Starter Age
DE Kenny Clark 28.2
NT T.J. Slaton 26.3
DE Devonte Wyatt 25.7
ROLB Preston Smith 31.1
LOLB Rashan Gary 26.1
RILB Quay Walker 23.6
LILB De'Vondre Campbell 30.5
CB Jaire Alexander 26.9
CB Carrington Valentine 22.3
S Darnell Savage 26.4
S Jonathan Owens 28.4

Special teams

Position Starter Age
K Anders Carlson 25
P Daniel Whelan 24
LS Matthew Orzech 28.7

Edward Sutelan

Edward Sutelan Photo

Edward Sutelan joined The Sporting News in 2021 after covering high school sports for PennLive. Edward graduated from The Ohio State University in 2019, where he gained experience covering the baseball, football and basketball teams. Edward also spent time working for The Columbus Dispatch and Cape Cod Times.