Besides breaking Aaron Rodgers’ heart by reportedly preferring Jordan Love over him, the Green Bay Packers have recently sent shockwaves in the NFL by giving arguably one of the worst birthday surprises to one of their players. Their outside linebacker Jonathan Garvin was the unlucky one to receive a cut slap on his birthday.
After being drafted with the 242nd overall pick in the seventh round of the 2020 NFL Draft, Garvin had been a regular figure in Green Bay’s defense before this off-season. Nevertheless, he had not participated in most of the off-season training program including the team’s OTA session in May.
Packers released LB Jonathan Garvin three hours after wishing him a happy birthday
Friday marked the 24th birthday of Garvin and the Packers didn’t halt back from wishing their young star with a Happy Birthday tweet in the morning saying, “Smile, it’s your birthday! #SmileLikeAPro.”
Nevertheless, the Green Bay-based team itself didn’t help their linebacker maintain a smile throughout his birthday as soon after their post, ESPN’s Rob Demovsky tweeted, “The Packers have released Jonathan Garvin. The fourth-year linebacker skipped most of the offseason program. #HappyBirthday.”
The Packers have released Jonathan Garvin. The fourth-year linebacker skipped most of the offseason program. #HappyBirthday pic.twitter.com/5JOfKY005J
— Rob Demovsky (@RobDemovsky) July 28, 2023
The team’s head coach Matt LaFleur was the first one to reveal the brutal move during a press conference on Friday. The announcement came just three hours after their birthday post, and the tweet was later deleted as well.
At 8:53 am, the #Packers wished LB Jonathan Garvin a happy birthday
At 11:52 am, the #Packers announced they released Jonathan Garvin
Not cool. pic.twitter.com/XDmc6CpBZE
— JPAFootball (@jasrifootball) July 28, 2023
The 24-year-old was heading to the fourth season of his four-year, $3.37 million rookie deal. He spent his first three seasons in Green Bay and played 38 games with the franchise, recording 32 tackles, 1.5 sacks as well as seven quarterback hits.
NFL fans respond to the Packers’ awkward mistake
LaFleur’s outside linebacker squad is well-equipped with the starters Rashan Gary and Preston Smith. They also drafted Lukas Van Ness in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft. However, the NFL community didn’t seem to like the team’s decision to cut the footballer out of the blue, especially on his birthday.
A netizen posted a hilarious cake picture that said,” We will miss you! ( You’re fired)
— obwilly.eth (@o_bwilly) July 28, 2023
The Packers are trying to improve from their last season’s records after going down to an 8-9 finish and failing to win the NFC North for the first time since 2018. One Dallas fan couldn’t resist taking a dig at the franchise’s financial conditions saying, “Poverty organizations do poverty things. I’m not surprised.”
Poverty organizations do poverty things. I’m not surprised.
— Dallas Sports Fan (@DakToCD88) July 28, 2023
A person jokingly mentioned the Atlanta Falcons never wished Green Bay’s current starter a happy birthday before cutting him saying, “Wow. Gotta love the NFL At least they wished him a happy birthday. Falcons never wished Jordan happy birthday lol.”
Wow. Gotta love the NFL
At least they wished him a happy birthday. Falcons never wished Jordan happy birthday lol https://t.co/jyQQxsqUf1— Buffy Miller (@buffym04) July 28, 2023
The Packers are seemingly trying to ensure a successful transition from Rodgers to Jordan era. Meanwhile, their move to release Garvin on his birthday is a harsh reminder of the highly competitive landscape of the NFL.
