Aaron Rodgers’ Jets jersey will be No. 8, not Joe Namath’s No. 12
Aaron Rodgers will be changing more than his zip code.
The quarterback, who was finally traded to the Jets on Monday after weeks of rumors and teases, will wear No. 8 with Gang Green, forgoing the No. 12 jersey he’s worn throughout his 18-year NFL career with the Packers.
The four-time NFL MVP wore No. 8 during his two seasons at California, where he was drafted with the No. 24 overall pick in the 2005 NFL Draft by Green Bay.
The Jets retired No. 12 in 1985, with the digit famously belonging to Super Bowl-winning quarterback Joe Namath.
Not that the Hall of Famer and Super Bowl III MVP would have minded seeing his number on the back of Rodgers’ Jets jersey.
In January, Namath told WFAN’s “Tiki & Tierney” he’d love to see Rodgers bring No. 12 back to the field.
“I’m a big Rodgers fan, and I noticed that he wears No. 12, of course. Man, if we get him, is he still going to wearing no. 12? Because that number was retired years ago…” the 79-year-old said on Jan. 19.
Upon being informed that the decision would be his, Namath was full steam ahead.
“Well, it’s on ownership,” he said. “It’s different ownership. Different people. And I’d sure love Rodgers if he’s there. Yeah, I want him to wear his number. We established ourselves and we’ve got a real respect for our numbers, and Aaron Rodgers, God almighty, yeah!
“It’d be great to have him in New York.”
It appears Namath got at least some of his wish, though it’s unknown if any discussion between the Jets great and the Jets new hope have occurred yet.
In March, Rodgers, when asked about potentially wearing the number in New York, said he’d wait to have the number talk with Namath.
“With respect to the emotions, I think there’ll be time for all those conversations down the road,” Rodgers said on “The Pat McAfee Show.”
