Aaron Rodgers Changing His Jersey Number Won Joe Namath’s Heart

Finally, Rodgers was dealt by the Green Bay Packers to the New York Jets.

Rodgers has a new beginning, which implies a new number. Rodgers will wear the No. 8 for the Jets since the No. 12 has been retired in memory of Joe Namath.

Rodgers’ college jersey number was 8.

Previously, Rodgers had received Namath’s approval to don No. 12.

“I’m a big Rodgers fan, and I noticed that he wears number 12, of course. I’m thinking, well man, if we get him on our side, is he still going to wear number 12? Because the number was retired years ago,” Namath said on the “Tiki & Tierney” show.

I want to see the Jets win,” Namath said. “I’d love to see ’em win a championship. We’ve had a strong following for a long time, and I want not only the players to get the championship for themselves but for the fans.

“I honest to God feel like the fans have been loyal, and we deserve being, I guess, awarded a championship. But we’ve gotta earn it. It’s because of the fans and the way they’ve followed the team over the years. There were some down years, we had some decent years.

Aaron Rodgers Changing His Jersey Number Won Joe Namath’s Heart

“There are some iconic names that have played here, but there may not be one more iconic than No. 12,” Rodgers had remarked during his first news conference on Wednesday at the Jets Atlantic Health Training Center. I have heard him mention retiring his number, but to me, Broadway Joe is number 12.

“I didn’t want to even go down that path, and I’m excited about going back to my college [California] number.”

Broadway When Aaron Rodgers explained why he did not want to wear Joe Namath’s legendary No. 12, Namath was moved.

“That was warm, that touched my heart a bit, that shows something about the man. He has a way about him, a lot of respect for the past. I was humbly grateful, you know what I mean? It felt good. It made me like [him] even more,” Namath told The Post with a laugh. “First time I met him I liked him, and I’ll tell you what, I’ve not seen anybody play better than him the times over the last 10, 15 years I’ve been watching.”

After weeks of speculation and discussion, the Jets finally made Rodgers theirs on Wednesday. With perhaps the worst quarterback scenario in football, New York finished the 2017 season at 7–10. The Jets now face expectations they haven’t faced in a long time.

 

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