Aaron Rodgers wore number 12 for his entire 18-year tenure with the Green Bay Packers, so when rumors surfaced that he could possibly join the New York Jets, questions arose as to which number he would wear.
That’s because 12 was retired by Gang Green in honor of legendary quarterback Joe Namath.
Namath, however, was quick to give Rodgers his blessing and let the Jets retire the number if the four-time MVP wanted to wear it.
However, «12 for the Jets is Joe Willy Namath,» Rodgers said Wednesday, and he’s back to his No. 8 college uniform.
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Former professional football player Joe Namath (L) and professional football player Aaron Rodgers in the audience during the 2012 NFL Awards at the Murat Theater on February 4, 2012 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Kevin Mazur/Wire Image)
«I just thought it was appropriate for me to show due respect and honor for him and his career by taking a different number,» he said.
Namath was touched by the gesture.
«That was warm, it touched my heart a little bit, that shows something about the man,» the Super Bowl III winner told New York Post. «He has a way of being, 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. The first time I met him I liked him, and I’ll tell you what, I haven’t seen anybody play better than him in the last 10 or 15 years that I’ve been watching.»
New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers poses with a jersey during an introductory press conference at the Atlantic Health Jets Training Center on April 26, 2023, in Florham Park, New Jersey. (Elsa/Getty Images)
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Namath said he was willing to let the now-former Green Bay Packer use the number if that was what he needed to come to New York.
«I want to see the Jets win,» Namath said. «I would love to see them win a championship. We’ve had a great following for a long time and I want to not only see the players win the championship for themselves, but also for the fans.»
«Honestly, I feel like the fans have been loyal, and I think we deserve to be awarded a championship. But we have to earn it. It’s because of the fans and the way they’ve followed the team.» the years. There were some bad years, we had some decent years.»
Retired NFL player Joe Namath on the field during the first quarter of a game between the New York Jets and the Buffalo Bills at MetLife Stadium on September 8, 2019 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)
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Namath’s Super Bowl victory in 1969 remains the only championship in Jets history, but after going 7-10 with perhaps the worst quarterback situation in the NFL last year, they earned an MVP. four times and they could make a serious run.