The Pittsburgh Steelers finally chose to lock in Aaron Rodgers as the team's starting quarterback ahead of the 2025 season, and this move could have some very big implications for the uniform and numerology-obsessed Steelers fans out there.
Rodgers famously sported his trademark No. 12 during his prime with the Green Bay Packers, choosing to switch to No. 8 after his move to the New York Jets. After that move failed to materialize any success, is there a chance he could try to recapture his former glory?
No Steelers player has worn No. 12 since Hall of Fame quarterback Terry Bradshaw retired following the 1983 season. However, Rodgers may have an interest in reclaiming his old number once he officially puts his black and gold uniform on.
The Steelers are famous for almost never retiring numbers (Ernie Stautner's No. 70 was the only such number out of circulation before 2014), but many of their greatest players have had their numbers effectively removed from the available pool. No. 12 is among those numbers. Would Rodgers change the math?
Will Aaron Rodgers wear Terry Bradshaw's No. 12 jersey with Steelers?
Bradshaw doesn't sound overly excited about the idea of possibly of Rodgers playing for Pittsburgh, angrily imporing the future Hall of Famer to retire and join him in Canton. If Rodgers is waiting for an OK from the man himself to wear this number, that may not be coming anytime soon.
Rodgers chose to take No. 8, his college number at Cal, with the Jets, but that was due to No. 12 being officially retired in honor of Joe Namath. Fans might be offended at the thought of Rodgers bringing Bradshaw's number back into the fold, but if any active player in the league has a career that warrants such a move, it's him.
Rodgers could choose to pry No. 8 away from punter Corliss Waitman, who will likely be willing to concede some ground if someone of that magnitude makes a stink about it. That might be the safer way to go, as Rodgers likely doesn't want the entire fanbase to get on him instantly for disrespecting the legacy of one of their best ever.
While it seems unlikely that Rodgers would try to swipe Bradshaw's number, the ego of this man knows no bounds, and he might not be above trying to reclaim his old digits no matter what is in front of him.