After 18 long seasons, Aaron Rodgers will don a new color. Green Bay Packers have traded their future Hall of Famer QB to the New York Jets. He has worn number 12 till now since starting out as a rookie in 2005. And, for a legendary QB like Rodgers, the jersey number is sort of an identity that is associated with the athlete, but it seems he will sacrifice that in New York. He won’t wear it with the Jets despite the franchise checking almost all the boxes on his wish list. But why?

The Jets had retired the number 12 jersey to honor franchise legend Joe Namath, who wore it during his time in New York. Namath has already clarified that he has no problem if Rodgers wears his number when he plays for the Jets next season. But the veteran QB won’t do that. Here is the real reason why he won’t wear the number he had made his own in Green Bay.

Why Aaron Rodgers won’t wear number 12 despite Joe Namath’s blessing 

Aaron has decided to ditch his traditional number 12 jersey after his switch to the Jets. Instead, he will now wear the number eight on his jersey. The reason for the change is that it was the number eight that Rodgers wore during his time as the University of California QB before he came into the NFL.

When the Jets went in for Rodgers earlier in the offseason, many fans wondered if the QB will wear his iconic number 12. But the problem was that it had already been retired by the franchise to honor the legendary Joe Namath. Even Namath himself had given him his blessing.

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“I’d sure love Rodgers if he’s there. Yeah, I want him to wear his number,” Namath had said in a radio interaction earlier this year.

But now it looks like Namath’s jersey number will not be coming back and Rodgers will go for his college number. Whatever might be the case, the Jets have surely ticked a lot of boxes on the Rodgers checklist.

All-in on Rodgers 

The Jets turned every stone they could to land their prime target for this offseason. First, they went in and hired Nathaniel Hackett as the offensive coordinator. Hackett and Rodgers are very close since they worked together in Green Bay. Hackett was the Packers’ OC from 2019 to the end of the 2021 season. These years saw Rodgers take his game to the next level.

The Jets also signed some players to help their new QB feel comfortable in the new environment. Wide receiver Allen Lazard has already joined the New York franchise. The Jets are reportedly even targeting Randall Cobb. Both of them played with Rodgers in Green Bay. Lazard even credited Rodgers as a factor for coming to New York.

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So, the Jets have got their target, and his jersey number is finalized. But will he be able to match the hype that surrounds him? Will he lead the Jets to glory this season? A little more wait and the answers will be in front of everybody.