After weeks of waiting, it’s official: Aaron Rodgers is finally heading to the New York Jets.
The Jets came to terms with the Green Bay Packers on a trade, and they will be giving up four draft picks, including their first-rounder this year, in order to receive the future Hall of Fame quarterback.
Rodgers has always worn No. 12 for the Packers, the only NFL team he has ever played for thus far, but for the Jets, that number has always belonged to the one legendary QB they had — Joe Namath.
Although Namath reportedly allowed Rodgers to wear No. 12 in New York, the former Packers signal-caller will instead switch to No. 8, which he wore in college.
Although Hall-of-Fame QB Joe Namath gave Aaron Rodgers his blessing to wear No. 12, the new Jets‘ QB is expected to wear No. 8 — the number he wore in college at Cal.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 24, 2023
These two fans felt Rodgers should’ve accepted Namath’s invitation to stick with his old jersey number.
If someone gives you their blessing, you should wear that number…
— Brandon 😎 (@_B_035_) April 24, 2023
That’s a mistake. You should wear number 12 Aaron. You’re gonna look weird in 8. Like Jordan wearing 45.
— Jamaal Bowman Ed.D. (@JamaalBowmanNY) April 24, 2023
This fan, however, is glad Rodgers deferred to Namath and didn’t choose No. 12.
While Broadway Joe may have given him his blessing, that would not have sat well with New Yorkers of a “certain age”. While numbers are retired to honor the player, it also forever memorializes them in the eyes of the fan base. For New Yorkers, Joe Willie Namath is forever #12.
— Holden Ostrin (@HoldenOstrin) April 24, 2023
Namath, of course, led the Jets to their only Super Bowl championship in the 1968 season, forever making him a legend in the Tri-state area.
These fans had a sense of humor about Rodgers choosing No. 8.
The REAL REASON Elijah Moore had to be traded
— Max (@JetsLife4) April 24, 2023
Has Browning Nagle given him his blessing?
— New York Jets History (@nyjetshistory) April 24, 2023
From the exurbs of New Jersey to the tip of Long Island, there is excitement among Jets fans, which is a feeling they haven’t had in a long time.
The franchise hasn’t been to the playoffs since 2010 when it lost in the AFC Championship Game for the second year in a row.
New York had one of the NFL’s best defenses last season, as well as the reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year in wide receiver Garrett Wilson, not to mention one of Rodgers’ favorites targets on the Packers in Allen Lazard.
But the team’s success will all fall on the 39-year-old Rodgers.
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