The Pittsburgh Steelers and Aaron Rodgers, in many ways, form a match made out of necessity.
The Steelers needed a quarterback this offseason. Rodgers, as a free agent, needed a team.
And by the end, it was clear Pittsburgh was the only possible destination.
When he arrived, though, Rodgers wasn’t welcomed with open arms by all the Steelers of yesteryear.
And that, in part, is why Rodgers isn’t wearing his most well-known jersey number.
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Why isn’t Aaron Rodgers wearing No. 12 jersey number with Steelers?
The Steelers haven’t officially retired No. 12, but it hasn’t been worn since Terry Bradshaw retired in 1983.
The legendary quarterback wore that number in his championship career, and he likely will be the last Pittsburgh player to ever don it.
Bradshaw was also against the Steelers signing Rodgers, so he likely wouldn’t have approved breaking No. 12 back out, anyway.
Why is Aaron Rodgers wearing No. 8 jersey number with Steelers?
Aaron Rodgers is wearing No. 8 for a couple of reasons beyond just the lack of availability of 12.
He wore No. 8 in college at Cal. It was also his number with the New York Jets the last two seasons.
Given his history with the single digit, it’s another number with history. He chose to stay with something comfortable, just not the No. 12 that he made iconic in a Packers uniform.
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