Aaron Rodgers will spurn NFL icon Joe Namath and wear the No.8 jersey when he takes to the field with the New York Jets.
On Monday, the Jets finally completed a sensational trade with the Green Bay Packers to secure the services of the four-time MVP. Rodgers - as well as the 15th overall pick and a fifth-round selection - is heading to New York in exchange for the 13th overall pick, a 2023 second-round pick (No.42), a sixth-round pick (No.207) and a conditional second round pick.
Rodgers enjoyed 18 years as a member of the Packers, winning one Super Bowl ring and a number of individual accolades. However, Green Bay expressed a willingness to move off the veteran quarterback this offseason and progress with young signal-caller Jordan Love, which opened the door for the Jets.
The Super Bowl XLV MVP was offered the iconic No.12 shirt after receiving the blessing of legendary Jets former quarterback Namath, but he has turned down the offer so he can reportedly wear No.8 - his shirt number from college. Rodgers enjoyed two seasons as the quarterback of the California Golden Bears before he was selected by the Packers in the first round of the 2005 NFL Draft.
Rodgers is following in the footsteps of Brett Favre in 2008, with his Hall of Fame predecessor also choosing to join the Jets after his own iconic stint in Green Bay. Many thought Favre’s ill-fated tenure in New York would worry Rodgers about moving to the Jets, but the 39-year-old has accepted the deal and is ready for the new challenge.
Prior to the deal, Rodgers flirted with the idea of retirement and told the Pat McAfee Show he was 90 per cent leaning towards walking away from the NFL. The comments reportedly held up the trade, with Jets owner Woody Johnson unwilling to commit draft capital for such a short-term investment.
The presence of Rodgers symbolises an exciting era for New York after Zach Wilson’s development slowed the progress of an exciting, young team. The Jets enjoyed a promising 2022 season only for poor quarterback play to derail a playoff push as the team finished 7-10 - and bottom of the AFC East.
Rodgers will now lead the Jets against other star quarterbacks in the division, including Buffalo Bills superstar Josh Allen and Miami Dolphins ace Tua Tagovailoa. The Jets are paying Rodgers like a top star too; last offseason, he signed a monster new contract with the Packers to earn $50.27m per year through the 2026 season - and the deal means the veteran is currently the highest-paid player in the NFL behind only Jalen Hurts of the Philadelphia Eagles.
It will be interesting to see how Rodgers responds after a difficult 2022 campaign in which he threw 12 interceptions - the most he threw in a single campaign since 2008, his first year as a starter - while he also failed to post a single 300-yard passing game for the first time in his career. His passer rating of 91.1 was also the lowest since he took the reins in Green Bay as he led the team to an 8-9 record.
