Report: Aaron Rodgers’ contract hits snag over Steelers jersey number
The Pittsburgh Steelers hosted free agent veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers for over six hours a little over one week ago. The official visit was deemed important as it solidified speculation that both sides have been talking throughout the offseason.
Rodgers, a 41-year-old Super Bowl-winning quarterback, is looking for another starting quarterback gig on the backend of his star-studded career after being released by the New York Jets in March. The Steelers, along with the New York Giants and Minnesota Vikings, are rumored suitors for the future Hall of Famer.
Aaron Rodgers spent about six hours at the Steelers’ training facility today, meeting with their coaches. It was said to be a positive visit, and the two sides will stay in touch. pic.twitter.com/dA2BBdgQUw
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 21, 2025
Many assume Pittsburgh is the frontrunner to land the four-time NFL MVP, but Rodgers left the Steel City without signing a contract, and further news has been quiet on his possible intentions. Several reports indicate the holdup over an agreement isn’t about money, but other demands from Rodgers’ agents.
One of the items the two sides reportedly couldn’t come to terms on is what uniform number Rodgers will wear in Pittsburgh.
As preposterous as that may sound to fans, a player’s jersey number is an important part of their branding and psyche. For any player, a sleek number may contribute to their bottom line in jersey sales. But for Rodgers, a psychological approach to football has always been a priority.
Before the end of his tenure with the Green Bay Packers, Rodgers took a “darkness retreat” for several days to decide on the future of his career. He has also been known to take vacations to remote locations during the offseason, such as a reset in Egypt, as the star quarterback prioritized his mental health over team activities.
The emotional and psychological side of football took precedent again during Rodgers’ talks with the Steelers, as the former inquired about wearing number 12 for the latter. Rodgers wore 12 during his 18 seasons with the Green Bay Packers. As the most famous Packer to don the digits, and the last to do so, there’s little doubt the team will immortalize 12 as a retired number once his playing days are over.
The Pittsburgh Steelers have officially retired three numbers in team history: Ernie Stautner’s #70, “Mean” Joe Greene’s #75, and Franco Harris’ #32. Traditionally, Pittsburgh was reluctant to officially retire uniform numbers, opting instead not to reissue those digits worn by franchise legends. They have relaxed their policy in recent years, retiring Greene’s #75 in 2014 and Harris’ #32 in 2022. Yet, they have not reissued several others over the years.
The problem in the Rodgers discussion isn’t that #12 is retired, but that it’s not. 12 is one of the unofficially reserved numbers the Steelers do not reissue, having last been worn by Hall of Fame quarterback Terry Bradshaw.
Bradshaw, a former four-time Super Bowl winner, is rumored as next in line to have his jersey immortalized alongside Stautner, Greene, and Harris. That cannot happen if Rodgers were to wear 12, which would also break the Steelers’ longstanding policy of reissuing numbers that are unofficially retired out of tribute to those legends. One might think that Bradshaw would make a personal exception for a proven, high-caliber player.
However, Bradshaw, a legend turned FOX Sports analyst, has had short words on several occasions for Rodgers. While Bradshaw has had a hot and cold relationship with the Steelers over the years, giving away his uniform number could be the tipping point in their fragile relationship, let alone whatever relationship Terry has with Aaron.
This isn’t the first time Rodgers has come to grips with a uniform number. A similar request was made of the New York Jets, who had already retired #12 for Joe Namath back in 1985. While Namath obliged, Rodgers resigned to wearing #8, his collegiate number at California, for the last two seasons. Rumors suggest Rodgers is unwilling to wear 8 again, wishing to sever any ties he had to the Jets while also avoiding the superstition surrounding it in Pittsburgh.
The number 8 has been a cursed one, exhumed from the 1940s when QB Tommy Maddox brought the number into the 21st century, followed by K Josh Scobee, S Karl Joseph, LB Melvin Ingram, QB Kenny Pickett, and most recently, P Corliss Waitman. While Waitman’s future is to be determined, the others have fizzled and faded into obscurity after wearing 8, a fate Rodgers is aware of and prefers to avoid.
Rodgers has also contemplated retirement, saving the embarrassment of wearing a different number or believing another April Fool’s Day hoax. (Yes folks, if you made it this far this is written for fun and is 100% satire. Happy April Fool’s Day!)
