It’s doubtful that Aaron Rodgers will don the No. 12 as a member of the Steelers.
Although not officially taken out of use, the Steelers have unofficially retired No. 12 for legendary quarterback Terry Bradshaw, with no other Pittsburgh players wearing it since 1983.
Based on Bradshaw’s recent comments about Rodgers, who agreed to a one-year deal with Pittsburgh on Thursday, it is unlikely that he will lend the number to Pittsburgh’s newest quarterback.
Last month, Bradshaw was brutally honest about his thoughts on Rodgers’ drawn-out free agency process with the Steelers, saying how the entire courtship was “a joke.”
“That’s a joke. That to me is just a joke,” Bradshaw said during an appearance on 103.7 The Buzz. “What are you gonna do? Bring him in for one year, are you kidding me? That guy needs to stay in California. Go somewhere and chew on bark and whisper to the gods out there.”
Bradshaw, 76, spent the entirety of his 14-year NFL career in Pittsburgh, winning four Super Bowls.
He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1989.
Rodgers, 41, has reportedly told the Steelers that he intends to fly to Pittsburgh to sign a one-year deal on Friday so he can participate in mandatory minicamp on Tuesday, ending his monthslong free agency affair.
Details of the contract have yet to be announced.
The 10-time Pro-Bowler revealed one of the reasons behind the length of his free agency was that someone close to him was diagnosed with cancer on “The Joe Rogan Podcast” last month.
“I’ve been in the weeds with these people who are close to me that have cancer,” Rodgers told Rogan.
Rodgers also opened up about the process on “The Pat McAfee Show” in April, saying then that he was even consisering retirement.
“I’m in a different phase of my life,” Rodgers said then. “I’m 41 years old, I’m in a serious relationship. I have off-the-field stuff going on that requires my attention. I have personal commitments that I’ve made, not knowing what my future was going to look like after last year, that are important to me. … I have a couple of people in my inner circle who are really battling some difficult stuff.
“So I have a lot of things that have taken my attention and have beginning in January away from football. That’s been where I’ve been focusing most of my attention on.”