Jets Icon Joe Namath Calls Aaron Rodgers The Best Quarterback He's Ever Seen

He also was appreciative that Rodgers declined to wear his retired jersey No. 12.

New York Jets icon Joe Namath welcomed Aaron Rodgers to his old team by calling him the greatest quarterback he’s ever seen.

“A first-ballot Hall of Famer. I can’t say enough good things about him,” Namath said Thursday on ESPN’s SportsCenter. “There’s never been a better quarterback, let me put it that way. I know Tom Brady won more championships — it’s still a team game. But I’ve never seen a quarterback play better than Aaron Rodgers.”

Asked what he likes about the one-time Cal star, Namath said, “What I like about Aaron Rodgers now that I’ve seen him play for 18 years is he’s remarkable, in my opinion, as a quarterback. Watching him move around, watching him throw the ball from any position practically, never in doubt about things. He’s no quit.”

Joe Namath shows off his Super Bowl ring in 2016 / Photo by Mark J.Rebilias, USA Today

Namath had indicated he was OK with Rodgers wearing his retired No. 12 Jets jersey. Rodgers, who has been No. 12 his entire NFL career, opted against doing so, explaining, ”To me 12 is Broadway Joe and I didn't want to go down that path, and I'm excited about going back to my college number.”

So Rodgers will wear No. 8, just as he did for the Bears.

That gesture meant a lot to Namath, now 79.

“Oh man, he’s also got a lot of class and respect for the history of the game. It felt good for what he did,” Namath said. “Early on . . . we’re going back now to when Tom Brady was still out there (as a potential Jets target) and Rodgers was still out there and the New York writers asked me that question about the number. I want us to win a championship and I said, `If we could get one of those number 12s I wouldn’t mind that, of course not. I respect those guys.

“(Rodgers) took it upon himself to talk about the Jets’ history and respect for the history. That was Aaron’s decision and I like him even more because of that.”

Rodgers, who has played his entire career with the Green Bay Packers, was traded to the Jets this week and immediately gives hope to a franchise that has not played in the postseason since 2011.

Namath led the Jets to their only championship triumph after offering a “guarantee” of victory over the Baltimore Colts before Super Bowl III. He said Rodgers changes everything.

Asked what constitutes a successful season in 2023, acknowledged that winning a championship would be a very successful season.

“Make the playoffs,” he added. “Robert Saleh and the coaching staff have put together a good team. They need the trigger man. Now we’ve got a chance. We’ve got wide receivers that are good, the tight end is good. The offensive line is the major key.

“They’re going to be a contender. With Aaron, you’re a contender.”

Rodgers won just a single Super Bowl (following the 2010 season) with the Packers, but directed Green Bay into the playoffs 12 times.

Was Namath ready to double down on issuing a guarantee this year?

“I can guarantee those Jets fans are going to be fired up. They’ve been loyal to the New York Jets for many, many, many years. so we want to win for the Jets fans and I hope we can do it,” he said.

“With Aaron. I know we can do it.”

Cover photo of Joe Namath by Manny Rubio, USA Today

Follow Jeff Faraudo of Cal Sports Report on Twitter: @jefffaraudo