When quarterback Aaron Rodgers first signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers, there was intrigue over what jersey number he would wear. For 18 years in Green Bay, Rodgers wore No. 12.

But that number has a rich history in Pittsburgh with the Steelers. While not being officially retired by the organization, no one has worn No. 12 since Hall of Fame and four-time Super Bowl champion Terry Bradshaw. Would Rodgers interfere with the legacy of that number?

Rodgers eventually took No. 8, the digit he wore for two years in New York. But while the stories of that number in Steelers history are far less legendary, they are still fascinating. Somehow, despite only eight players having worn that number in franchise history, their collective stories span from World War II to the present.

These are the stories of the eight players who wore No. 8 before Aaron Rodgers. In today’s edition, Elmer Kolberg.

Elmer Kolberg was quite the athlete growing up.

In high school, Kolberg played both basketball and football for Lincoln High School in Portland, Oregon. He earned all-league honors three times in both sports during his high school career, and moved on to Oregon State for college.

It was there that Kolberg started to develop the reputation as a rough and tumble athlete. At 6′ 4, he continued to play both basketball and football at Oregon State, and apparently played a very aggressive style of ball on the court.

In his final year there, while playing at guard, Kolberg set a Northwest Conference record for most individual personal fouls in a single basketball season.

But it was that aggressive mindset that helped set him up for a career in football. He continued to grow that reputation during his college ball days, at Oregon State with the Beavers.