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, Corliss Waitman.

For all the Steelers’ punting insurance needs, the team can always count on Corliss Waitman.

Both of Waitman’s stints with the Steelers came after he was asked to fill in for an absent starter. He is also one of only two players (along with Karl Joseph) to wear two different numbers for the Steelers.

The Steelers were familiar with Waitman a year before he made his debut for the team. The organization signed him to a deal in 2020 and spent the year on Pittsburgh’s practice squad.

He was released after the year, with the Steelers opting to bring in other reinforcements at the position.

In 2021, the Steelers made a rare move in the NFL Draft when they used a draft pick on a punter. In the seventh round, 254th overall, the Steelers selected Pressley Harvin out of Georgia Tech.

Built like a linebacker at 6ft and around 250 pounds, the Steelers were hoping Harvin could help out the special teams and boot the ball as far away as possible. In training camp, he competed against veteran and longtime Steelers punter Jordan Berry.

Berry had been Pittsburgh’s punter since 2015, but Harvin beat Berry out for the job.

Harvin struggled immensely during his rookie season. In his first 14 games in the NFL, Harvin punted a grand total of 62 times, averaging only 43.3 yards per punt and a very low 38 net yards per punt.

That rough stretch included being out-punted in Minnesota by Berry, who had taken the job with the Vikings. In the 36-28 loss (in which the Steelers were at one point down 29-0), Harvin booted it six times for an average of 43 yards a punt. His long was 49. Berry, meanwhile, had an average of 48.7 yards over three punts, with a long of 51.

But tragically for Harvin, he had to take a bereavement leave after his father died. Harvin stepped away and missed Pittsburgh’s Week 16 and Week 17 matchups.

In finding a replacement, the Steelers called Waitman back. Waitman had found a job on New England’s practice squad, but got a Christmas gift when the Steelers signed him to their active roster on December 25th, 2021.

The following day, Waitman made his NFL debut, wearing No. 10. Despite the Steelers being blown out 36-10, Waitman only punted the ball twice. He racked up 121 total punting yards, but since one of them landed in the endzone, he only had a net average of 41.5.

The next week, Waitman was still on the roster, and had the honor of punting in Ben Roethlisberger’s final home game of his career. In an emotional 26-14 win, Waitman punted five times, totaling 244 yards and averaged 43 net yards a punt.

Harvin was activated ahead of Pittsburgh’s final regular season game, bumping Waitman out. But his contributions would not be forgotten.

Waitman was able to find work in Denver the following year, punting for the Broncos. On a team that went 5-12 and had some of the worst offensive rankings in the NFL, Waitman punted a league-leading 96 times through all 17 games.

He racked up over 4,400 yards from his foot and had a net average of 41.4 yards per punt. He was just a hair over the league average of 41.2 net yards that season.

The Broncos did not retain Waitman after the season, and it would take another two years for the Belgian-born boot to get another go.

Over in Pittsburgh, the Steelers had stuck with Harvin even as he continued to struggle. For the next two seasons, Harvin managed to keep the job, putting up these numbers:

• 2022: 44.5 yards per punt (41.1 net yards), 29% In20 rate, 7.2% touchback rate
• 2023: 43.8 yards per punt (39.1 net yards), 38.5% In20 rate, 7.7% touchback rate

Harvin had punted in all but two games for the Steelers over those two years, missing two games with injury early in the 2023 season. However, the team opted to go with Brad Wing, who punted for the Steelers in 2014, to take over for a couple of weeks.

But after the 2023 season, the Steelers decided it was time to move on. The team cut Harvin and signed one of the best punters on the market in Cameron Johnston. The Australian-born Johnston was coming off a season that saw him average 47.7 yards per punt and 43.7 net yards.

With Johnston now in the fold, the Steelers thought their punting search was over. But disaster struck in the team’s season opener in Atlanta. On a busted play in the fourth quarter, Johnston was run into as he was punting, resulting in his kicking leg getting crushed.

The play was actually called back due to a holding penalty, but Johnston had to be helped off the field, forcing Steelers kicker Chris Boswell to make the team’s final punt in their 18-10 win.

Johnston’s knee injury ended up being season-ending, and the Steelers were back on the hunt for a punter. In comes Waitman again.

The Steelers signed Waitman to cover the role for the rest of the season, trusting he could hold down the fort at punter. Even though quarterback Russell Wilson was injured and did not play, there was still a Bronco making a return to the Mile High City that day. Waitman made his season debut in Week 2 in Denver against his old team.

In a slugfest of a game, Waitman punted eight times for 53 yards a punt. But three touchbacks helped drag his net yards down to 41.9. Pittsburgh pulled out a 13-6 win.

On the season as a whole, Waitman booted it 65 times, totaling just over 3,000 yards off his foot for an average of 46.4 yards per punt. He got 41.5% of his punts inside the opposing 20-yard line and had a net yards of 41.4 per punt.

While Waitman was only league-average or worse in many statistical categories, his job was never in danger in Pittsburgh. Perhaps fans were just content with seeing a new leg out there.

Waitman also appeared in the team’s wild card loss, where he was one of the few Steelers who actually had a decent game. In the 28-14 loss, Waitman punted five times for for 51.4 yards per punt (50.6 net yards).

It’s fitting that this series ends with Waitman, because he was the man who gave No. 8 to Aaron Rodgers. When Rodgers first signed with the team, there was uncertainty about which number he would take.

While No. 12, the number he wore in Green Bay, was technically open in Pittsburgh, no one had worn that number since the legendary Terry Bradshaw in the 1970s. Would the Steelers allow Rodgers, who is very disliked by Bradshaw, the opportunity to wear that number?

In New York, Rodgers had worn No. 8. That digit carried far less significance, but was already taken by Waitman. Instead of charging Rodgers a hard bargain to pry that number from him, Waitman took the high road and handed it to him.

“You know, it’s funny because (someone) told me, ‘Man, you guys can get a lot of money for (jersey) numbers nowadays,’” Waitman said after a minicamp session. “And I’m like, ‘Man, we get a lot of money to play football.’ You know what I mean?”

Waitman now wears No. 3, and spent the summer in a camp battle with a now healthy Johnston. Though many predicted that Johnston would win the job, Waitman surprised some fans when he came out victorious, keeping the role he assumed in 2024 while Johnston was cut.

“I’m just glad my jersey’s got a Pittsburgh Steelers logo on it.”