With Devin McCourty taking to social media and giving a bit of a boost to the discussion of jersey numbers, and with all rookies officially having their numbers assigned now, it really opened the opportunity to look into the opinions of the fans in regards to player numbers and those that are retired.
So, with the new running back TreVeyon Henderson giving some “speed” to number 32…
I took to the socials to see what fans think…
Whilst the whole of the NFL have 163 players jersey numbers retired, the Chicago Bears and New York Giants top the list with the most at 14. The Patriots have 8.
Moreover, there has been a recent news topic of how the University of Colorado has retired numbers 2 and 12 just as QB Shedeur Sanders and the blue chip talent of Travis Hunter were drafted.
This throws the narrative wide open, considering the amount of available numbers (without any being retired) and the size of football rosters.
The retired numbers for the Patriots are:
20 Gino Cappelletti
40 Mike Haynes
57 Steve Nelson
73 John Hannah
78 Bruce Armstrong
79 Jim Lee Hunt
89 Rob Dee
And of course…
12 Tom Brady
So, as I mentioned above, I took to the socials to establish the fan perspective, and I must admit I was surprised that the outcome was as close as it was. A whopping 45% voted that the retired numbers should stay as they are.
There were multiple comments along similar lines, of which I agree, that the Patriots Hall of Fame is there to honour the great players, so retiring jersey numbers should be for the truly exceptional.
Now, this isn’t meant to throw shade on those guys with retired numbers. Not one bit. It’s just that maybe it would be fun to see the favoured numbers such as 89 on the back of a new star. Grow the greatness of the number.
See it not as taking away from the talents of the likes of Rob Dee or number 40 Mike Haynes (who were rather before my time), but more the fun of the potential to increase the legacy.
Just an opinion though.
It’s easy to see why fans would want to hold on to the greatness that those numbers held. Nostalgia is a strong mistress. And whilst I appreciate I appear to be saying that’s wrong, I’m not. I’m just saying my view point is different as is 55% of the fan base that voted.
So whilst the great Julian Edelman is inducted into the Patriots Hall of Fame, his number is reported to be assigned to Joshua Dobbs this season. Now Jules is one of my favourite all-time players, but I’m happy to see 11 still out there ready for its new dynasty.
It wouldn’t surprise you lovely lot to know that 87 is my “needs to be retired number” as I believe Gronk is the GOAT of TEs and a pivotal part of a certain quarterback’s epic success, but I respect the fact not all agree.
However. There’s always the exception. The lightning in a bottle, and I think the one thing 99.9% of Pats fans agree on (a number I totally fudged) it’s that Thomas Edward Patrick Brady Junior’s number 12 shouldn’t be placed on the back of anyone else… ever.