DETROIT – Players in any sport, no matter the age, choose a number and, depending on how great they are, that number becomes their identity.
For instance, in the National Hockey League, center Wayne Gretzky has been known to wear No. 99 for most of his career.
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In the National Basketball Association, Michael Jordan popularized No. 23 and No. 45 for those who are baseball fans.
Speaking of baseball, teams are headed into the All-Star break, where tons of players will be center stage under the lights in Atlanta for the Midsummer Classic.
But in Major League Baseball, there is only one number that is recognized for all 30 teams, and that is No. 42 by the late great Jackie Robinson.
In the National Football League, with so many players and numbers, many don’t stand out like in baseball, basketball, and hockey.
Former Michigan Wolverines quarterback Tom Brady wore No. 12, Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders wore No. 21, and former New York Giants superstar Lawrence Taylor won league MVP wearing his iconic No. 56.
After watching Netflix’s “Quarterback” season two, Detroit Lions fans learned that their quarterback, Jared Goff, is wearing No. 16 like the great Joe Montana, but that number was supposed to be graced by wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown.
During the second episode of season two, it was revealed why St. Brown wears No. 14, as his significant other was having a conversation with Goff’s wife, Christen Harper.
Harper was hosting a gathering for all the players’ wives and girlfriends, where they were stitching the players’ jersey numbers into their clothing.
While discussing the players’ jersey numbers, St. Brown’s girlfriend, Brooklyn Adams, spilled the beans as to why he wears No. 14.
“You know what, he will never admit this, but he asked me to count the number of receivers drafted before him, and that was going to be his number, and I messed up. I told him it was 14 and that’s why he wears 14,” said Adams.
When asked if he knew about the mishap, his response was one for the ages.
“This was early, like right after I got drafted, and I was like, ‘Sure, let’s do it.’ And then I recounted, and I was like, ‘That’s not the right number.’ It’s actually 16 receivers,’” St. Brown said.
These are the 16 wide receivers that were drafted before St. Brown:
- No. 5 – Ja’Marr Chase (Bengals)
- No. 6 – Jaylen Waddle (Dolphins)
- No. 10 – DeVonta Smith (Eagles)
- No. 20 – Kadarius Toney (Giants)
- No. 27 – Rashod Bateman (Ravens)
- No. 34 – Elijah Moore (Jets)
- No. 49 – Rondale Moore (Cardinals)
- No. 56 – D’Wayne Eskridge (Seahawks)
- No. 57 – Tutu Atwell (Rams)
- No. 59 – Terrace Marshall Jr. (Panthers)
- No. 77 – Josh Palmer (Chargers)
- No. 82 – Dyami Brown (Washington Football Team)
- No. 85 – Amari Rodgers (Packers)
- No. 89 – Nico Collins (Texans)
- No. 91 – Anthony Schwartz (Browns)
- No. 109 – Dez Fitzpatrick (Titans)
“I should’ve picked 16, but I think Jared looks better in 16 than me,” St. Brown said.
Although the number was chosen as a blunder, Goff and St. Brown look great in there respective numbers, especially last season as both men helped lead the Lions on a historic run last season as they won consecutive divisional titles, clinched the No. 1 seed and a first-round bye, which the organization has never achieved.
St. Brown finished the regular season by earning first-team All-Pro honors in 2023 and 2024.
He was also voted to the Pro Bowl for three consecutive seasons from 2022 to 2024, as the Lions finished the regular season with a 15-2 record and won 11 straight games.
The four-year pro caught 115 passes for 1,263 yards and 12 touchdowns while also getting a cake made out of one of his celebrations.
For Lions fans, the only number that matters on the offensive side of the ball is six after the offensive duo connects on one of their spectacular touchdowns, which is expected during another long postseason run.