For the first time in a half-century, the No. 0 jersey will be making a return to NFL fields.
The Philadelphia Eagles submitted the idea in late February after NFL owners approved a proposal from the Kansas City Chiefs to expand the number of players who could wear single-digit numbers in April 2021. Prior to that change, the only positions allowed to wear single-digit uniform numbers were kickers, punters and quarterbacks.
The single-digit “0” and the double-digit “00” were in a rotation prior to 1973.
Philadelphia has retired nine player’s numbers in their franchise history: Donovan McNabb (No. 5), Steve Van Buren (15), Brian Dawkins (20), Tom Brookshier (40), Pete Retzlaff (44), Chuck Bednarik (60), Al Wistert (70), Reggie White (92) and Jerome Brown (99).
According to Kalyn Kahler of The Athletic, the Eagles “and likely many others” in the NFL need the No. 0 to “provide some relief from crowding.” Kahler pointed out that Philadelphia currently has wide receiver DeVonta Smith and linebacker Haason Reddick sporting single-digit uniform numbers (No. 6 and No. 7 respectively).
Soon after the news was reported, Jacksonville Jaguars wideout Calvin Ridley announced on Twitter that he’d be among the first players to sport the newly allowed number.
