What exactly happened? Not all HOF caliber players need their numbers retired. Read the names of the retired players, in the story, and many of the fans probably have not thought about them in a long time. 54, which was previously donned by Tedy Bruschi and Brian Waters. 5. 20 Gino Cappelletti The only man to ever don the number remains Mr. Patriot. The uniform numbers for the. The runner-up here is probably Joe Cardona. No. Other top wide receivers who have. other than brady no number should be retired. (There are 16 wide receivers who wore numbers in the 80s in the Hall, including Moss, Rice, Cris Carter, Marvin Harrison, Raymond Berry and Lynn Swann.) Malcolm Mitchell could make a bid to take this spot if he's healthy this year. 84 Deion Branch, WR, 2002-05, 2011-12: The MVP of Super Bowl XXXIX, Branch gets the nod over Shawn Jefferson. All-Pro guard John Hannah limbers up after reporting to the New England Patriots training camp at Bryant College in Smithfield, R.I., Aug. 11, 1983. 25 Ross O'Hanley Local boy was a stalwart in the 1960s. Corey Dillon had 3,180 yards and 37 touchdowns in three years with the Pats. 24 Ty Law, CB, 1995-2004: Thirty-six of Laws 53 career picks came as a member of the Patriots. 53 Chris Slade I'm going to admit to some recency bias here and take Slade over Tom Addison, who was a standout in the 1960s. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. With Gronkowski the clear-cut number one option at tight end, Bennett is projected to be the teams number two option at the position and more of a role-player in Foxboro than he was in Chicago. Watch our How-To Videos to Become a Stathead, Subscribe to Stathead and get access to more data than you can imagine. 39 -- Sam Cunningham, RB, 1973-79, 81-82:Sam "Bam" Cunningham's 5,453 career rushing yards is still tops in franchise history. Both were instrumental parts of title teams but Bruschi was a bit more consistent. 18 Matthew Slater, ST/WR, 2008-present: Slater beats out wide receiver Randy Vataha, who had over 3,000 yards and 23 touchdowns in six seasons with the Pats. No. 91 Jamie Collins Collins' versatility lifts him past solid DL Bobby Hamilton. That happens a lot with a 90-man roster. 36 -- Lawyer Milloy, SS, 1996-2002:Milloy helped bridge the Patriots defense from the Drew Bledsoe era to the start of the Tom Brady era, played a huge part in the 2001 Super Bowl run. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. 78 Bruce Armstrong, OT, 1987-2000: Made six Pro Bowls, played in three decades. The first three taken --Larry Fitzgerald, Roy Williams and (wow, come to think of it) Reggie Williams (wasnt as bad as Id remembered) --took No. 4x NFL Alumni NFL Linebacker of the year (1992, 1993, 1994, 2000) 3x NFLPA AFC Linebacker of the year (1992, 1993, 1994) Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award (1994) 2 AFC Champion (1994, 2007) NFL 1990s All-Decade Team. I am pretty Belichick is not fond of Gronkowski because Bill was set to ship him out to Detroit for some top picks and he threatened to step away. Harrison was inducted into the New England Patriots Hall of Fame in 2019. 96 Brent Williams In 2007 I would have guaranteed Adalius Thomas a spot but we all know how that turned out. Time will tell if he really finds success in New England but his skill set should translate well to the teams offense something that already is on display during practice. ampats says: The Patriots previously have retired seven numbers. Let's take a look back at who previously wore the newly handed-out numbers over the course of the Patriots' history. Who wore it better? 18 -- Matthew Slater, ST/WR, 2008-present: A seven-time Pro Bowler and one-time All-Pro selection, Slater is one of the defining special teams players of his era. Won a Super Bowl in 2014. 80 --the Vikings (Carter), the Rams (Bruce), the 49ers (Rice) and the Seahawks (Largent) --while the Saints retired No. Now, Gronks 87 will be worn. Note: Ferentz was one of the Patriots late additions last week as well. 20 Gino Cappelletti, everything, 1960-70: Cappellettis No. . 60 Garin Veris, DE, 1985-91: Tallied 21 combined sacks in his first two seasons. 12 wont be reissued but I didnt think Gronks # should have either. Throughout New. 80 been over. 16 Jim Plunkett, QB, 1971-75: There is a case to be made for Matt Cassel here because he went 11-5. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. 93 Richard Seymour The soon-to-be Hall of Famer was another rather easy selection. The veteran appeared in his teams first 10 games but sustained a rib injury that forced him to leave the week 11 matchup against the Denver Broncos. There is probably more to story. 81 is still fighting the good fight, with 10 receivers wearing it, although their numbers took a hit this week with the retirement of Andre Johnson, who after years of wearing No. Please see our Contributors and Sources page for data source details. Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee (2015) Rod Shoate. The 2004 season was the first in which the league opened up Nos. 88 Terry Glenn, WR, 1996-2001: When healthy, Glenn was terrific in New England, helping the Pats reach the Super Bowl as a rookie. Gamble, RB, 1968-69: Phillip Dorsett was shockingly close to taking this spot. Tight Ends Dwayne Allen, #83: Wes Welker wore #83 during his six-year career in New England. He currently ranks third all-time in field goal accuracy (87.3 percent). - 86 -- Stanley Morgan, WR, 1977-89:Morgan is the Patriots' all-time leading receiver with 10,352 yards and no one else is close. 80 Troy Brown, WR, 1993-2007: How many 1,000-yard seasons did Brown have? 15 in Las Vegas, but changed to the same digits he had in Philadelphia. 68 Max Lane, OL, 1994-2000: Played in 100 career games and was a starter for four seasons. 3 -- Stephen Gostkowski, K, 2006-present: The third-most accurate kicker in NFL history (87.6 percent). He wore No. 87 -- Rob Gronkowski, TE, 2010-present: Gronkowski is the Patriots' No. 99. 17 was Taliaferro's for a three-year run. Antwine is now a member of the All-AFL team and the Patriots Hall of Fame. 90 -- Toby Williams, DL, 1983-88 : Played a big role in the Patriots' 3-4 defense in the mid-80s. Note: A third-round pick in 2019, Cajuste is still looking to make his NFL debut. 76 Sebastian Vollmer Another solid and steady tackle who benefit from Dante Scarnecchia's tutelage. Pat the Patriot, . 67 Dan Koppen Koppen's titles tilt the scales in his favor over another solid center, Bill Lenkaitis. 13 R.C. 92). Last worn by the likes of Chris Barker, Donald Thomas and Mark LeVoir, you have to go back all the way to the 1990s to find a regular starter donning 64: Center Dave Wohlabaugh wore it in 63 games for the team. 4 -- Adam Vinatieri, K, 1996-2005:Gostkowski may have better numbers, but Vinatieri is second to no one in terms of clutch kicks in Patriots history. Jump back a year to the 2003 draft, before the lower numbers were in play. Sign up for our newsletter and get every update delivered to your inbox! Adams wore No. Former first-round pick and two-time Super Bowl champion Ty Warren is the most famous 94 in Patriots history. 95 -- Chandler Jones, DE, 2012-2015: Roman Phifer (2001-2004) played a big role on three Super Bowl runs at the end of his career, but was a starter for only three seasons. ..Patriots HOF but he is not in the retire the jersey # category, sorry 95 Chandler Jones Tough competition here with Ed Reynolds, Roman Phifer and Henry Thomas. 85 in all other seasons, as did linebacker Nick Buoniconti, a four-time first-team All-Pro. New England Patriots roster breakdown: #88 TE Martellus Bennett The offseason acquisition projects to be the Patriots' number two tight end. He made four Pro Bowls and an All-Pro team in the Patriots' early days. Sure, it would be great to retire numbers for more players, but then you need triple digit numbers available. The Patriots check off three major needs, headlined by a dynamic weapon in Mike Dussault's first mock draft of the 2023 offseason. Rashaun Woods picked No. Bledsoe, the face of the franchise in the 90s, narrowly edges out the Super Bowl LII hero. By choosing I Accept, you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. 33 -- Kevin Faulk, RB, 1999-2011: Dion Lewis was great, but Faulk is an all-time Patriot, setting the standard for third-down backs and clutch plays in New England. New England is getting some help at the wideout spot. The QB's former Alabama teammate, Christian Barmore,. And, as time goes on, theyre shying away from the 80s altogether. Heled the NFL in special teams tackles in 2016. While 65 currently has an unremarkable run with Jonathan Cooper and Jordan Devey last wearing it, it was previously worn by one of the best players in franchise history: Defensive tackle Houston Antwine donned it from 1961 to 1971 when he appeared in 144 games for the Patriots. 80 or 81 these days. Collins is entering the final year of his contract, and hell command big money. The running back will enter unrestricted free agency in mid-March. 10. NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah sized up some Patriots-type players in this year's draft, many who could be considered at 14th overall. Note: Uche had 53 as a rookie but said he was happy to give it back to Van Noy. He posted 6.0 sacks in 1984. 54 -- Tedy Bruschi, LB, 1996-2008:Dont'a Hightower may have an argument when it's all said and done, but Bruschi embodied the Patriots defense during the rise of the Belichick Era. Twenty-ninth overall pick Michael Jenkins took No. Cmon man. For the Patriots, three players took advantage of the new rule. Call 1-800-GAMBLER. Heres a look at the Patriots new jersey numbers. Note: Hoyer used to wear No. A calendar of important upcoming dates for the NFL and the New England Patriots in 2023. 8.). new city college attlee a level academy; surrey police helicopter tracker; mountain vista apartments tucson; smart goals examples for social studies teachers Ravens numbers have never looked better, . Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. Still, you have to wonder what kind of legacy Jimmy Garoppolo could've taken this spot if he wasn't traded. He finished with 5.5 more sacks with the team than Patriots legend James Harrison (also No. 1 will return to the field of play for the first time in 33 years, currently the fourth longest number drought in Patriots history, behind only Bob Dee's 89 (last worn in 1967), Gino Cappelletti's 20 (last worn in 1970), and Jim Lee Hunt's 79 (last worn in 1970). This website is the only official website of the New England Patriots and is Copyright New England Patriots (the "Club"). 54 Tedy Bruschi, LB, 1996-2008: A three-time Super Bowl champ, Bruschi is the no-brainer selection here. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Yesterday, the New England Patriots announced the first wave of new jersey numbers. 94 Ty Warren, DL, 2003-10: A two-time Super Bowl champ and an All-Pro selection in 2007. 17 -- Mike Taliaferro, QB, 1968-70: Before it was cursing modern-era Patriots receiver, the No. The Patriots select their left tackle of the future and address their three biggest needs in this seven-round mock draft. Learn how your comment data is processed. 81 -- Randy Moss, WR, 2007-10:A Hall of Famer and the main target on one of the best offenses of all time, Moss was unlike any other receiver in the NFL at the height of his powers. Theres no need for them to continue to retire numbers as a nod to retired players. He posted 6.0 sacks in 1984. 26 -- Raymond Clayborn, CB, 1977-89: Made three Pro Bowls during his 13-year run in New England, was inducted into the Patriots Hall of Fame in 2017. What I'm Hearing: Our NFL insider Jarrett Bell details the Patriots big free agency spending and why it means they're retooling and not rebuilding. Milloy was a four-time Pro Bowler and a Super Bowl champ. While not as historically successful a number as 80, 84 also had some productive carriers in the past: Tight end Ben Watson donned it in the 2000s, while wide receivers Shawn Jefferson, Darryl Stingley and Art Graham all wore it before that. 12. 39 Sam Cunningham, RB, 1973-79, 81-82: Remains the Pats all-time leading rusher with 5,453 yards. His 23 touchdowns in 2007 remains an NFL record. They have until late August, when each team has to start making its roster cuts, to secure a role. Here, we rank the best Patriots of all-time by jersey number, 1-99. 60 Garin Veris The classy defensive end earns a narrow victory over David Andrews and Lennie St. Jean. From Morgan to Butler: Who wore the Patriots' new jersey numbers in the past? 20 -- Gino Cappelletti, everything, 1960-70: The Patriots Hall of Famer caught passes, kicked field goals, called games from the radio booth and had his No. Its older brother, No. If players wanted to go lower, they could, and that they did. 89 Bob Dee, DL, 1960-67: Easy one. 73 John Hannah, G, 1973-85: The first New England Patriot to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. 23 -- Ron Hall, DB, 1961-67:Pat Chung is a strong candidate here, but we're sticking with Hall, who made a Pro Bowl, an All-Pro team and set a Patriots record with 11 picks in 1963. Note: Gaffney retired from the NFL to play professional baseball before coming back to football. 3 Stephen Gostkowski The guy who replaced legend Adam Vinatieri did so with consistency and class, leaving as the team's all-time leading scorer. 93 -- Richard Seymour, DE, 2001-08: A three-time All-Pro selection and one of themost dominant defensive linemen of his era, Seymour was a cornerstone of the 2001-2004 defenses. 62 -- Ryan Wendell, OL, 2011-15: Another undrafted player who moved up the ladder, Wendell was a full-time starter for three seasons, winning a Super Bowl in 2014. 62 Joe Thuney His incredible durability gives him the nod over Ryan Wendell. 40-yard dash time didn't affect Peyton and Eli Manning's careers. And while he likely will not be able to duplicate the numbers of his 2014 Pro Bowl season, the veteran should still see a substantial amount of snaps. 14. He held virtually every single receiving. Consequently, the Bears placed Bennett on injured reserve on December 9th. He returned for mandatory minicamp and was also on the field for training camp but Bennett never received the new contract he wanted. 2 -- Doug Flutie, QB, 1987-89, 2005: While he started 12 games in the late 80s, he's more known for his second stint in New England, particularly for his drop kick as his final play. He only had one 1000-yard season, but impacted the game as a kick return and -- for a little while -- as a defensive back. 32 Devin McCourty This is a very deep number with Antowain Smith, Andy Johnson, Willie Clay and Craig James, but none come close to the impact McCourty has made. 80 for the Patriots), but Amendola previously wore No. Who's the best Patriots player to wear No. Nate Solder's old number will be worn by free agency addition Ulrick John this year. 30 Mosi Tatupu, FB, 1979-90: A mainstay in New England, Tatupu was a fullback, special teamer and fan favorite. 92 Ted Washington It's tough to win a spot based on just one year but Washington was great in 2003. Dawson Knox 88. Despite missing five games and leaving two of the other 11 due to injury, Bennett was one of the most productive players of the Bears 2015 offense. 58 -- Pete Brock, OL, 1976-87:Spent 12 seasons with the Patriots, earned the name "Deep Threat" after catching a 6-yard touchdown pass in 1976. Please check your email for a confirmation. Note: Agholor wore No. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. We use cookies and other tracking technologies to improve your browsing experience on our site, show personalized content and targeted ads, analyze site traffic, and understand where our audiences come from. Note: Langi returns to New England after making the team as an undrafted rookie in 2017. 75 -- Vince Wilfork, DT, 2004-14: On the field, Wilfork provided the Patriots' defensive foundation, bookending his tenure with Super Bowl wins. 52 -- Ted Johnson, LB, 1995-2004: A classic thumper at middle linebacker, Johnson helped stuff the run in New England for a decade. While the team's rookie class has yet to be assigned numbers, some of the team's veteran offseason additions and former practice squad players were already handed out theirs. 57 Steve Nelson Another easy selection, Nelson's professionalism was a mainstay for many years in New England. 71 Ray Hamilton, DL, 1973-81: Made 117 starts in nine years with the Pats. He will be wearing the number for a special reason. Jordan Matthews has some big shoes to fill as three of the greatest wide receivers in Patriots history all wore 80 on their jerseys: Irving Fryar, Troy Brown and Danny Amendola all secured their places in franchise history with the 80 on their chest. Remember when Wilfork was miked that one game and told Hightower he looked like the black Tedy Bruschi? 56 Andre Tippett, LB, 1982-93: Had 100 sacks in his career, including 18.5 in 1984. 26 Raymond Clayborn, CB, 1977-89: A three-time Pro Bowler, Clayborn started 179 career games in New England. Patriots.com writers Mike Dussault and Evan Lazar share their first mock draft picks of the 2023 offseason as New England prepares for the NFL Draft. In April, the NFL approved a rule that gives more positions a chance to wear certain numbers. Our staff has compiled what the top 'experts' are predicting the New England Patriots will do in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft. 98 Dennis Owens, DT, 1982-86: Played on three playoff teams. 17 Mike Taliaferro This has been a bit of a cursed number for receivers in recent years so we'll go with the former QB over Aaron Dobson. 55 Willie McGinest, LB, 1994-2005: Had 78 sacks in 12 years with the Pats. A measure of his dominance: In six years with the Pats, Welker had 7,459 yards. 34 Chuck Shonta The versatile defensive back is part of the Patriots All-Decade team for the 1960s. This is the number Randy Moss wore in New England. 7 -- the number he wore at LSU -- in Minnesota. j 1945 says: 92 Ray Agnew, DL, 1990-94: Not a ton of history here with No. 7 Hugh Millen, QB, 1991-92: Millen wasnt particularly good (17 TDs, 28 INTs), but he did at least play. Join our linker program. Belichick wouldnt engage in such childish behavior, would he? 31 -- Fred Marion, FS, 1982-91:Move aside Brandon Meriweather, Marion spent his whole 10-year career in New England. 2 receiver for Bledsoe. 69 for two seasons his rookie year and his last year. If you say Julian Edelman I won't argue, but to me Bledsoe was more impactful. 43 -- Nate Ebner, DB/ST, 2012-present: Ebner may just be a special teams player, but he's an elite special teams player. 95? His number 88 is recognized in the Pride of the Lions ring of honor on permanent display at Ford Field. 13 -- R.C. 20 is retired by the Pats. Peterson made a deal with second-year QB Nate Stanley, who previously held the number, for a good cause. Belichick has 8 super bowl rings,6 with Patriots and 2 with Giants. Some numbers in sports need no context for their significance to be understood: No. Gronk was a great player and will be in the Patriots HOF but he is not in the retire the jersey # category, sorry. 87 to rookie receiver Tre Nixon. A new Patriots receiver is wearing Rob Gronkowskis No. I meant to write how many have worn 24 since Ty Law left. He finally got league-wide praise in 2017, when he earned his first Pro Bowl nod. 66. 52 Ted Johnson, LB, 1995-2004: Played 10 years for the Patriots and none for any other teams. We tried to come up with the best player to wear each number, and while most were pretty cut and dried, some (like No. 65 this year for the Pats. 95 Roman Phifer, LB, 2001-04: Came to New England as a 33-year-old, but remained productive in three Super Bowl runs. Derrius Thompson didn't produce as hoped, though he did have that memorable game-winning touchdown in 2004 when the 2-11 Dolphins upset the 11-2 Patriots in a Monday night game. 28 -- Curtis Martin, RB, 1995-97: In a showdown between two of the best backs in Patriots history, the nod goes to the Hall of Famer, who got his start in New England. 99 -- Mike Wright, DL, 2005-11: Wright had a niche role as an interior pass rusher for the Patriots, and have 10.5 sacks between 2009-2010. Other key players from the Belichick era have seen their names back on jerseys, including Richard Seymours 93, Ty Laws 24, Tedy Bruschis 54, Troy Browns 80, Adam Vinatieris 4, and Rodney Harrisons 37. A look at the new numbers being worn by the Patriots old players: 3 DB Jabrill Peppers: He wore 22 in Cleveland and 21 with the Giants. 83 -- Wes Welker, WR, 2007-12: Welker only played six seasons in New England, but he's still the franchise's reception leader -- by over 100 catches. He likely would've been if injuries didn't end his career before the age of 30. Hannah is one of the best offensive linemen of all-time -- with some people arguing the "one of" aspect of that statement. 42. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. Speaking to the media on Thursday, Henry indicated that he will wear the number to honor former Los Angeles Chargers tight end Antonio Gates. To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. But with the rule change, quarterbacks, running backs, receivers, tight ends, linebackers, defensive backs, kickers and punters may now all wear numbers 1-9. The National Football League (NFL) today announced there will be two 2023 International Games in Germany next season. Keyshawn Johnson, for example, used a crowded training camp roster to wear No. 15 -- Babe Parilli, QB, 1961-67: Sorry, Chris Hogan, Parilli was one of the great players from the early days of the Patriots franchise. In total, 17 players wear No. He is a HOF TE and his time with NE is not rivaled, when healthy he was arguably the best TE ever (Blocker/Receiver). 49 -- Joe Cardona, LS, 2015-present:Sure, Cardona might just be a long snapper, but he's a really good long snapper. 88 -- Terry Glenn, WR, 1996-2001:A marvelous talent who clashed with coaches as time went on, Glen posted 90 catches and 1,132 yards as a rookie. How about Roman Phifer vs. Chandler Jones. What should the Patriots prioritize this offseason in free agency and the draft? Beats out Sebastian Vollmer and Charley Long, who played for the Patriots in the 1960s. Josh McDaniels predicts Bill OBrien will do a great job as Patriots offensive coordinator. That is not a number randomly assigned to him, but a choice of his own. 69, enabling me to put them both on this list. 99 in Baltimore. Beats out Dan Connolly. With the start of OTAsthis week, jersey numbers have been assigned to the Patriots. 50 Mike Vrabel, LB, 2001-08: Tough break for Rob Ninkovich, who is better than 70 percent of the players on this list. Two of the greatest offensive linemen in Patriots history donned the #67 jersey: Dan Koppen wore it between 2003 and 2011 and Bill Lenkaitis from 1971 to 1981. 23 Ron Hall, DB, 1961-67: Picked off 11 passes in 1964. Three times Seymour made first team All-Pro. David Andrews is a year or two away from taking this spot. Cardona came in as a rookie and stepped into the role right away and has started every game since. Dee is the only Patriot to ever wear No. 1. 80 was long worn by top receivers: guys such as Steve Largent, Cris Carter, Irving Fryar, James Lofton, Isaac Bruce and, of course, Jerry Rice. Only one, surprisingly. But really, Cruz, Matthews, Amendola and the aging Anquan Boldin are the biggest names wearing these numbers, and none of them are the level of star that for years was synonymous with Nos. Id hate to think that this number assignment was done out of pettiness. He passed away in 2010, and a brain exam revealed that he had suffered from CTE, according to The Boston Globe. Only one No. Only two other players have worn No. 76 Brian Holloway, OT, 1981-86: Made Pro Bowls in 1983, 84 and 85. Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction? Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). northern cricket league professionals; breaux bridge jail inmates; virtualbox ubuntu failed to start snap daemon; len and brenda credlin Last worn by Dion Lewis, number 33 has been a successful one for Patriots running backs over the last few decades: Kevin Faulk played an important role in three Super Bowl victories wearing it and had a franchise Hall of Fame career. Terms at draftkings.com/sportsbook. The team will find a way to use him as a versatile chess piece to either free things up for other weapons on offense or to take advantage of teams trying to key in on Gronkowski and the Patriots other talented receiving options. 90 -- Toby Williams, DL, 1983-88:Played a big role in the Patriots' 3-4 defense in the mid-80s. 99 Mike Wright Athletic interior sub rusher had his career cut short due to concussions. The following browsers are supported: Chrome, Edge (v80 and later), Firefox and Safari.