The New York Jets confirmed the numerals that will appear on Zach Wilson, Alijah Vera-Tucker, and Elijah Moore’s new green uniforms.
Those returning to MetLife Stadium and expecting to celebrate Browning Nagle Day will likely go home disappointed this season.
New York Jets fans can officially place their orders for Zach Wilson, Alijah Vera-Tucker, and Elijah Moore replica jerseys. The team revealed the numbers for their top picks from last month’s draft proceedings on Thursday through social media.
No. 2: Zach Wilson
Wilson wore Nos. 11 and 1 during his time at BYU, the former now worn by Denzel Mims in New York. Though the number worn during his latter two seasons in Provo was available (last worn by Michael Vick in 2014), Wilson opted to double it, forever commemorating the spot the Jets chose in the first round in Cleveland. Wilson is the first Jets quarterback to bear the numeral since Ed Chlebek, a member of the 1963 team who threw four NFL passes. It’s been more often used by kickers, including Pro Bowler Jason Myers during his lone season in green and seven-year Jets kicker Nick Folk.
No. 8: Elijah Moore
Moore is taking full advantage of the NFL’s new number rules that allow receivers to wear single digits, retaining the Ocho from his college days at Mississippi. That makes him, obviously, the first receiver in Jets history to wear a single-digit as his permanent number, as it was previously used only by passers and specialists. Quarterback Mike White is currently listed as No. 8 on the roster but has appeared to relinquish it. Kicker Nick Lowery donned the number from 1994-96.
No. 75: Alijah Vera-Tucker
Jets fans certainly hope they don’t have to be reminded of Vera-Tucker’s number by officials in the future, as the team traded up with Minnesota to take him with the 14th pick in Cleveland. The numbers still don’t allow for Vera-Tucker to duplicate Wilson’s process, but he’ll instead get to keep the No. 75 he wore at USC. He’ll have a lot to live up to from a Jets standpoint: the number was famously represented by recently enshrined Hall-of-Famer Winston Hill, a 14-year staple who played a major role in their Super Bowl III triumph.
The number was on the Jets’ roster last season, borne by fellow blocker Chuma Edoga. Vera-Tucker’s fellow newcomer and practice opponent Vinny Curry will likewise need new digits, having worn 75 with the Philadelphia Eagles in tribute to the victims of the tragic 1970 plane accident that claimed the lives of the Marshall University football team (depicted in the film We Are Marshall).
Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags
