The Fifteen Most Iconic Uniform Numbers in NFL History
By Jason Lisk
What is the best number in pro football? That may depend on which position you favor and who your favorite team is. But here, we are going to go down and rank the numbers by the famous players who donned them, and identify those numbers that are most tied to greatness. Here’s a full list of the current Hall of Famers and what numbers they wore.
#12
No number can match the firepower of the number 12. It is the most common number used by great quarterbacks. You have both Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers currently, and they will no doubt join Terry Bradshaw, Jim Kelly, Joe Namath, Roger Staubach, Bob Griese, and Ken Stabler in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Oh, and Randall Cunningham also wore #12 with the Eagles.
#88
#88 comes in behind 80 and 81 for pass catchers, but is still iconic, getting several great tight ends and wide receivers, as well as one Purple People Eater. Tony Gonzalez, Marvin Harrison, Alan Page, Michael Irvin, John Mackey, Lynn Swann, Drew Pearson. Dez Bryant and Demaryius Thomas have all worn it.
#52
Ray Lewis leads the way among linebackers wearing 52. Patrick Willis, David Harris, Clay Matthews, and Dr. Doom (Robert Brazile) have also worn it. Khalil Mack is currently the top #52, while Hall of Fame center Mike Webster wore 52 with the Steelers.
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#75
75 is a number for fierce linemen and big bodies. Mean Joe Greene carried it on from Deacon Jones, and Howie Long terrorized in the 1980’s while wearing it. Vince Wilfork plugged the middle for the Patriots wearing it, while Jethro Pugh was part of the Dallas Doomsday defense.
On the offensive side, Jonathan Ogden, Lomas Brown, and Forrest Gregg were among the offensive tackles to wear it.
#99
The number identified with The Great One, Wayne Gretzky also has plenty of fearsome defensive linemen in NFL history. Aaron Donald is the current holder of the #99 crown, joining J.J. Watt, Warren Sapp, Dan Hampton, and Jason Taylor. Mark Gastineau made a name for himself as part of the New York Sack Exchange wearing double nines. Jerome Brown also wore #99 and his college teammate Cortez Kennedy wore it for one season to honor him after his untimely death, and Kennedy won Defensive Player of the Year that season.
#16
#58
#58 is the number for speed linebackers and athletic defensive field generals. Von Miller is the modern predecessor to Derrick Thomas, who also wore #58. Steelers’ Hall of Famer Jack Lambert stared down defenders sporting it. Wilber Marshall, Carl Banks, Isiah Robertson, and Thomas Davis are also members of the club.
#34
We’ll close with Sweetness. Number 34 was worn by three Hall of Fame greats at running back, and another who I think should absolutely be in. Walter Payton, Thurman Thomas, and Earl Campbell wore the number, as did Herschel Walker, both during his time in the NFL and with the New Jersey Generals of the USFL. (I detailed why Walker should be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame here).
All photos via USA Today Sports Images unless otherwise noted.
#80
The number for wide receivers, including the greatest of all-time. Jerry Rice, Steve Largent, Cris Carter, James Lofton, and Kellen Winslow all wore it. Old-timers Tom Fears, Jack Butler, and Len Ford are also part of the club. Other top wide receivers who have worn the number include Andre Johnson, Isaac Bruce, Irving Fryar, Cris Collinsworth, and Henry Ellard.
#32
The iconic running back number. Jim Brown wore it. Once famous and now infamous O.J. Simpson did as well. Franco Harris and Marcus Allen also are in the Hall of Fame after wearing this number, while Edgerrin James could be if a knee injury after a great start. Ricky Watters and Ottis Anderson (with the Cardinals) and Jamal Anderson doing the Dirty Bird are some of the other famous #32’s.
#55
The perfect linebacker number, #55 has been worn by Junior Seau, Derrick Brooks, Terrell Suggs, Cowboys Hall of Famer Lee Roy Jordan and Washington linebacker and senior Hall of Fame entry Chris Hanburger, along with Lance Briggs, Joey Porter, Willie McGinest, and Matt Millen.
#7
Lucky Number 7 is the biggest challenger to #12 among quarterbacks for Super Bowl appearances and highlight seasons. John Elway and his famous Broncos #7 leads the way, but you also have Ben Roethlisberger, Boomer Esiason, Joe Theismann, Michael Vick, and Ron Jaworski. Colin Kaepernick’s #7 has become famous in recent years and a point of great contention. Morten Andersen, perhaps the greatest kicker of all-time, also wore it.
#20
20 is the number for lots of great defensive backs, and one Mr. Barry Sanders. Ed Reed for #20, as did Brian Dawkins and Ronde Barber. If you want to go further back you get Mel Renfro, Lem Barney, Louis Wright, and Lemar Parrish. My boyhood idol Deron Cherry racked up interceptions wearing the number. Other running backs who wore it: Garrison Hearst (after leaving Arizona), Billy Sims, Joe Morris, Joe Cribbs, and Thomas Jones (with the Bears, Jets, and Chiefs).
#78
Bruce Smith and Anthony Munoz, on opposite sides of the ball as potentially the best at their positions in the 1980’s, both wore #78. So did Hall of Fame offensive linemen Art Shell and Jackie Slater. Bobby Bell of the Chiefs also wore, while his teammate Curley Culp switched to the number after he was traded to the Oilers. Other franchise offensive line staples like Bruce Armstrong, Matt Birk, Richmond Webb, Tarik Glenn, and Mike Kenn also donned the number for lengthy careers.
#81
Terrell Owens leads a host of big receivers, as well as Carl Eller of the Minnesota Vikings and Dick “Night Train” Lane in sporting 81. Tim Brown, Calvin Johnson, Art Monk, Anquan Boldin, and Hall of Fame tight end Jackie Smith wore it. Torry Holt also switched to 81 during his career with the Rams, and Randy Moss switched to it from his famous 84 when he moved to the Patriots.
#21
Primetime. (The Other) LT.
Deion Sanders and LaDainian Tomlinson lead the guys to sport #21 and make it their own. Patrick Peterson is the current holder of the 21 crown. Frank Gore has had a lengthy career in it, and Tiki Barber hit late-career blackjack in the number. Former Charger great John Hadl wore it as a QB, while Eric Allen, Cliff Branch, and James Brooks did also. Charles Woodson switched from 24 to 21 with the Packers, and the father/son combo of Terry and Eric Metcalf also wore #21.