Justin Fields, the new Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback, wore jersey number one during his three seasons with the Chicago Bears. He wore No. 1 in college while at Ohio State. However, it is unlikely that he will be given the number one as a Steeler.
According to the official Pittsburgh Steelers roster, two additional major acquisitions, quarterback Russell Wilson and linebacker Patrick Queen, have already been assigned jersey numbers 3 and 6, respectively. Their jerseys are also available in the NFL Shop, with Fields’ jersey listed as No. 00 with the remark Jersey Number to Be Confirmed.
The Pittsburgh Steelers have not retired jersey No. 1. The only numbers officially retired by the team are:
70 (Ernie Stautner, DT, 1950-1963)
75 (Joe Greene, DT, 1969-1981)
32 (Franco Harris, RB, 1971-1983)
So, what gives?
What gives is the Pittsburgh Steelers are a team steeped in tradition, and part of that tradition means keeping a semi-secret list of “unofficially” retired jersey numbers, of which No. 1 is part.
It belonged to Gary Anderson, who played for the Steelers from 1982 to 1994 and is one of the greatest Steelers of all time.
Who is Gary Anderson?
Throughout his career, Gary Anderson was one of the most dependable kickers in the NFL, and he is considered one of the finest in NFL history. He is the Pittsburgh Steelers’ all-time leading scorer by a large margin and ranks third in NFL history with 2,434 points.
Anderson made three Pro Bowls in thirteen seasons with Pittsburgh, kicking 309 field goals and 416 extra points for a total of 1,343 points. His defining moment was in the Wild Card stage of the 1989 playoffs, when the Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the Houston Oilers in overtime with a 50-yard field goal.
After leaving the Pittsburgh Steelers after the 1994 season, Anderson kicked for Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Minnesota (where he made one more Pro Bowl and the All-Pro team) before finishing his career in Tennessee at the age of 45.
While there are few pure kickers in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Gary Anderson is one who deserves a legitimate shot.
Pittsburgh Steelers “Unofficially” Retired Numbers
While only the team knows for sure, here is a list of numbers it appears the Pittsburgh Steelers have “unofficially” retired along with their associated players:
What Number Will Justin Fields Wear with the Steelers?
More than likely, Justin Fields’ Pittsburgh Steelers jersey number will need to be something other than one. They do things a certain way in Pittsburgh, and will not break with tradition easily. Some (altered) images of him wearing No. 5 have appeared around the web, and it is easy to assume he may choose 10 or 11.
It won’t be long until we know for sure. Of course, the Pittsburgh Steelers may break with tradition and issue Fields his No. 1 jersey after all. It would be unusual, but if they are interested in keeping him happy, it would be a smart move.
Be the first to comment