Dating back to his NFL debut in 2010, Antonio Brown has sported the No. 84 on his jersey.
His reasoning for wearing No. 84 actually made a ton of sense.
Well, my number is 84. Eight times four is 32. Thirty-two teams looked past me, even the Steelers. So every time I go out there it’s a little added motivation.
But, he had to move on from that number after joining the New England Patriots this season. Benjamin Watson, who is currently suspended, is wearing the No. 84 this season and Brown can’t change numbers mid-season according to NFL rules.
As ESPN’s Mike Reiss previously stated, Brown decided to wear the No. 17 because his father, Eddie, did in the Arena Football League. Brown confirmed this reasoning in a video on his YouTube page, transcribed by NESN.
“You know, my dad always inspired me, you know what I mean? From his work ethic, following commitment. No. 17, you know, I’ve seen that guy make a lot of touchdowns, dedicated his life, sacrificed his life. We got so much similarities, our charisma, the way we approach the field. Seeing me and seeing my dad is like seeing two identical guys. It’s kind of rare. You know it’s like seeing your son but more so like your brother. You know, our mannerisms, the way we approach the game, the way we make people feel. A lot of similarities between me and my dad. I’m glad he’s my dad.”
Regardless of the number, Brown has entered this Patriots offense as the same explosive player that he’s always been. He recorded four catches, 56 yards and a touchdown in his New England debut against the Miami Dolphins in Week 2.
