J.J. Watt is going to be a member of the Arizona Cardinals, but the iconic No. 99 won’t be on his back this fall.
The number he wore in college while starring with Wisconsin and with the Houston Texans isn’t available in Arizona. Why? Marshall Goldberg, who played eight seasons for the then-Chicago Cardinals from 1939 to 1948 wore it and it was later retired by the franchise.
So while there are a bunch of photoshopped versions of Watt wearing No. 99 in Cardinal red, the speculation has begun as to what number he’ll end up wearing once he’s officially in uniform with Arizona.
Welcome to the desert @JJWatt 🌵 😤 pic.twitter.com/ZGlfLTsiEY
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) March 1, 2021
A new era for @JJWatt 👀 pic.twitter.com/yp6yoYLyAX
— ESPN (@espn) March 1, 2021
J.J. Watt may have to pick a brand new jersey number in Arizona. The Cardinals long ago retired No. 99 in honor of former halfback/fullback Marshall Goldberg.
— Bob McManaman (@azbobbymac) March 1, 2021
