From 1925 through 2022, only 19 players in pro football ever wore the jersey No. 0, and most of those players did so in the NFL’s early days — which is where legends like Ox Eckhardt and Wee Willie Smith come from. But now that the NFL has allowed the number for everyone but offensive and defensive linemen (uh, why — the number is cooler the bigger the player is), there will be 23 players sporting the jersey No. 0 in the 2023 season.
The reasons for the number are different for different players. For former Steelers and current Seahawks linebacker Devin Bush, his No. 55 was taken when he came to Seattle, and though he originally preferred No. 11, he gave that to rookie receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
“I gave it to the rookie,” Bush said, per ESPN’s Brady Henderson. “He can have it. And then I found out zero was open and it kind of just fell into my lap and I’m kind of liking it now.”
Per ESPN’s Kevin Seifert, Vikings edge-rusher Marcus Davenport consulted with the boss when he switched teams from the Saints.
“I had a couple options and asked my wife about them,” Davenport said. “It was really between 11 and 0, and she said, ‘Just go be different. Be zero.’ So that’s what it was. For me, it was just part of having a new beginning, you know?”
Ravens linebacker Roquan Smith, traded from the Bears last October, echoed the thoughts of a lot of players: Zero reflects a new beginning.
“Before you start with ‘1,’ you start with ‘0.’ I feel like it’s just the start of something,” Smith said, per ESPN’s Jamison Hensley. “This is my first start of a season with the Ravens, and I see no better number that represents that journey to greatness. I want to make a name for myself here. I want my name to be cemented here. So, I’m the first to wear ‘0’ and I want to be the first person to do a lot for this organization.”
Who's your favorite Agent 0️⃣? pic.twitter.com/1CI4IKvXEl
— NFL (@NFL) September 8, 2023
Now that we know all 23 players wearing No. 0 this season, how do they stack up against each other? Here, we rank the Zero Heroes.
1
1. Brian Burns, EDGE, Carolina Panthers
2
2. Calvin Ridley, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars
3
3. Roquan Smith, LB, Baltimore Ravens
4
4. Greg Newsome, CB, Cleveland Browns
5
5. Marcus Davenport, EDGE, Minnesota Vikings
6
6. D'Andre Swift, RB, Philadelphia Eagles
7
7. Lorenzo Carter, EDGE, Atlanta Falcons
8
8. Parris Campbell, WR, New York Giants
9
9. Adrian Amos, Safety, New York Jets
10
10. Marvin Jones Jr., WR, Detroit Lions
11
11. Devin Bush, LB, Seattle Seahawks
12
12. Zach Pascal, WR, Arizona Cardinals
13
13. Braxton Berrios, WR, Miami Dolphins
14
14. Daiyan Henley, LB, Los Angeles Chargers
15
15. Nyheim Hines, RB, Buffalo Bills
16
16. Shaquill Griffin, CB, Houston Texans
17
17. Sean Murphy-Bunting, CB, Tennessee TItans
18
18. Yaya Diaby, EDGE, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
19
19. Byron Young, EDGE, Los Angeles Rams
20
20. Jonathon Cooper, EDGE, Denver Broncos
21
21. Samuel Womack III, CB, San Francisco 49ers
22
22. Ugo Amadi, CB, New Orleans Saints
23
23. Jakorian Bennett, CB, Las Vegas Raiders
