One of the first items of business for NFL rookies is to choose a jersey number. But it’s not just a number. It’s an identity, something that players will wear proudly during all of the ups and downs in the journey of their professional careers.
Running back Anthony McFarland, Jr. didn’t get the number he initially wanted. Instead, he displayed a selfless act and deferred No. 25 to his former Terrapins teammate and current Steelers teammate, Antoine Brooks, Jr. After all, that was Brooks’ number when they were together at Maryland.
The next available number was 26.
While it was last worn by linebacker Mark Barron, who was cut this offseason, it was most recently made famous in Pittsburgh by the legendary Le’Veon Bell.
McFarland was playing high school ball at DeMatha Catholic when Bell first came on the scene in Pittsburgh.
“To me, wearing 2-6, I’ve always been a big fan of Le’Veon Bell,” said McFarland via a video conference call with media Saturday.
“He’s always been the best running back in the league to me, ever since I been watching him when I was in college and when I was in high school,” he said.
Since No. 26 is synonymous with Bell, there comes with it a certain pressure to live up to the presence he once had in Pittsburgh. But McFarland, knowing he has a lot of work ahead of him to earn a role in a crowded backfield, made it clear he’s not trying to be anyone but himself.
“I didn’t want people to think it was anything like ‘Ooh, I wanted to be better than Le’Veon or anything like that,” said McFarland.
“That’s not the type of person I am. I idolize him, I study his game, I study his film. It’s definitely me looking up at him and not a sign of disrespect.”
