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AJ McKenzie
  • 7 months ago
12, 32, 80
IG: aj_mckenzie416
Twitter: AJMckenzie94847
Transcript
00:03Since the 1920s, pro football players have had numbered jerseys, and over time numbers have grown increasingly prominent.
00:12Remember back in the day, they didn't have the player's name written on the uniform, it was really just a
00:17number.
00:17We don't get to see their faces because of the helmets, so the number is who they are.
00:22There's only 199 in this league! 99!
00:25People look at it and say, wow, that number accomplished a lot.
00:28Nice grab, A2!
00:30What a catch of A1!
00:31Guys just sort of get attached to the number.
00:35Remember Lin Swan being upset his whole career having to wear 88.
00:39He's going to say, but what if you're just a natural born 22?
00:43They talk about the placebo effect.
00:45If you think you're wearing a number, it's going to make it faster, well maybe it does make it faster.
00:49There was nobody even in the picture.
00:51So what makes for a great jersey number?
00:54I like that 16, I look good on you.
00:56A lot of great players wore it.
00:59Our top 10 jersey numbers of all time take account of both aesthetics and accomplishment.
01:04What's the best way to honor a player?
01:06You retire his number.
01:08That player embodies that number.
01:10Shows you how closely a player can become associated with a number.
01:13And there are numbers that you never forget with players.
01:17Well that was any jersey number of all time.
01:2199.
01:22That's a good one.
01:2399, uh, I would think of Wayne Gretzky.
01:27Wayne Gretzky.
01:2899 is pretty much owned by Wayne Gretzky.
01:33When I think about the number 99, I don't think about Wayne Gretzky.
01:37I think about Jerome Brown.
01:38Dan Hampton.
01:39Jason Taylor.
01:40Warren Sapp.
01:4199 is a pass rushing number.
01:45If I'm a quarterback and I see 99 in my rear view mirror, I'm changing lanes real quick.
01:53GG1 right after this came out.
01:55Once you get past Wayne Gretzky, the next thing that jumps into my mind, it's Mark Gaston.
02:02The dive itself was about a 2.
02:04But as far as daring and skill, it was about a 10.
02:0999 counter.
02:11Cuckoo.
02:13Mark Gaston fit the bill.
02:16Setting the bar for both sacks and celebrations in the early 80s.
02:20If you're doing a list, the top 10 worst celebration moves.
02:24Please make number 99, Mark Gaston.
02:28Number one.
02:29Like if you wore nine.
02:35We take in the middle cornfield and I would be like.
02:38Warren Sapp.
02:39He's one of the fiercest competitors I ever faced.
02:41You know, not only because of seeing his number.
02:43Stan Hampton wasn't allowed now.
02:45But what you heard in your ear throughout the game.
02:47He's about to have done with a box of rocks.
02:49He wore 99 to pay tribute to Jerome.
02:52Jerome Brown.
02:54He was like a meteor that burned out too quickly.
02:57A defensive tackle with personality.
02:59I got the most talent with the women.
03:01Yeah.
03:02He got the most talent with church.
03:04Yeah.
03:05He got the most talent in Mexico.
03:10But is number 99 more than just talking?
03:14Yeah.
03:14We gonna keep talking.
03:15Why 99?
03:17We gonna keep talking.
03:18Why is that on the list?
03:20Are you scared?
03:21I'm not scared.
03:22Are you frightened?
03:23I'm frightened.
03:25I'm frightened.
03:25I'm not frightened you.
03:26I don't see 99 as an exceptional number.
03:29There's so many other numbers there with so many more great players and personalities and legacies.
03:35Not 99.
03:37But in just 30 years of widespread use, number 99 already has a hall of fame.
03:48You have Warren Sapp, Jason Taylor, and to me you see a great contrast.
03:52You put 99 on Sapp, wide-bodied interior lineman, and 99 looks imposing.
03:59But then you put that same number on a guy like Jason Taylor, who's kind of willery, life, athletic, slender,
04:05and I think 99 suddenly looks sleek.
04:07Jason got him!
04:08Jason Taylor does not look like a 99.
04:11He's too slim to be a 99.
04:13But boy, I mean, he plays well enough to wear any number he wants.
04:16Intercepted by Jason Taylor!
04:18Touchdown Dolphins!
04:19Jason is a Hall of Fame player, I don't think there's any doubt about it.
04:22He may one day be, but there's only one 99 who already is.
04:28The man known as Danable, number 99 Dan Hampton of the Chicago Bears, doesn't have to look hard to find
04:35admirers throughout the NFL.
04:37Dan has played every position on the line.
04:40He had 12 knee operations yet, he's in the Hall of Fame, because he didn't take the game off.
04:45Two nines on your jersey stands out.
04:47Under pressure!
04:48He'll be sacked!
04:49There's some ego to go with that.
04:51Hey, welcome to the party, baby!
04:53You know, you think you're good and you're about being good.
04:56Or that number will shame you.
04:5851 should be there just for one reason and one reason alone.
05:02Happy Budkis.
05:03But 51...
05:04Number 9 jersey number of all time.
05:0719.
05:10The number 19 is just synonymous now with...
05:13Unitas.
05:13Johnny Unitas.
05:14Johnny Yu.
05:1519, of course, is John.
05:16And Lance Allworth.
05:17Lance Allworth.
05:18That's about it.
05:19Who else is there?
05:20Well, there are others who have worn 19.
05:23But two Hall of Famers headline everyone's list.
05:27Lance Allworth and Johnny Unitas.
05:30And Unitas gets off another touchdown pass.
05:32That was one I almost picked when I went to play in the NFL, because my dad used to tell
05:37stories of Johnny Unitas, number 19, standing out there at Moore Park, throwing different
05:42kids' passes, saying, here, hit me in this target.
05:45Hit me in this target.
05:46Sure enough, Johnny Unitas, one of the greatest passers, would hit them in the spot every time
05:50he threw the football.
05:52I'm so glad Danny Cannell didn't get a chance to disgrace 19.
05:59National Football League Championship on the line at Baltimore.
06:03That 58 game just put the NFL on a map, and that number 19 was the guy that made it
06:09happen.
06:09Vice President Nixon is among the jam-packed crowd with eyes on Johnny Unitas, the great
06:14fourth quarterback.
06:14That image of him in the 1958 championship game driving that team down the field, I mean,
06:20that's 19.
06:21Should be retired for one should ever wear that number again.
06:26That would be a great gesture by the National Football League.
06:29They would say Johnny Unitas' number, because of what he did for the growth of football, that
06:34number should be retired.
06:35Montana takes the snap.
06:36The number wasn't retired.
06:38If it had been, what would Joe Montana have worn for his two-season step with the Chiefs?
06:43It's a touchdown from Joe Montana.
06:46And if you were to retire it today, Unitas would have to share his claim to 19 with legendary
06:52receiver Lance Allworth.
06:53Like a 60s hot rod, number 19 roared down pro football's drag strips, blazing by the competition
07:01with the top down and the radio blaring.
07:04He was, and I think always will be, one of the most distive receivers.
07:08I mean, he was sort of swan before swan in terms of his ability to take the game and
07:14put it in the air.
07:23When I think of 19, I really do think of just two people.
07:26I think of Unitas.
07:27I will always be 19.
07:29But so will Allworth.
07:30Exceptional top two, but then there's not much after that.
07:33I mean, that's two great players.
07:34Name me another one.
07:35Keyshawn made a great grab!
07:37Keyshawn Johnson?
07:38Okay, name me another one.
07:40Like I said.
07:40Austin made the play!
07:42Miles Austin.
07:43Really?
07:44Like I said, name me another one.
07:45Take them all away, Bernie!
07:47Bernie Kosar.
07:47Like I said, name me another one.
07:49We're talking about elite players.
07:52Whenever you say 19, the first thing that's going to pop into your head is Bernie Kosar.
07:56It might be the most remembered number in Cleveland sports history.
08:00Seriously.
08:01Hey, what?
08:01I know talent when I see it.
08:03I haven't spent much time talking to you about it because I can't do anything to help
08:06you.
08:06You're going to do it yourself.
08:07I'm excited for you.
08:09Ernie, of course, you're our general manager.
08:11Started with the Baltimore Colts.
08:12And he said I reminded him of Johnny Unitas.
08:15But he picked number 19.
08:17I said, bro, let me make you throw one or two completions before you start throwing me
08:22in his category because I do not deserve to be compared to Johnny Unitas just yet.
08:26But you do deserve a spot in our category for you wore 19, the ninth greatest jersey number
08:33of all time.
08:35Here we go.
08:36We're bigging up one-time Pro Bowlers with losing records as a starter.
08:42I don't care.
08:43I don't care that Bernie Kosar made the AFC Championship game in a weak conference.
08:48He doesn't belong on any list.
08:57The number eight jersey number of all time in 85.
09:03Come on 85.
09:04Other than Chad Ochocinco, I'm trying to think of other great 85s.
09:09There are others, but let's start with the opposite.
09:13Did I just say Nick Bonaconte and Jack Youngblood and Max McGee?
09:19How you gonna deal with 85 this week?
09:21The outspoken Cincinnati Bengals receiver.
09:24Call me Oprah.
09:24What's weird in Cincinnati is, you know, before Chad, number 85 was Isaac Curtis.
09:31And he carried himself with a style and grace probably like no other player.
09:36When he scored a touchdown, it was a simple drop over the back with the football.
09:41On comes Chad Johnson and 85.
09:45Uh-oh!
09:46They're here for some material!
09:48But Chad Johnson no longer plays with the Bengals.
09:51Are you the real 85?
09:53I'm the real 85.
09:54Alright, baby, then show it!
09:55The man's number eight greatest jersey number legally changed his last name to his number.
10:02Ochocinco.
10:03That's never gonna be outdone.
10:04That's just plain weird.
10:05Now what happens when, you know, he gets traded and has to go someplace else where he's, you know,
10:09somebody's wearing 85, he's gotta wear 86.
10:1284.
10:15Ochocinco?
10:15I don't know what.
10:16Don't speak Spanish.
10:17Aquina!
10:18Ven aquí!
10:22He just talks too much.
10:24He blurts out things.
10:26I ain't wearing no underwear today.
10:27Sometimes we have to explain to him why this is not a good thing to do.
10:31I ain't gonna wear no underwear.
10:32But if we can catch it nipping in the bud, we're okay.
10:34He understands that.
10:35But he doesn't do it in a way negative to others generally.
10:38I mean, I know how you are!
10:39Yeah.
10:39But it's a talent.
10:41That's all I took it out.
10:42That's all I took it out.
10:42John Johnson, the Mr. Showman.
10:44Chad is a showboat, which is great though.
10:47John Johnson's a good guy.
10:48He hasn't burned any bridges.
10:49He's not a locker room cancer.
10:52Nobody ever had a bad thing to say about him behind the scenes.
10:56That's why he's still in the media right now.
10:58No, I mean, I think it's funny.
11:00I think it brings entertainment to the NFL.
11:03And Mark Duper should know.
11:05After all, as an outspoken wearer of 85, he has a lot more in common with Chad Ochocinco
11:11than a jersey number.
11:13Now with the Chad Ochocinco stuff, Duper did this 20 years ago.
11:17He changed his name legally to Super Duper, which is way cooler than Ochocinco.
11:23I had a friend of mine that he said, you know what, Duper?
11:26He said, you should change your middle name to Super because they call you Super Duper.
11:30And I said, that's a great idea.
11:31And my mother gave me the go ahead.
11:33In a couple of days, I was super.
11:35Caught for a touchdown.
11:37Holy Toledo, what a grab.
11:38The single bar and double bar face mask is where it's at.
11:41You know, he played in the 80s.
11:43They had a better face mask.
11:45But Duper was like, nah, I'm cool.
11:47I'm going to look like a punter.
11:48I want the punter.
11:49Reggie Robey, can I get your helmet?
11:51That was so cool.
11:52When I first came into the league, they issued me the number of 85 and I took it upon it
11:57to make the number good.
11:58I kind of like got very fond of that number because it's like an identity.
12:02When you say Mark Duper down here, they say number 85, the guy that used to wear 85.
12:11But what about the other 85s?
12:13Max McGee, the unlikeliest star of the afternoon.
12:17How about the hero of Super Bowl I, Max McGee?
12:21Of course, any 85 list has to include Jack Ungla, as well as his fellow Canton resident,
12:27Nick Bonaccati.
12:28You don't often see middle linebackers wearing number 85.
12:31And Bonaccati was this squatty little fire plug of a guy in the middle of the no-name defense
12:37on that perfect Dolphin team that was always around the football.
12:41And he just looked funny at number 85.
12:43Laugh it up, but number 85 lands at number 8 on our countdown.
12:48The NFL's unsung heroes reside on the line.
12:51The number 7 jersey number of all time, 7.
12:57I like number 7 being at number.
13:00Elway, Roethlisberger, Burt Jones, Mike Vick, Bob Waterfield, who else?
13:08Yeah, there's a certain unity to that.
13:10You gotta say, huh, this is pretty good.
13:12Like number 7, you know what that is?
13:147 on! 7 on!
13:16Hey, let's get 7 here.
13:177 is a number of excitement.
13:19It's a number of, it's a lucky number, isn't it?
13:21Touchdown, San Diego!
13:22How lucky was that?
13:247 is also, you know, a heavenly number.
13:27Gee, I wonder how many guys really, really want to have lucky number 7.
13:30Can I get 7, please?
13:33Someone somewhere decided number 7's a lucky number.
13:37Rather be lucky than good.
13:38I don't know how lucky it can be.
13:40I mean, look at the quarterbacks who've lost Super Bowls wearing the number 7.
13:44Intercepted!
13:44Jack Spraylock!
13:46Joe Theismann lost a Super Bowl.
13:47Ron Jaworski, John Elway lost 3.
13:50Boomer Esiason, he was wearing number 7.
13:52It looks bad, man.
13:53You know, you look at number 7 before John Elway's Super Bowl victory.
13:57Let's go, we got a chance for a big one.
13:59Not good.
14:01Elway can run!
14:02Touchdown!
14:02And John Elway won that first Super Bowl.
14:05Yeah!
14:06Then another Super Bowl.
14:07The MVP of Super Bowl 33 is John Elway.
14:11He's the guy who seemed to take that number to another level.
14:15Well, that's good to say.
14:17Only Elway can pull that off.
14:21And we're 1-6 before Elway won that bowl.
14:254-1 since leading up to this coming out.
14:30But we have to applaud the guys wearing number 7 for starting that many Super Bowls.
14:35It's hard to get there.
14:42Number 7 comes from Bing.
14:44An unlucky number.
14:45Dang it!
14:46There's something magical.
14:48And then, of course, Ben Robson's brother.
14:50Way to go, Ben!
14:51Pushes it way over the edge.
14:53Ben throws it back corner of the end zone.
14:55Santonio with a touchdown!
14:57I don't know how he did it!
14:58It seems like Big Ben, in terms of a number 7, he's hit.
15:02Ben Robson's brother, the youngest quarterback ever to win a Super Bowl championship.
15:06He's got two Super Bowl championships.
15:08Ben Robson's brother has turned that into this century's great number for quarterbacks.
15:15This collection of 7's all have one thing in common.
15:19Oh, what a play!
15:21Unbelievable!
15:227 is a good number for quarterbacks who move.
15:25Whoa!
15:26I don't know if there's ever been many number 7's that you watched that couldn't move around
15:30pretty good.
15:32Jaworski.
15:34We appreciate to know that number 7's a real mobile quarterback.
15:38Touchdown!
15:39You've got Flutie, you've got Elway, you've got Esiason, and Theismann.
15:43He was the best on the run.
15:44Michael Vick, the ultimate hybrid football player.
15:48Lightning in the bottle, that's what he is!
15:50He's somebody who just did things in that number 7 jersey that nobody else has ever done.
15:55Michael Vick, the first quarterback in NFL history, to rush for a thousand yards in the season.
16:00They say it's lucky number 7.
16:02Maybe number 7, there's a little something to it.
16:06There's been some great number 7's.
16:08You look at it through the years, that number seems to stick out.
16:12Where are you, baby? Number 7!
16:14They're just a lot of great players.
16:15It belongs on the list.
16:17Number 7.
16:18That's good.
16:187 is 7.
16:20The number 6 jersey number of all time.
16:2320.
16:25Number 20 is Detroit.
16:28I don't think there's another franchise in sports, in any sport, that has had a number like the number 20
16:33for the Detroit Lions.
16:34Also, Ed Reed, Mal Renfro, and Brian Dawkins.
16:39Larry to the 5, Barry in!
16:40Lem Barney, Billy Simms, and Barry Sanders all wearing number 20 for the Detroit Lions.
16:46That's pretty cool.
16:49I remember Lem Barney defensive back.
16:52And Barney scored on the list.
16:54I just like the name, Lem.
16:57Lem Barney.
16:58Detroit's original number 20, Lem Barney, flashed his Hall of Fame form from day one.
17:03The season wasn't even 10 minutes old, when number 20, rookie Lem Barney, shot the partisan Packer backers with a
17:1124-yard interception.
17:12He was a game-changing player.
17:15Yeah, the other team may have had the ball, but in Lem's mind, he wasn't on defense.
17:19Lem Barney scabbered 45 yards into the end zone.
17:23Here was a defensive player, compiled almost 4,000 yards.
17:29That's a pretty funny idea, defense.
17:34In 1980, the Lions introduced their next number 20.
17:38They awarded that number to Billy Simms, who won the Heisman Trophy at Oklahoma.
17:42When he went to L.A. to open up his rookie year, he just literally exploded.
17:50Simms attacked the mighty Ram defense with the force of a rhino and the grace of a cheetah.
17:56Time and again, he found running room, creating daylight out of tangled jerseys.
18:02He really elevated our team to a legitimate contender in one game.
18:07Simms was a pro bowler three of his first four seasons.
18:11A touchdown!
18:13But a knee injury cut short his career.
18:15He's gonna stay down for a while, Frank.
18:18Billy Simms, unfortunately, had a very short career, but God, was he good.
18:25I was actually present the first time Barry Sanders played in the pros.
18:32I remember standing across the field going, why is he wearing Billy Simms' number?
18:36And I thought, what nerve does that kid have?
18:39It was basically Coach Fonts' idea.
18:41When I got there, Coach Fonts said, why don't we give him Billy's number?
18:4621 at Oklahoma State.
18:48Barry Sanders will wear a new number in Detroit.
18:52One with very special meaning to Lions fans.
18:56Billy Simms played at University of Oklahoma, and there's no bigger University of Oklahoma fan to this day than my
19:02dad.
19:02And so, I was very familiar with Billy Simms, and I think I was able to do Billy proud.
19:09Billy Simms hold up Barry Sanders' hand.
19:12It might be very fortunate for the Lions, no disrespect to Simms, but had he not gotten injured, they maybe
19:25don't get Barry Sanders.
19:27Because that was only five years later.
19:31Yeah!
19:32Just because he's Barry Sanders, 20 should be in the top five uniform numbers of all time.
19:36Sanders!
19:38Ah!
19:39Number 20 is an amazing legacy from Lem Barney to Billy Simms, but it wasn't retired until after Sanders.
19:48If you're the Detroit Lions, I don't think you should be retiring anything but the entire franchise.
19:53You want to retire the one number that you put it on, guys, and it works?
19:57That's smart.
19:58I think what happened in Detroit is a good time.
20:00Retire anything.
20:01You get three iconic players who wear the same number, that's awesome.
20:05The number five jersey number of all time.
20:0921.
20:10I think it's a shame that number 21 is not at least number two on the list.
20:19You're talking about some of the great, memorable players, and 21 is unique enough that includes multiple positions.
20:2621 is definitely a speed number.
20:28And whether the speed is a running back.
20:31Tomlinson left side with a burst!
20:33Or a wide receiver.
20:35Or a defensive back.
20:37Passes picked by Deion!
20:39A return man.
20:40Touchdown Brown!
20:42Unbelievable!
20:43It's won by players who make the game exciting, yeah.
20:49The discussion for our number five jersey starts with a certain sensational star.
20:55Neon Deion.
20:57Sanders dancing for a long, long touchdown.
21:01Deion Sanders branded the number 21.
21:04Y'all let's get sick with it, huh?
21:06Let's get sick with it!
21:07And then you hear everybody coming up.
21:09All the young guys.
21:10Well, I gotta be 21.
21:11I gotta be prime.
21:12There was something about Deion Sanders at 21.
21:15Man!
21:16Man, what an athlete!
21:17You saw the 21 is like, this is gonna be good for us.
21:21My God!
21:22Deion Sanders is gonna score!
21:23He took that number and he made it.
21:26The thing where people want to aspire to be.
21:28A generation earlier, it was another 21 who proved speed kills.
21:34Cliff could run, boy.
21:35I mean, he could just blow the doors off everybody.
21:38Branch committed Highway Rodley without a gun!
21:41Love Cliff Branch.
21:42Number 21.
21:44The speed.
21:45The hands.
21:45Deion.
21:46Cliff Branch.
21:47Eric Metcalf.
21:48Gotta be fast.
21:49Gotta be fast.
21:50Any time Eric Metcalf touched the football, you always thought he was gonna score a touchdown.
21:54He killed the lightning fire at Metcalf.
21:57Both Metcalf father and son were 21.
22:00Have you ever seen a man cut that quickly?
22:02Metcalf is gone for a touchdown!
22:08Beyond speed, number 21 boasts versatility.
22:12From receivers and returners to some of the league's finest backs.
22:16When I think of number 21, L.T.
22:19Touchdown!
22:20LaDainian Thomas.
22:21He's different!
22:23He's free!
22:24First Ballot Hall of Famer.
22:25I mean, he changed the fortunes of the San Diego Chargers.
22:29Into the X Zone!
22:30San Diego got the lead!
22:32Incredible!
22:33Tiki Barber in New York.
22:35Touchdown!
22:36Iowa James Brown.
22:38All players.
22:39All those guys.
22:42He had a great 21s.
22:43But, I kinda like 21 on a quarterback.
22:46John Hadel, who was the last quarterback.
22:50He was a halfback in college and he had a halfbacks number.
22:53He just felt that it served him well in college and he was sort of married to it.
22:58John Hadel strikes again.
23:00I like it when it's a little unusual and that's why the Hadel tickles me.
23:0721 to me, you can almost numerically see it as a fast number because the 2 is sort of like
23:12a runner in his crouch.
23:14Like a Usain Bolt.
23:15And then the 1 is the runner at full sprint.
23:17So it's like a 2-1.
23:19I think number 21 is a vastly underrated number.
23:24And, you know, should be much higher.
23:27The number 4 jersey number of all time.
23:3134.
23:32Uh huh.
23:3334 seems like confidence.
23:35Well, thank you.
23:36I give my best to Nancy.
23:38It is accomplished.
23:39Will anybody catch it?
23:41Holy Toledo!
23:43It's proven itself.
23:45At the 10!
23:45At the 5!
23:46Touchdown!
23:48Those traits superbly symbolize our number 4 jersey number.
23:52It's the ultimate number for the big bad running back.
23:56You think of guys who are tough and who have power.
23:58They might have speed too, like Perry had speed.
24:00On this play, Joe Perry became the first man in pro history to gain over a thousand yards for two
24:06successive seasons.
24:07But you think of guys who are really gonna beat you to death.
24:12You think of Campbell a lot.
24:14That was a hard guy to tackle.
24:1634 was Earl Kemp running over opposing defensive players.
24:22Like they were not even there.
24:24His career wasn't as long as some other backs.
24:27But to me, he is the ultimate number 34.
24:29I think the one I remember most, most of all, was a Monday night game where they were playing the
24:34Miami Dolphins.
24:35Pitchback goes to Earl Campbell.
24:36And at the end of a night where Earl must have carried the ball 40 times.
24:40They pitched the ball to Earl.
24:41He goes around the right end and outruns everybody.
24:45At the 30!
24:47At the 20!
24:48At the 10!
24:48The sight of this 240-pound guy outrun the entire defense was awe-inspiring.
24:58Yup!
25:0034 is a special number for Campbell.
25:03Some even think it was the measurement in inches around each of his thighs.
25:07Ricky Williams of the University of Chicago.
25:10But the Tyler Rose isn't the only Texas-sized back to wear 34.
25:15Mike Ditka trades basically his entire draft for Ricky Williams, then lets him wear number 34 as a rookie.
25:21Williams with running room to the left.
25:22Hurdle's a tackler!
25:24I've changed my whole idea about Ricky Williams.
25:26Ricky should go down as one of the best running backs the NFL's ever had.
25:30Hey, Rick. I looked up to you when I was in high school, man.
25:33Keep it up!
25:33That's the reason why I wear 34, baby.
25:38Also, Bo Jackson was 34.
25:43Boy, what an athlete.
25:45Oh, man.
25:46I never understood why Bo Jackson didn't wear 34 with the Kansas City Royals.
25:50And he's a superstar of football and baseball.
25:52And he's wearing 34 in both of them.
25:54He owns that number.
25:56In fact, you don't even say 34 anymore.
25:58You go 31, 32, 33, Bo Jackson 35, 36, because he would have been larger than life.
26:04Running back from Auburn, Bo Jackson.
26:06It's hard to say with Bo, because, you know, he didn't really get a chance to play long enough.
26:10Extremely fast, extremely powerful.
26:13It's such a shame we got him.
26:14We kind of have a snapshot, but we never got to see the whole album, which is too bad.
26:19Because he could have been one of the all-time all-timers, I think.
26:23But who are we kidding?
26:25Sure, there's Thurman Thomas, Herschel Walker, and Kevin Mack.
26:28We're getting a little distorted right now, but we're going to be fine.
26:31But how do we list the greatest 34s of all time without including the sweetest 34 of all time?
26:4234 is iconic, but it's iconic because of Walter Payton.
26:46If they retire Jackie Robinson's 42 across the league in Major League Baseball, retire Payton's 34.
26:52Quick pitch to Walter, looking for the record, cuts back.
26:55He's got it!
26:56Walter Payton becomes the National Football League all-time leading rusher.
27:01I mean, he was the gold standard.
27:03When you think about, you know, the scissor kick and the innovations that he made.
27:07I see Walter Payton jackknifing over a pile into the end zone, landing on his head and getting up and
27:13handing the ball to the official.
27:14That's Walter Payton.
27:1534 is Payton's and nobody else's.
27:19Apologies to the great Earl Campbell.
27:2234 sweetnesses.
27:23End of discussion.
27:24I think you guys kind of blew it with 88.
27:27Touchdown Pittsburgh!
27:28That's the classic receiver number.
27:3088's gotta be on the list.
27:31Lynn Swan, Michael Irvin, Andrew Pearson.
27:3488 was close, but didn't make our top 10.
27:38I'm an 88 guy.
27:40Wideouts who wore 81 or even 82 didn't make our cut.
27:44By our votes, the ultimate wide receiver number comes in at number three.
27:50The number three jersey number of all time.
27:5380.
27:54Touchdown!
27:55It's hard to get much better than 80.
27:57That's not bad for an old guy.
27:58I like 80 where it is.
28:00I got bling bling all over my body.
28:0280 feels very...
28:04I don't know about my hands.
28:05...strong.
28:06It was huge, but they played cover more.
28:07And I feel like 80 is trustworthy.
28:10If trust is in fact the measuring stick, then 180 in particular stands above the rest.
28:17It's going to work now.
28:17Have some fun!
28:18If a ball was thrown his way, trust me, he was going to catch it.
28:22There's only one number 80 in my mind, and that's the greatest receiver of all time.
28:26Jerry Rice.
28:27Jerry.
28:27Jerry Rice.
28:30He is referred to in San Francisco frequently only by number.
28:34On our radio show, frequently referred to Rice just as 80.
28:38There's only one guy in the field that's going to make that catch.
28:41And that's 80 right there.
28:42Like you remember when 80 won that game at the end of regulation at Giants Stadium?
28:45He'll go!
28:46How does he get so open?
28:48Remember when 80 had the record-breaking catch on Monday Night Football against the Raiders?
28:52He's done it!
28:53The touchdown score of the century.
28:55To me, that draws me to the numbers.
28:58Did somebody make it cool?
29:00Not fashionable.
29:02Not important.
29:03When you put the number on, were you cool?
29:06Jerry Rice made 80 cool.
29:08He must be the greatest receiver!
29:10He's a bad man!
29:15Anybody wants to argue 80?
29:18From 98 to 03, the top three receivers and receiving touchdowns all time were Rice, Carter,
29:28Largent.
29:30All number 80.
29:32There's just no argument.
29:3680 needs to have two categories.
29:3980, Jerry Rice, his own, 80, everybody else.
29:42Because anyone who wears 80 is a pass catcher, and it's almost not fair to make them live up to
29:47Jerry Rice's high bar standards.
29:48There's a big player running it all the way!
29:50There were a lot of great players before Jerry Rice who wore 80.
29:54You remember them and they were awesome.
29:56But to me, Jerry Rice just ruined 80 for them and everybody after.
30:00It's all his.
30:01There's a lot of good number 80s.
30:02Isaac Bruce, Steve Largent were number 80.
30:06In fact, Largent's number 80 was retired by the Seahawks only to be un-retired in 2004 when Seattle traded
30:13for, you got it, Jerry Rice.
30:15Un-retiring a jersey to put Jerry in it.
30:18I guess if there's one guy that's worthy of it, there's one guy that's going to be Jerry Rice.
30:23Rice and Largent are two of the six Hall of Famers who have worn our number three greatest jersey.
30:28Rounding out the list are Kellen Winslow, Tom Fears, Glenn Ford, and James Lofton.
30:35Touchdown!
30:36James Lofton!
30:36James Lofton!
30:38James Lofton!
30:41My former teammate, Chris Collinsworth, is definitely the guy that comes to mind with
30:45with number 80.
30:46But for others, what comes to mind is the other Chris, Chris Carter.
30:51Great, great player.
30:52And overcame an awful lot in his career.
30:55Every good man I know has been through something.
30:57He had the problem in Philadelphia.
30:59He was cut loose by Buddy Ryan.
31:01It just doesn't make your spiritual muscles stronger.
31:03And really rededicated himself and had a Hall of Fame career in my humble opinion.
31:09Yeah.
31:12From the once trouble to the once in a life.
31:15Not an opinion.
31:16He's in there and he should have been in there way earlier.
31:20Time.
31:21Rice is there!
31:22And he's into the end zone!
31:23The number 80 has it all.
31:25These hands call 120.
31:27He passed.
31:28And that's why it has a place at number three on our countdown.
31:31Memorable place.
31:34The number two jersey number of all time.
31:3732.
31:3732.
31:3932.
31:40Jim Brown.
31:41Jim Brown.
31:42Jim Brown.
31:42Jim Brown.
31:45Best player ever.
31:47Period.
31:48Faster than a speeding bull.
31:50More powerful than a locomotive.
31:54Able to leap tall buildings in a single bound.
31:58The pro game in the pop age had a number of superstars.
32:01But only one Superman.
32:03And he was Jim Brown.
32:10When you think of 32 in sports, to me, you think of 32, you think of Jim Brown.
32:16He came so early, so he sets the standard from the beginning.
32:19No running back ever dominated the game like Jim Brown did in the 1960s.
32:25He was that great that he made two numbers his own.
32:29In Syracuse, Jim Brown wore 44.
32:33Jimmy Brown breaks loose for a spectacular game.
32:35And started a whole line of great running backs in Syracuse wearing 44.
32:40There's Ernie Davis.
32:41Two Davis.
32:42Floyd Little.
32:43But when he went to the pros, he switched to 32.
32:46And he made that number his own.
32:5032's got to be the big man on campus.
32:52O.J. Simpson runs for 2,000 yards in one season.
32:58Got to have some size and some speed.
33:02And some skills.
33:03And the ladies have to like you.
33:05Chicks dug Marcus Allen.
33:07Dudes dug Marcus Allen.
33:09Tall, striking, handsome, brilliant runner.
33:12Marcus Allen.
33:13Everybody knows.
33:15Tykes off.
33:16Setting a wide left.
33:17He has to reverse his field.
33:18And he gets away for a moment.
33:20Comes back up the middle of 30.
33:21And goes 82 yards for the touchdown.
33:24A leader.
33:25See what you want about this guy's post-football career,
33:28but one of the great 32's of all time was Oriental James Simpson.
33:31At 6'1", 215 pounds, O.J. Simpson embodied the beauty of pro football.
33:38And also, the beast.
33:40I mean, style, slash, class.
33:43Whatever people think about O.J. now, just look at the film.
33:48Unbelievable!
33:49He was just an incredible running back.
33:51Oh!
33:52He is ridiculous!
33:59Number 32 was worn by six of the top 20 rushers of all time.
34:04Franco was a glider.
34:06And a big man that really didn't play like a big man.
34:10Envision the power of a big back.
34:12Blended with the open field agility of a smaller man.
34:16He had that, you know, full speed of two steps.
34:19For a 230-pound man, that was incredible.
34:23When you look at Ricky Waters' numbers, you say he's a Hall of Famer.
34:26Ricky Waters passes the 10,000-yard milestone.
34:30Any guy that scores five touchdowns in a playoff game...
34:35Touchdown! Touchdown! Touchdown, Ricky!
34:37Playoff record!
34:39...is worthy of wearing 32.
34:42Size, stature, strength, speed.
34:4632, you gotta be a 32.
34:47But it's number two ranking is really a one-man show.
34:52Jim Brown's that one guy. There's no debate.
34:54Jim, were you the greatest?
34:56Taking everything into consideration, I have to be number one.
35:00The greatest running back of all time.
35:03There was nobody greater than Jim Brown.
35:05If he played today at 73, he'd still gain 1,000 yards.
35:10Number 32.
35:11It should be retired from every NFL team.
35:15Jim Brown.
35:17And the number one jersey number of all time.
35:23Well...
35:23Number 12 is number one.
35:26Yeah, that makes sense.
35:27I can't imagine any other number being number one.
35:30Man, there's some greats that wore that number.
35:32It almost fit perfectly on the back of the great quarterbacks.
35:3512, you obviously think Tom Brady, Terry Bradshaw, and, well, somebody else.
35:41Time out John Brody, Jonah Amitt, Rob Carisi, Ken Stabler, Roger Staubach, and Jim Kelly, to name a few.
35:48Super Bowl champion! Oh, baby!
35:50Pulled them all together, and 12 has seven Hall of Famers, 18 All-Pro seasons, and a stunning 22 Super
35:59Bowl starts.
36:00Are you kidding?
36:01It seemed like for a while, every Super Bowl quarterback was one of the number 12.
36:05You had Greasy, and then you had Staubach, and then you had Bradshaw four times, and you had Stabler, Namath.
36:12Add to that Brady's three triumphs, and number 12 has won 13 World Championships.
36:19A quarterback wearing the number 12 won every Super Bowl from 71 to 79.
36:29You know that's ridiculous, right?
36:31You know it's absolutely insane.
36:33You gotta stop.
36:35That's insane.
36:40Of all the players that wore our number one jersey, maybe it was Joe Willie who first made it popular.
36:47Says the Jets are going to win.
36:48In fact, he doesn't even predict it.
36:51He says, I guarantee.
36:52With number 12, I see a quarterback who's a leader, a winner.
36:57It's somebody who has the devotion and confidence of his teammates.
37:02Actually, you know what you need for this?
37:04You need Namath to win the number one.
37:06Number 12 on his back, number one in his finger.
37:09The New York Jets are the world champions in a stunning upset.
37:13I've had one sports idol in my whole career.
37:16I was number 12 because of Joe Namath.
37:18Joe Namath belongs in the Hall of Fame if for no other reason than star appeal.
37:23New York Jets under the command of Lord Fu Manchu Joe Namath were in the Oakland Coliseum.
37:28Can you imagine how many kids would be walking around with Namath jerseys if Joe Namath played now?
37:34There's never been a guy with that sex appeal, that star power, that X factor like Joe Namath had in
37:41the 1960s.
37:42It seems almost un-American to me for a bachelor not to, you know, go around having a drink with
37:48a lady now, man.
37:49Look at the love lives of some of the great number 12 quarterbacks of all time.
37:53All right, these are true playboys.
37:55You have Joe Namath, playboy of New York at the time.
37:58You have Roger Staubach at that same time, who's known as the ultimate one man.
38:03You know, I enjoy sex as much as Joe Namath.
38:06Only I do it with one girl, you know?
38:08Then you have Terry Bradshaw wearing number 12.
38:11When I was going through my second divorce.
38:15That's about how many divorces he's had.
38:17And then the most recent era, Tom Brady at number 12 with Bridget Moynihan, Giselle.
38:23I mean, Tom Brady is the biggest tabloid superstar the NFL has.
38:26Something about being a quarterback and being number 12.
38:32It starts in high school.
38:34When the guys wear their jerseys on Friday, the coolest guy in the school is wearing number 12.
38:38He's the quarterback.
38:39He's tall.
38:40He's got a strong arm.
38:42He's dating the head cheerleader.
38:43He drives the cool car.
38:45He's the quarterback.
38:46And he's not wearing 11, and he's not wearing 13.
38:48He's wearing 12.
38:49Hey, where's Marcus Colston, hmm?
38:51Easy touchdown pass, Colston.
38:53And how about Joe Ferguson, Bill's quarterback?
38:55Can we get some of that up there for the number 12, huh?
38:58He wasn't, he wasn't really that good.
39:02Ferguson wasn't that good.
39:04If they wore 12, they're on our list.
39:07No!
39:09Even if a spot isn't deserved.
39:10But rules are rules, and votes are votes, and the number 12 lives on as the greatest jersey of all
39:17time.
39:21NFL jersey numbers have ranged from double zero to 99.
39:25But we could only pick the top 10, and it was clear, not everyone agreed with our list.
39:31Is 88 on there at all?
39:32If 88's not on the list, that's a stupid list anyway.
39:35What about 44?
39:36Half of 88, but twice the fun.
39:40My favorite number is pi.
39:41I wish there was a quarterback with the number pi.
39:44It'd be a kicker.
39:45What happened to Tony Dorsett?
39:4733.
39:47What?
39:48The hamburger?
39:49Come on, 13 has to be on there.
39:51That's the best uniform number ever.
39:53I hate to tell you that you're right.
39:55Because I always want to be right.
39:57My wife tells me.
39:59How come you always want to be right when I want to be right?
40:01But it seems to me that you've got it 100% in the numbers.
40:0812, 32, 80.
40:10Hi.