As it turns out, Micah Parsons isn’t the only new Green Bay Packers player getting a historic jersey number change.
Matthew Golden has one, too.
Just days ahead of the 2025 NFL season, the Packers’ prized rookie wide receiver switched jersey numbers from No. 22 to No. 0, becoming the first player in franchise history to wear that number.
Golden was one of three players on the offensive side to change numbers, the Packers announced Aug. 30. Running backs Emanuel Wilson (No. 31 to No. 23) and Israel Abanikanda (No. 23 to No. 28) were the others. Abanikanda is on the practice squad.
“I always wanted a single digit,” Golden said. “I talked to my family. They (the Packers) told me the options that I had, I talked to them about the numbers and they said zero never been worn here. So, obviously, it’s gonna be first time in franchise history. For me, just make a name for myself and that number, so I feel like it’d be good.”
When asked if he tried to get a single-digit number after the draft, Golden said: “The number (22) was presented to me and I took it.”
Matthew Golden jersey number 0
Matthew Golden sported his new number when he and his teammates walked out to Lambeau Field for team picture day Sept. 1.
He shared an image of the moment on his X account:
Golden and Parsons sat next to each other for the team photo.
Matthew Golden jersey number
Matthew Golden jerseys are likely to be a hot item.
The official adult Nike jerseys on the Packers’ Pro Shop are going for $129.99 in the home, away and classic blue and dark gold that the team will wear once this season to pay homage to the 1923 squad.
Sizes begin in infants ($49.99), toddler ($59.99) and preschool ($64.99). Youth classic and home jerseys cost $99.99 and youth white away jerseys are $129.99.
Matthew Golden jersey change
Even before his change, Golden had a pretty rare jersey number. No. 22 had only been worn by 34 other players and Golden was just one of a few wide receivers/ends in franchise history.
There was thought behind him choosing that number.
“My grandma, her favorite number was 2 growing up,” Golden said this spring. “She told me she wanted me to represent that number. I knew the last receiver drafted (by the Packers in the first round) was 2002 so I feel like it kind of made sense.”
And he was told by the Packers after the draft that No. 22 “was up for grabs.”
Micah Parsons jersey number
Parsons, acquired by the Packers in a monumental trade with the Dallas Cowboys on Aug. 28, switched from No. 11 to No. 1, becoming the first player in 99 years to have that number.
The last player to wear No. 1 was Curly Lambeau, the team founder and whom the Packers’ stadium is named after. By the time his career is over, Parsons hopes to have his name on the Lambeau Field façade.
“I saw all those legends, and I was like, ‘I’ve got to be there,'” Parsons said during his introductory press conference on Aug. 29.
Packers schedule 2025
Packers fans will get to see Golden and Parsons in their new jersey numbers when the team kicks off its season on Sunday, Sept. 7, against the Detroit Lions at Lambeau Field.
It’s the first time since the 2018 season and the first time in the Matt LaFleur era that the Packers will open the season at home.
Here’s the team’s full 2025 schedule:
Tom Silverstein contributed to this report.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Green Bay Packers rookie wide receiver Matthew Golden will be first player in team history to wear this number
Reporting by Christopher Kuhagen, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
