Green Bay Packers rookie receiver Matthew Golden said his desire to wear a single-digit number and the chance to be the first player in franchise history to wear No. 0 all contributed to his decision to switch from No. 22 to No. 0 before the start of the regular season.
“I always wanted a single digit,” Golden said Wednesday. “They said 0 has never been worn here, so obviously it’s going to be the first time in franchise history. For me, I just want to make a name for myself in that number.”
Golden, who wore No. 2 in high school and at Houston and Texas, was originally given No. 81 after becoming a first-round pick but later switched to No. 22. No. 2 is currently worn by quarterback Malik Willis in Green Bay.
After Micah Parsons took No. 1, becoming the first player to wear the number since Curly Lambeau, Golden said he was presented with the opportunity to become No. 0 — and he took it.
The NFL made the No. 0 available to players in 2023. The team’s first first-round pick at wide receiver since 2002, Golden is about to become the first player in the franchise’s long history to wear No. 0 in a regular season game.
Regardless of his number, Golden is excited for his NFL regular season debut at Lambeau Field on Sunday.
“A dream come true,” Golden said. “Just a kid, fell in love with football around 8. Put in so much work every day for this moment now. For me, the hard work paid off. Now I get to go out there and have fun.”
Hear more from Golden below:
Golden is hardly the first rookie to switch numbers before a season. In 1998, Hall of Fame receiver Randy Moss wore No. 18 during training camp before switching to No. 84 before the regular season.
This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Packers rookie Matthew Golden explains number change to 0
Reporting by Zach Kruse, Packers Wire / Packers Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
