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FOXBOROUGH — A.J. Brown wanted to wear No. 1 when he got to the NFL. That was his number at Ole Miss and in high school.
But he was drafted by the Tennessee Titans, who used to be the Oilers. Houston had retired that number for Hall of Famer Warren Moon.
The Pro Bowl receiver would have gone back to 1 when he got traded to the Eagles in 2022, but Jalen Hurts had switched from 2 to 1 when the punter Cameron Johnston left the organization.
So like Ray Bourque switching to 77 — two No. 7s — when Phil Esposito’s No. 7 was retired — Brown took two 1s and built a legacy in 11.
When Brown was traded from the Eagles to the Patriots on Monday, former Patriot Julian Edelman, who thrived in an 11 uniform in Foxborough, reached out to Brown. He gave Brown his blessing to stick with 11, even though Tyquan Thornton and Josh Dobbs have both worn it since and New England is unlikely to retire it.
Brown appreciated the gesture.
“He gave me his grace to wear 11, but I have so much respect and so much love for him,” Brown said. “I’m going to let that be and create my own legacy here.”
So Brown will step into New England’s No. 1 jersey and presumably the No. 1 receiver role, which were both readily available.
“It’s a match made in heaven going back to my roots,” he said. “It feels good.”
He pulled on his new practice jersey with his old number on Tuesday at the team’s OTA practice.
No. 1 has been rarely used by the Patriots and even more rarely succeeded in. N’Keal Harry and Ja’Lynn Polk both underachieved in the dubious digit, while Cam Newton struggled in the final season of his career.
Going further back, there have been two Pro Bowlers to wear No. 1. kickers Tony Franklin and John Smith.
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