Maybe Minkah Fitzpatrick can change his number to 17.
That's the number of defensive snaps he played in the Steelers' 24-20 loss to the 49ers before forcing his second turnover of the game.
He can't, of course, go with 12, the number of snaps he played before his first turnover. That number, while not officially retired, hasn't been used by the team since Terry Bradshaw's retirement.
But 17, that could work, though NFL rules prohibit defensive backs from wearing numbers in the teens.
So for now, Fitzpatrick will have to stick with the No. 39 he was given last week when he was acquired by the Steelers from the Dolphins for three draft picks, including their first-round selection in 2020.
It's not the 29 he wore at both Alabama and the Dolphins, but he's OK with that, as well. That wasn't his first number of choice, either.
He wanted the No 21 he had worn in honor of his father, who wore that number when he played. It was his number growing up in New Jersey and he wore it from the time he started playing all the way through high school.
"They gave me 29 when I got to Alabama," Fitzpatrick told me Thursday. "My number had been 21 in high school. I wanted that number, but somebody else had it. I wanted that number, but I figured if I played well, I might as well just keep it."
Steelers fans holding off on purchasing that No. 39 Fitzpatrick jersey might be OK with doing so now. He won't be switching to 29 with the Steelers anytime soon.
To continue reading, log into your account:
