NEWSLETTER
A bunch of notable Chicago Bears starters and key contributors will have new numbers in 2024.
Let’s run it down.
No. 1 Jaylon Johnson — Justin Fields’ number didn’t stay out of circulation for long. Because about a month after Fields’ trade to the Pittsburgh Steelers, Jaylon Johnson left the No. 33 to take on his old college number. So, yes, this means CB1 will wear No. 1 for the foreseeable future. And while that is cool, I was digging No. 33 being associated with a lockdown cornerback.
No. 4 D’Andre Swift — Swift wore No. 0 in Philly last year, and I was hoping the Bears would be cool enough to issue that number to him this year. But I guess they aren’t. Should the Swifties among the Bears fans get a No. 4 Swift jersey? Or wait it out? I’m asking for myself a friend.
No. 10 Tyler Scott — He gave up No. 13 to the next guy on the list.
No. 13 Keenan Allen — I don’t have too many fond memories of Bears players wearing No. 13. Byron Pringle wore it in 2022 and was a disappointment. Kevin White was assigned the number in 2016, but played just four games. Rick Mirer wore it in 1997 and it still gives me the heebie-jeebies thinking about it. Do you remember the Kendall Wright era? Bless your heart if you do.
Johnny Knox wore the number well from 2009-11. But that gruesome career-ending injury comes to mind when I think of him. Hopefully, Keenan Allen can bring some good vibes to the number while in Chicago.
No. 14 Gerald Everett — Did you know Santonio Holmes wore No. 14 for the Bears in 2014? Do you even remember Santonio Holmes playing for the Bears? If you do, then you’re my kind of Bears fan.
No. 15 Rome Odunze — The No. 9 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft wore No. 1 at Washington. I thought it would’ve been cool to see him wear No. 4 as a nod to Devin Hester, his favorite player growing up who happened to wear No. 4 in college at Miami. But No. 15 looks cool on receivers. Hopefully, the numbers look more like Brandon Marshall (2012-14) and less like Josh Bellamy (2017-18).
No. 18 Caleb Williams — The last notable quarterback to wear this number for the Bears was Kyle Orton (2005-08). Here’s hoping Caleb blows past Orton’s production and popularity.
No. 19 Tory Taylor — In an alternate universe, I’m sure bean-counters in the Bears’ business office would like to have seen Taylor wear No. 13. Just think of all the Swifties buying up “Taylor 13” jerseys. The Bears could’ve paid for their new stadium based on jersey sales alone. Ah, well, nevertheless. Even though No. 19 was last worn by Equanimeous St. Brown in 2022 and 2023, I can’t help but think about The Devin Aromashodu Game when I see this number.
No. 31 Kevin Byard — Running back Rashaan Salaam (1995-97) and cornerback Nathan Vasher (2004-09) pop up in my memories when I see the No. 31. Byard has had a solid career (two Pro Bowls, two All-Pro nods) to this point, but does he have something as cool as this on his résumé?
No. 36 Jonathan Owens — Simone Biles’ husband will wear a number that wasn’t in circulation in 2023. The last Bears player to wear it was DeAndre Houston-Carson, a jack-of-many-trades in Chicago’s secondary and special teams units from 2016-2022.
No. 37 Corliss Waitman — A punter wearing a number in the 30s is weird and fun. I’m here for it. When I think of No. 37, I tend to think of hard-hitting safety Tony Parrish (1998-2001), stud slot corner Bryce Callahan (2015-18), and fullback Jason McKee (2003-09)
No. 65 Coleman Shelton — When you think of Bears players who wore No. 65, you probably think of Cody Whitehair (2016-23) or Patrick annually (1998-2013).
No. 71 Ryan Bates — If Coleman Shelton falters at center or if someone on the interior of the offensive line gets injured, Bates will be the first one off the bench filling that role. So you might as well get that number down in your head.
No. 72 Kiran Amegadjie — A Chicago-area guy wearing The Fridge’s number feels right to me. Charles Leno Jr. wore No. 72 proudly from 2014-20, making a Pro Bowl appearance for his efforts in the 2018 season while protecting Mitchell Trubisky’s blindside.
No. 81 Dante Pettis — This is the third different number Pettis has worn while as a member of the Chicago Bears. Pettis wore 18 and 86 in previous stints. So if you have a Dante Pettis 18 jersey from the 2022-23 season, you can repurpose that into a Caleb Williams jersey with the right
No. 94 Austin Booker — The Bears fifth-round pick wore No. 9 at Kansas, but that number is taken by safety Jaquan Brisker. For what it’s worth, the Bears have had some quality players wear No. 94 in recent years. Most notably: Leonard Floyd (2016-19), Robert Quinn (2020-22), and Keith Traylor (2001-03)
Other Bears with new numbers
QB Brett Rypien (11), CB Jaylon Jones (21), S Tarvarius Moore (30), DB Douglas Coleman III (38), LS Cameron Lyons (43), LB Amen Ogbongbemiga (45), DE Jacob Martin (55), OL Jake Curhan (73), DL Michael Dwumfour (78), OL Matt Pryor (79), DE Byron Cowart (93).
