Steelers offseason acquisitions claim new jersey numbers

As it pertains to NFL fans, they love anything which has to do with jerseys. New jerseys, alternate uniforms and also jersey numbers. When a team goes through the NFL Draft process, fans clamor for the latest jerseys of the players who were selected. The same can be said about free agent acquisitions.

For the Pittsburgh Steelers, they have officially announced the jersey numbers for Eric Ebron and Stefen Wisniewski. For both players, they will be keeping the numbers they have worn their entire NFL careers.

For both Ebron and Wisniewski, their choice of number was a no-brainer. With no other player currently on the Steelers from 2019 wearing either number, there was no need for a change. Previously, Derek Watt announced his new jersey number as number 34 was already taken by Terrell Edmunds. The elder of the two Watt brothers on the Steelers went with the number 44 for the 2020 season.

Eric Ebron‘s choice to stay with the number 85 will see this particular jersey number being worn again in 2020. Most recently, Xavier Grimble wore the number 85 for the three games in which he appeared in 2019. The player to wear the number 85 for the Steelers in the most seasons in recent history was David Johnson from 2009 to 2013.

When it comes to the number 61 which will be donned by Stefen Wisniewski, he will also be wearing a number with no overwhelming Steeler legend attached to it. Most notably, current Steelers’ guard David DeCastro wore number 61 in his rookie season in 2012 before changing to his current number 66 the following year. There has not been a Steelers player to wear number 61 for more than a season season since Blake Wingle from 1983 to 1985.

While for some players a jersey number is significant, others seem less attached to having certain digits below their name. Since both of their previous numbers were available, it’s hard to say how much Ebron or Wisniewski would be bothered by having to change. As for the fans, anyone looking to purchase a jersey for either player can now safely do so.

UPDATE: The Steelers have also announced the numbers for Derek Watt and Chris Wormley. Watt previously reported his number 44 jersey via social media. Wormley will wear number 95 for the black and gold. His previous number of 93 is currently in use by Daniel McCullers.