Former Patriots LB Jerod Mayo Thanks Team For Taking Number Out Of Use
🕑 Read Time: 1 minutes
New England Patriots > Patriots Blog
In recent years, the New England Patriots have created a trend where notable players who have retired or traded have had their jersey numbers temporarily taken out of circulation for a few seasons out of respect for their contributions to the team. Add former linebacker Jerod Mayo as the most recent recipient of the honor. Mayo responded to the news on his Instagram account Friday.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BFXgullq6MV/
Mayo becomes the fourth recent Patriot to be given the honor. Beginning in 2009, Tedy Bruschi’s number 54 was withheld from circulation for two seasons before it was assigned to tackle Brian Waters in 2011, and currently Dont’a Hightower. Matt Light, Logan Mankins, and Vince Wilfork also were given a respect period as researched by PatsPulpit’s Rich Hill.
The Patriots have not officially retired a number since Bruce Armstrong’s 78 in 2001. Only seven total Patriots have had their number retired, following Armstrong is 20 for Geno Cappelletti, 40 Mike Haynes, 57 Steve Nelson, 73 John Hannah, 79 Jim Lee Hunt and 89 Bob Dee.