Tom Brady has always worn No. 12 in the NFL, and thanks to Tampa Bay’s Chris Godwin, that TB12 tradition will continue. Charles Krupa/Associated Press
TAMPA, Fla. — Tom Brady will be wearing a new uniform this fall, but his trademark No. 12 jersey number will remain the same as he begins a new chapter with the Bucs.
Brady, whose No. 12 has been synonymous with his two-decade career with the Patriots and is included as part of his “TB12” brand, has received his old number from wide receiver Chis Godwin, who has worn the number over his three-year pro career with the Bucs.
Godwin offered Brady the number without any negotiation, according to Buccaneers.com. He wanted to hand it off out of respect to the six-time Super Bowl winner.
Yes, Tampa Bay wide receiver Chris Godwin has worn No. 12 since high school, but agreed to give it up to Tom Brady Mark LoMoglio/Associated Press
“I know everybody likes to say you gotta get something,” Godwin told Complex Sports. “But, for me, it’s more like a respect thing. I have a lot of respect for Tom and what he’s done in this league. Talking to him, briefly, he seems like he’s a really down-to-earth dude. I’m not the type to go looking for something. If he wants the number, then I’ll defer that to him. Don’t get it twisted, if he don’t ask for it. … ”
Godwin will now wear No. 14.
Godwin has worn No. 12 dating back to high school and said he’d still want to keep a lower number, that he didn’t see himself as a guy who would wear a number in the 80s like most receivers.
“Whatever number I go to would just be completely different,” Godwin said on The Boardroom last week.
As soon as Brady signed with the Bucs, there were questions about how he’d acquire No. 12 from Godwin, who is coming off a Pro Bowl season in which he ranked third in the NFL in receiving yards (1,333) and touchdown receptions (nine), though it seemed clear early on that Godwin was willing to give up the number to Brady.
Among the most interesting deals NFL players have made to get their preferred jersey numbers: Giants quarterback Eli Manning gave punter Jeff Feagles and his family a vacation to Florida for No. 10, Deion Sanders bought cornerback Alundis Brice a BMW to get his No. 21 when he joined the Cowboys.
And when the Bucs acquired cornerback Darrelle Revis in 2013, he paid Mark Barron $50,000 to get his No. 24.
The No. 12 has been worn by several notable Bucs players, including Ring of Honor member Doug Williams, as well as Trent Dilfer and Luke and Josh McCown.
Bucs who have worn No. 14 include Vinny Testaverde, Brad Johnson and Ryan Fitzpatrick. John Franklin III wore No. 14 in the Bucs’ final game of last season.
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