The New England Patriots are officially 40 days away from their season-opening game against the Philadelphia Eagles. So we’re continuing our countdown series by listing every Patriots player that has ever worn the No. 40 jersey.
It’s a short list that hasn’t been kept current. The last player to wear the number was defensive back Carlos Yancy 28 years ago. However, the most memorable player was Pro Football Hall of Famer Mike Haynes.
It was instant success for Haynes after being selected with the fifth overall pick of the 1976 NFL draft by the Patriots. He went on to earn eight All-Pro nods and nine Pro Bowl invites. Although he didn’t finish his career with the Patriots, he still has a spot in the New England Patriots Hall of Fame for his contributions to the organization.
Let’s take a look at every player throughout franchise history, including Haynes, that has worn the No. 40 jersey (via Pro Football Reference).