The Miami Dolphins’ rookie class of 2020 has officially been assigned their numbers for the upcoming season. Some, like cornerback Noah Igbinoghene (No. 49) will likely revisit their number after training camp once the rosters are cut down to 53 players. But rookie quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is likely to hold firm with his pro number, #1. And if you prescribe to the importance of jersey aesthetics, you probably have an opinion on this decision for better or for worse.
One thing that we do know is that this is a first. The assignment of No. 1 to a quarterback has never happened before in this history of the Miami Dolphins.
Of players in franchise history to sport Tua’s new number, the list has been exclusively specialists — kickers Tony Franklin, Garo Yepremian and Cody Parkey, plus punter Matt Turk. Others have sported the number in the preseason, but the official list of Dolphins to wear No. 1 stops there — until now.
Tagovailoa has been pegged by many as the potential savior of the franchise, going back to well before he was ever even drafted to be on the team. And if the Dolphins are going to be “number one” again themselves, No. 1 is going to have to play a prominent role in elevating the team to heights we haven’t seen in nearly 50 years.
With Tagovailoa’s number declared, expect to see a swell in jersey sales — an expected side effect when you secure a prospect with the ceiling and star power of Tagovailoa’s. The Dolphins have missed having a clear face of the franchise and household name on their roster for the better part of the last decade, so it will take some getting used to for so many fans and journalists alike to be dialed into what the Dolphins quarterback is up to. Even for something as simple as picking a jersey number.