One benefit of being traded is you have the opportunity to get different digits.
Justin Hollins is wearing No. 58 for the Los Angeles Rams. You can’t change your number in-season.
That meant newly acquired Von Miller had to get creative when coming up with a jersey number for the team that acquired him on Monday.
Miller did some studying and found out the Rams’ No. 40 was worn by Elroy “Crazylegs” Hirsch, a College Football and Pro Football Hall of Famer.
Why would that number entice Miller? The former Denver Bronco wore No. 40 when he starred at Texas A&M in college.
He received the blessing from the family of Elroy Hirsch to wear No. 40, kindly asking permission before choosing that number. Hirsch is a Hall of Famer and one of the best receivers to ever play for the Rams.
Back in 4⃣0⃣@VonMiller receives blessing to wear the number from the family of Rams great, and Hall of Famer, Elroy "Crazy Legs" Hirsch 🙌 pic.twitter.com/yO3NgDaF7p
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) November 1, 2021
While Hirsch’s number wasn’t officially retired, Miller did the right thing. Crazylegs’ No. 40 is retired at Wisconsin, where he starred in college in 1941 and ’42 before entering the military service.
In January 1943, Hirsch enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and was transferred to the University of Michigan as part of the V-12 Navy College Training Program.