Evan Engram will make jersey number history with the Denver Broncos this season.
When the veteran tight end signed with the Broncos in March, his previous number (No. 17) was unavailable. So he picked No. 1, making Engram the NFL’s first tight end to wear No. 1 since at least 1973.
So, how did he settle on that number?
“It’s awesome, honestly,” Engram said when asked last week about making history with his number. “I was telling the story earlier. I had [No.] 1 in high school. That was my number for three years in high school. I wore [No.] 17 in college, so I got to Jacksonville and got to wear [No.] 17 again. When I signed, I sent the list of numbers. [The equipment staff] sent me a list of numbers that were free. I sent the list to my family, and I honestly didn’t even notice [No.] 1 was open. All of them said [No.] 1.
“It’s a cool thing just to reconnect to the glory days of high school football, where I really started to come into my own as a football player. Where I’m at in my career, how much I’ve learned, the talent I’ve worked for, the experiences I have to be able to bring that here and wear that jersey number again, I don’t take it lightly.”
Engram, 30, played at Hillgrove High School in Georgia growing up, totaling 40 receptions for 975 yards and 10 touchdowns as a senior before going on to play college football at Ole Miss. Now entering his ninth season in the NFL, Engram is returning to the number that kickstarted his football journey, and he’ll make history while doing it.
Related: These 25 celebrities are Broncos fans.