{"id":817506,"date":"2026-03-17T17:23:33","date_gmt":"2026-03-17T17:23:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/817506\/"},"modified":"2026-03-17T17:23:33","modified_gmt":"2026-03-17T17:23:33","slug":"matt-leinart-says-hes-been-approached-by-usc-to-unretire-no-11-for-recruits","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/817506\/","title":{"rendered":"Matt Leinart says he’s been approached by USC to unretire No 11 for recruits"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

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No USC Trojans<\/a> football player will be wearing No. 11 on the gridiron any time soon.<\/p>\n

Of course, that seemed to be obvious when it was retired for Matt Leinart<\/a> almost immediately after he graduated.<\/p>\n

However, the USC legend revealed that he has been approached by USC officials “multiple times” about whether he would unretire the number “for some five-star prospect.”<\/p>\n

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\"Matt <\/p>\n

Matt Leinhart of the USC Trojans throws a pass during a college football game against the Virginia Tech Hokies on Aug. 24, 2004, at FedEx Field in Landover, Maryland. (Mitchell Layton\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n

“And do you want to know what I told those guys straight up? I said, \u2018Absolutely f—ing not,\u2019” Leinart said on his “Throwbacks” podcast<\/a>. “I am never going to unretire my jersey for some random dude who, by the way, now could wear No. 11 and transfer after a year.”<\/p>\n

There are rare exceptions, of course.<\/p>\n

“The only person that will ever wear my USC No. 11 would be [my son] Cole, who\u2019s not there right now. He\u2019s at SMU. Or two of my boys if they end up going to USC and playing football. That is it,” he said.<\/p>\n

\"Matt <\/p>\n

Southern California Trojans head coach Pete Carroll hoists the trophy with quarterback Matt Leinart (left) after a victory against the Oklahoma Sooners in the 2005 Orange Bowl held at Pro Player Stadium. The Trojans won the BCS National Championship with the win. (Matthew Emmons\/USA TODAY Sports)<\/p>\n

TRUMP SETS SIGHTS ON NIL REGULATION, SCORE ACT AT COLLEGE SPORTS ROUNDTABLE, TEASES ANOTHER EXECUTIVE ORDER<\/a><\/p>\n

Leinart won a national championship with the Trojans, losing just two games in his entire career. The second was during his quest for a third consecutive title, but Vince Young and the Texas Longhorns<\/a> pulled off the victory in the championship in what has been considered one of the greatest college football games of all time.<\/p>\n

Leinart led the then-Pac-10 in passing touchdowns in his first two playing seasons and led in passing yards in his third and final. He was named the 2004 Heisman Trophy winner and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2017.<\/p>\n

\"Matt <\/p>\n

USC Trojans quarterback Matt Leinart in action during the 2005 Orange Bowl against the Oklahoma Sooners. (Preston Mack-USA TODAY Sports)<\/p>\n

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He was the 10th overall selection in the 2006 NFL Draft by the Arizona Cardinals. However, he did not find similar success and was out of the league by 2013.<\/p>\n

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