After much suspense and a desire to wear the No. 21, Washington Redskins safety Landon Collins is settling on the jersey No. 20.
Collins idolized the late Sean Taylor. He wore the No. 26 in college while at Alabama just like the Taylor did while he was in college at Miami. Collins wore the No. 21 his first four seasons in the NFL while with the New York Giants to honor Taylor, who wore the same jersey number with the Redskins.
However, when Collins signed a six-year deal with the Redskins earlier this month, there was much suspense over what number he would wear. Collins said “it would be an honor” to wear the same number enshrined with Taylor. Those comments and the backstory split opinions of Redskins faithful on whether Collins should be allowed to wear the No. 21.
While the number has not been officially retired by the franchise, they have not awarded the number to a player since Taylor’s untimely death in November 2007. Some public opinion felt Collins would be a perfect player to reissue the number for. However, there was many that felt the jersey should be retired to eliminate any player considering.
Former Redskins running back and college and pro teammate of Taylor, Clinton Portis, said the No. 21 should be “off limits.”
Collins was never going to win over the masses with wearing No. 21. And by doing so would have put more immense pressure on top of being a high-price, $84 million free agent signing. It’s interesting he didn’t pick No. 36 — the number Taylor wore in his rookie season. Nevertheless, Collins now has the opportunity to build his own legacy in Washington, while honoring Taylor with his play on the field.
Meanwhile, the No. 8 is returning to the field for the Redskins. Quarterback Case Keenum, who Washington acquired in a trade this month from Denver, has selected the No. 8. The jersey number was worn by Kirk Cousins from 2014-2017 before he signed with the Minnesota Vikings as a free agent.
Keenum wore the No. 7 in college at Houston and the first two seasons of his NFL career with the Houston Texans. After three seasons with the Rams, he returned to the No. 7 with the Vikings in 2017 before signing with the Broncos last off-season after the Vikings turned their attention to landing Cousins.
Last season Keenum wore No. 4 with the Broncos as No. 7 is retired by Denver (John Elway). The No. 7 for the Redskins is similar to the No. 21. While not officially retired, the number hasn’t been awarded since Joe Theismann’s playing career ended in 1985.
