Who wore number 16 in NFL?

The article “Who wore number 16 in NFL?” centers on the historical backdrop and prominent athletes who have donned the number 16 jersey in the NFL. The text explores renowned NFL players like Joe Montana, Len Dawson, and George Blanda, who have established a notable heritage while donning the number 16 jersey. The article does not explicitly discuss the eligibility of players donning the number 16 in terms of their ability to catch the ball. If you need information regarding the eligibility of players to receive the ball based on their jersey number, it is advisable to consult the NFL’s official regulations on eligible receivers.

Teams who retired number 16

Three teams retired number 16 of the Pro Football Hall of Famers to commemorate their achievements in football. For example, the Kansas City Chiefs did it in the 1970s, when Len Dawson skipped playing in 1975. New York Giants enrichened Frank Gilford in 2000, despite the player retiring in 1964. Finally, the San Francisco 49ers banned number 16 in 1997, five years after Joe Montana ended his career.

The first number 16 in the NFL

In the end, Randy Young played a single game for Decatur Staleys in the 1920 season. He was the first performer with number 16 in the league history.

The last player who wore number 16 before NFL AV implementation

The quarterback King Hill ended up wearing number 16 in 1960, just after the league implemented approximate value. It was his first career stage in Chicago/St. Louis Cardinals. The reason was his low occupancy in the team – he played 44 games with 11 starts. It converted only in 9 touchdowns and 28 yards per game on passing. He opened his full potential in the Philadelphia Eagles, but that’s another story. It is within the borders of number 16. He has no prizes in his collection.

Top 5 players with highest AV

Joe Montana – 148 AV

The quarterback Joe Montana wore number 16 throughout his career. He was a round 3 pick of the San Francisco 49ers in the 1979 NFL Draft. The player spent there most of his career, but after an injured elbow, he played in 1992 in the SFO, he left for Kansas in 1993 for his final years. However, the San Francisco era was rich in achievements for him. He collected regular MVP nominations collection, including victories in 1989 and 1990. The 1989 season also brought him the Offensive Player of the Year award. Montana had a 100% Super Bowl win-loss record, which converted into 3 MVP titles in the league championship games. 8 Pro Bowls are also connected with California.

Len Dawson – 143 AV

The player could become the AV leader if he started his career in 1960. But the Steelers picked him as a round 1 pick in 1957. The audience considers the quarterback Len Dawson a legend because he started his way on the field in the NFL, had a chance to be part of a competitive AFL (Dallas Texans and Kansas City Chiefs, respectively) and then returned to the NFL with Chiefs. He led his team to the first Super Bowl in history but lost the title to the Green Bay Packers. He was rehabilitated three years later – in 1969. Here, we can notice another historical moment. Dawson won the latest trophy in the format of competition between the leagues. They merged the next year. The Hall of Famer played 7 times in the Pro Bowl. Enrishenement happened in 1987.

George Blanda – 128 AV

This player was active from 1951 to 1975 but with one missed season because of retirement in 1959. George Blanda stopped playing after a conflict with the Chicago Bears coach George Halas who wanted him as a kicker. This perspective didn’t satisfy Blanda. But he returned in 1960 and joined the AFL team Houston Oilers, where he became the champion three times. But that happened earlier than the introduction of the Super Bowl. His final team was the Oakland Raiders. The quarterback regularly helped his partners to reserve the playoff berth. He didn’t start the playoff games in his final years. He collected 7 Pro Bowls and many Player of the Year awards. Although he didn’t win any season, his significant contribution opened the door to the Hall of Fame. But neither Oakland nor Las Vegas Raiders didn’t remove his number from the circuit.

Norm Snead – 114 AV
The quarterback Norm Snead joined Redskins in 1961. He pretended for contract in both leagues – Bills chose him in the AFL Draft, too. But Snead chose the National Football League, where he led Redskins for three years. His best years were with the Philadelphia Eagles. He wasn’t an outstanding quarterback; he collected only 4 Pro Bowls and no awards.

Jim Plunkett – 108 AV

The final player on our list is the quarterback Jim Plunkett. He was the number 1 choice in the 1971 NFL Draft, so he became part of the New England Patriots. But the quarterback won his two Super Bowls with Raiders – 1980 during the Oakland campaign and 1983 when the team relocated to Las Vegas.