Who wore number 51 in NFL

The number 51 is accessible only to defensive players. These performers are ineligible to catch the ball and score a touchdown. However, they can recover the fumble or intercept the ball to advance it to score the TD. Let’s explore the history of the number 51 in the National Football League.

Retired number 51 in the NFL

The first team that retired number 51 were the Chicago Bears. They did it in 1994 in honour of Dick Butkus, who played for the team from 1965 to 1973. The Carolina Panthers retired it in 2005 when their player Sam Mills got into the Hall of Fame. Mills performed there between 1995 and 1997.

The first number 51 in NFL

Buddy Tynes was the first back who wore number 51 in the NFL. The Pro-Reference portal confirms the player wore it in the 1925 season in the Colorado Tigers. He scored one receiving touchdown. His position on the field was the full- or tailback during those early days.

The last player who wore number 51 before AV implementation

The centre John Morrow started his career with the Rams in 1956. He missed the 1957 season without explanation. The player ended his tenure in 1959. He received number 56 in the Cleveland Browns in 1960.

Top-5 of players with the highest AV

Sam Mills – 127 AV

This linebacker built the main success in the New Orleans Saints, where he played from 1986. Interestingly, Sam Mills was old enough to debut in the NFL – 27 years. He came there from the United Football League when his previous team, Baltimore Stars, folded after the 1985 season. Mills proved to have an excellent career in the NFL for any player despite age. He played in 5 Pro Bowls, including the final 1996 season in the Carolina Panthers. His teams stopped very early in playoffs, but his 4 touchdowns and regular tackles brought him to the Hall of Fame in 2022. The Panthers retired his number in 2005.

Takeo Spikes – 113 AV

The player changed four teams during his career but wore number 51 everywhere. From the first day in the Cincinnati Bengals after the first round of the 1998 Draft to the final day in 2012, the linebacker Takeo Spikes demonstrated his skills. He scored 3 interception touchdowns – in the Cincinnati Bengals (2001) and the Buffalo Bills (2004, 2 TDs). He also scored the fumble TD in 2002 in favor of the Cincinnati Bengals. The player also performed 1431 tackles in their career, including 1018 solo ones. Spikes played in 2 Pro Bowls and was part of the AP1 only once.

Randy Cross – 107 AV

Randy Cross played his entire career in the San Francisco 49ers. He passed the draft in 1976 and debuted the same season under number 62. Cross changed it to 51 in the next season and kept it till the end of career in 1988. As the offensive lineman, he had to cover the quarterback. Cross changed the positions to center, who sent the snaps, and the right guard blocked the defensive linemen who attempted to prevent the run or pass from the quarterback.

Ken Norton Jr. – 103 AV

The player played in two teams. The Dallas Cowboys picked Ken Norton Jr. in 1988. Linebacker helped his team till 1994, when he moved to the San Francisco 49ers. Norton completed up to 160 tackles each season in Dallas. The tenure brought him the Pro Bowl appearance in the 1993 season and two Super Bowls in 1992 and 1993. He won the final SB in 1994 with San Francisco. The player also scored all touchdowns during the second tenure.

James Farrior – 102 AV

The player was number 51 in the Pittsburgh Steelers from 2002 to 2011. James Farrior was lucky there, as he participated in 1 AP1 and 2 Pro Bowls during his tenure. He also scored a single interception touchdown in 2004 for the Steelers. He also won two Super Bowls in 2005 and 2008.