Who wore number 54 in NFL

The number 54 in the NFL can belong to the wide range of linemen and linebackers. These players are ineligible to catch the ball and advance it further. The exception is if the defender intercepts the ball, recovers the fumble, or becomes eligible for the play. Let’s study the life of football players who wore the number 54 at different times.

Retired number 54 in NFL

The only team, the Cincinnati Bengals, retired number 54. They did it in 1978 when Bob Johnson was still active. He retired next year.

The first player who wore number 54 in NFL

Joe Savoldi was the first player who wore number 54 in the NFL. He participated in three games in the 1930 Chicago Bears season. He scored only one rushing touchdown as a fullback.

The last player who wore number 54 before AV implementation

Bill Fulcher’s career was extremely short. This undrafted player joined the Redskins in 1956 in the position of linebacker. However, he played only a couple of games during the season, forcing his decision to leave playing. However, he worked as a coach with student teams.

Top-5 players with the highest AV

Brian Urlacher – 152 AV

Our top 5 starts from the Hall of Famer. The linebacker Brian Unlacher started his career on the edge of two milleniums in 2000. He was the first round pick of the Chicago Bears in the Draft. Urlacher won the defensive rookies contest that season. He became the league leader in the fumble yardage next season and fumble touchdown in 2002. The player became the best defender in 2005 but lost the competition in the next season. Urlacher scored only 2 TDs from interceptions and the same number of picksixs resulting from the fumbles. The defender demonstrated good tackling qualities. He played in 8 Pro Bowls and figured in four AP1s. The player was included in the best team of the 2000s decade. Urlacher retired in 2012; six years later, he got a plaque in the Hall of Fame.

Randy White – 150 AV

This player changed his role many times during his career. The Dallas Cowboys tested Randy White as the defensive end in his rookie 1975 season but then changed the specialization to the linebacker and tackle. He regularly pretended to be the defensive player of the year but failed to reach the achievement. He won Super Bowl XII with his teammates and became the MVP. Randy participated in 9 Pro Bowls and 7 AP1s before retirement in 1988. The fans balloted him to the list of best players in the 2000s. Besides, the league dedicated a memorial plaque for him in 1994.

Bobby Wagner – 147 AV

Don’t frighten him unless you’re a player who plays against his team in the NFL. Bobby Wagner has spent 12 seasons of his professional career in the Seattle Seahawks. The only exception was the 2022 trip to the Rams. He participated in 9 Pro Bowls and 6 first All-Pro teams; he became the member of the best team summarizing the 2010s decade. His career is still in action, so he has great chances to overcome his opponents ahead of the player.

Zach Thomas – 141 AV

Zach Thomas wore number 54 in the Miami Dolphins from 1996. The team picked him in the 5th round of the Draft that year. As the linebacker, he scored four defensive touchdowns from interceptions and generated 80 to 130 tackles each season. His skills helped him to play in 7 Pro Bowls and 5 AP1 appearances. He has been a member of the Hall of Fame since 2023. The player retired in 2008 after one season with the Cowboys.

Chuck Howley – 121 AV

The player started his career in 1958 when the Chicago Bears picked him to their team. When the league introduced the AV system, this player missed the season in 1960 due to an injury. He returned to the football next year as the player of the Dallas Cowboys. That tenure was successful for him as he collected 6 Pro Bowls, 5 AP1 appearances and the Super Bowl VI in his collection. The player became the league leader in fumble yardage gained during the 1966 season. Howley retired in 1973 and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2023.