Inside The Huskies

McDuffie Reclaims 22, a Preferred Jersey Number For Him

A teammate's departure enabled the former Husky cornerback to make a uniform change in the NFL.
Dan Raley|
McDuffie Reclaims 22, a Preferred Jersey Number For Him
McDuffie Reclaims 22, a Preferred Jersey Number For Him

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Washington Huskies

As an NFL player, Trent McDuffie became a first-round draft pick, a starting rookie cornerback for the Kansas City Chiefs and a Super Bowl champion.

His image was pristine, that of a winner, a success, someone who could do no wrong.

However, McDuffie's ascent to the pro football mountain top had a seemingly minor element missing — he was forced to wear No. 21, not his trademark 22.

No longer.

This week, McDuffie revealed he's been able to reclaim double deuce after former teammate and safety Juan Thornhill gave it up by signing a 3-year free-agent deal with the Cleveland Browns.

"Return of the Mac," McDuffie posted in social-media posting with his preferred number photoshopped over a photo from last season.

For those who need reminding, McDuffie in 2021 explained to the Pac-12 Network why he chooses to wear No. 22.

His brother Tyler McDuffie, who died in 2015, considered it his number when he played football. Trent randomly was assigned that jersey when arrived at the University of Washington, only he saw it as a sign of things that were meant to be.

"I think it's probably one of my favorite stories about U-Dub," McDuffie told the conference TV network two years ago. "Coming in, I never wore 22. It was my older brother's number. Unfortunately, six years ago he passed away. And first thing coming into U-Dub on my locker was 22."

He was taken aback by this unexpected football wardrobe development, but in a very good way. 

"I just texted my family and said, 'Wow, look at this. This is fate. I was meant to be here,' " McDuffie said. "It was kind of like that started this journey in college football and I wear it on my heart, I wear it on my arm and it's kind of the story of Tyler, and his story and just keeping his name alive so everybody in the country can learn and hear about him and understand that I'm doing it for him."

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Dan Raley
DAN RALEY

Dan Raley has worked for the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Atlanta Journal-Constitution and Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, as well as for MSN.com and Boeing, the latter as a global aerospace writer. His sportswriting career spans four decades and he's covered University of Washington football and basketball during much of that time. In a working capacity, he's been to the Super Bowl, the NBA Finals, the MLB playoffs, the Masters, the U.S. Open, the PGA Championship and countless Final Fours and bowl games.

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