Patriots JuJu Smith-Schuster Reveals Number Change
Much like Seinfield's "George Costanza," JuJu Smith-Schuster sees a future in "seven."
New England Patriots fans worried about buying another Matt Judon jersey - or perhaps repurposing their Brandon LaFell/Tom Tupa threads - had Smith-Schuster looking out for them. The receiver originally kept some form of the No. 9 on his uniform throughout his gridiron heyday with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Kansas City Chiefs, and University of Southern California, wearing either 9 or 19.
Now, the seventh-year pro is going with the No. 7, taking the digit over from departed punter Jake Bailey. Though it's serendipitous with his NFL journey, Smith-Schuster listed a variety of factors for the switch.
“It kind of represents a lot of things,” Smith-Schuster said after training camp activities this week. “My mom’s favorite number is seven. She has seven kids. Lucky No. 7. One of my favorite football players in soccer, Vini Jr. Year 7. So, yeah, it was kind of like a number that I picked that kind of represented a lot of things.”
Smith-Schuster was also reminded that the Patriots are aiming to win their NFL-record seventh Super Bowl. Aiming to lift his second Vince Lombardi Trophy after getting the opportunity with Kansas City last year, Smith-Schuster was happy to put it on his list.
"Add that one in there, too,” Smith-Schuster said. “That’s always a goal (of mine), for sure.”
If the Patriots are indeed going to make a realistic case for a record-breaking championship, Smith-Schuster will likely play a huge role in that quest. Fresh off a 933-yard season with the Chiefs (his best tallies since 2018 with the Steelers), Smith-Schuster is expected to be one of the top targets for quarterback Mac Jones in a fateful third season under center. The former Trojan inked a three-year deal worth $25 million deal last spring after last year's leading receiver, Jakobi Meyers, moved onto Las Vegas.
Smith-Schuster's first time in the No. 7 lands on Aug. 10, when the Patriots open the preseason at home against the Houston Texans.
Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags
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