KC Chiefs rookie draft picks explain the significance behind their jersey number choices

When you enter the NFL as a rookie, nothing is more sacred than choosing your jersey number with your new team. 

Kansas City Chiefs draft picks already have picked out their numbers with their new team. As rookie minicamp kicked off this weekend, they got a chance to explain the decisions that went into those jersey number choices. For the Chiefs' incoming draft class, most of the jersey number choices are deeply significant and emblematic of the past.

Chiefs rookies going back to high school jersey numbers

For first-round draft pick Xavier Worthy, it might seem like he's simply hanging onto his college jersey number. However, the No. 1 has followed him around for a lot longer. 

"So, in high school, I wore No. 1," Worthy said. "My junior year, I kind of started popping out into the scene, so No. 1 has always just kind of been my number after that. So, I just wanted to take it with me everywhere I went." 

He's worn No. 1 — representative of being a unique, one-of-one player — at the high school, college, and professional levels now. Fourth-round draft pick Jared Wiley's also going back to the jersey number where it all began. 

"I wore 12 in high school, so it felt like a full circle moment for me," Wiley said. "Where everything started and now. It's definitely not ending right now, but I've kind of achieved a goal that I ultimately had for myself and everything's just now getting started as far as this aspect. Whenever I saw 12 was available, I have kind of a close connection with that number." 

In high school, he chose that jersey number for no reason other than the fact it was  QB number and he played the position. Also, he indicated that Tom Brady wearing the number might have had something to do with it, too. 

He's lucky that the NFL recently updated their jersey number rules. Just a few years ago, tight ends could only wear numbers 40–49 and 80–89. Now they're allowed to wear 0-49. 

As for second-round pick Kingsley Suamataia, he's going back to his high school jersey number as well. Once upon a time, a young Suamataia chose that number because of his favorite NFL star at the offensive line position. 

"Shoot, that was my high school number," Suamataia said. "I chose 76 in high school because of (Pro Football Hall of Fame OT) Orlando Pace. That was my favorite O-Lineman growing up. So, I knew no better than to go back to 76." 

This number is also the same jersey number worn by former first-round pick John Tait, whom the Chiefs drafted out of BYU in 1999. If Suamataia lands somewhere between Tait and Pace in the NFL, he'll certainly be a success. 

It's all in the family for the newest Chiefs

For certain Chiefs rookies, the decisions surrounding their jersey number choices are a way to pay homage to family members. For instance, fourth-round draft pick Jaden Hicks chose the jersey number his father, Lamont Hicks, wore in high school. He also noted the religious symbolism attached to the number.

"My dad, he was 21 in high school," Hicks said. "That was his favorite number. It's a pretty religious as well."

Fifth-round pick Hunter Nourzad actually moved away from a college jersey number that had some significance. He wore No. 64 at Penn State, the jersey number currently worn by OT Wanya Morris. He wore that number because of his grandfather, who helped instill his love for football. 

"It was my grandfather's number, so that's why I wore it," Nourzad explained. "He was a JUCO All-American when he went to college. I was pretty close to him when I was younger. He made sure football was important in my mom's life and my mom made sure football was important in my life."

Nourzad will have to make a new meaning for No. 60, just like fellow offensive lineman, C.J. Hanson, who chose No. 61 after wearing No. 69 at Holy Cross. 

"I made a meaning," Hanson explained. "My birthday is March 3, 2001. So add, the 3's together and you get 6 and 1. I would love to have 69 back, but it's okay, I'm not gonna ask for it. It's not mine."