A new year means new jersey numbers for some returning veteran members of the Buffalo Bills, including Cody Ford—the expected starter at left guard.
Meanwhile, the team has announced which jersey numbers Buffalo’s 11-member free-agency class will wear for the 2021 season.
Ford, entering his third year with the Bills, is switching from jersey No. 70 to No. 74 for this year. The switch is a return to his Oklahoma Sooner days, when Ford was a mauler in his No. 74 jersey.
Newly signed wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders will return to his Denver Broncos roots and wear No. 10 this year after spending the last two seasons wearing No. 17 (Josh Allen’s current number) with the San Francisco 49ers and New Orleans Saints.
Speaking of Allen, his new backup, Mitchell Trubisky, wore No. 10 during his four-year stint with the Chicago Bears. With Sanders now wearing No. 10, Trubisky will switch and don the No. 8 jersey for Buffalo, most famously worn by legendary punter Brian Moorman.
Here’s the full rundown on the jersey changes for 2021:
Buffalo’s newly signed free agents:
No. 3 - P Matt Haack
No. 8 - QB Mitchell Trubisky
No. 10 - WR Emmanuel Sanders
No. 18 - WR Brandon Powell
No. 22 - RB Matt Breida
No. 50 - LB Tyrell Adams
No. 52 - LB Marquel Lee
No. 68 - OL Bobby Hart
No. 77 - OL Jamil Douglas
No. 80 - TE Jacob Hollister
No. 93 - DE Efe Obada
As for the returning veterans:
No. 4 - QB Jake Fromm (from No. 10)
No. 15 - WR Jake Kumerow (from No. 87)
No. 28 - RB Antonio Williams (from No. 35)
No. 64 - OL Jordan Devey (from No. 68)
No. 74 - OL Cody Ford (from No. 70)
No. 81 - TE Reggie Gilliam (from No. 86)
No. 90 - DT Brandin Bryant (from No. 74)