Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa will be looking out for No. 1 when he suits up for the Miami Dolphins.
Selected fifth overall by the Dolphins in last month’s NFL draft, Tagovailoa joined a team that has retired the number he wore to stardom at Alabama, No. 13. Hall of Famer Dan Marino sported the No. 13 jersey in Miami from 1983-99.
Instead, Tagovailoa will wear No. 1.
The Dolphins tweeted out the number assignments for the veterans and rookies on Tuesday evening.
Seven minutes after the team’s announcement, Tagovailoa confirmed his number on Twitter, posting a picture of himself in the No. 1 jersey below the caption, “For the Audience of 1,” followed by a praying-hands emoji.
The most recent Dolphin to wear No. 1 was cornerback Jalen Davis, who appeared in three games in 2018, according to pro-football-reference.com.
The most famous player to sport the number in Miami was kicker Garo Yepremian, who was part of the Dolphins’ Super Bowl championship teams in 1972 and ’73.
Yepremian also is famous for his failed pass attempt on a botched field goal in Super Bowl VII. The ball slipped from his hand, and Washington Redskins defensive back Mike Bass grabbed it and ran 49 yards for a fourth-quarter touchdown. However, Miami held on to win 14-7.
Last season, five NFL quarterbacks wore No. 1, according to pro-football-reference.com: Cam Newton, then of the Carolina Panthers; Arizona Cardinals rookie Kyler Murray; and three backups, Jacksonville Jaguars’ Joshua Dobbs, the New England Patriots’ Danny Etling and the Detroit Lions’ Kyle Sloter.
Per pro-football-reference.com, 12 other NFL players sported No. 1 in 2019: four wide receivers, three punters, two defensive backs, two kickers and one long snapper.
Tagovailoa said after the Dolphins drafted him, “For me, I’m not too worried about what number I have. I understand No. 13 is retired, and it should be. Dan Marino, he’s the GOAT. He’s like the mayor out there, and I have much respect for him.
“Whatever number I’m given by that organization, if it’s 78 or 99 — I’ll wear it. It doesn’t matter.”
–Field Level Media
