The Houston Texans are the league’s youngest team.
So which numbers from 1-99 have been worn the least? Pro Football Reference’s “Uniform Numbers” tool was a great help to set up this research criterion.
For a number to qualify as one of the least worn in franchise history, the number had to be worn by five players or less. That sped up the entire process, and the results have some interesting players and NFL personnel involved.
34 different individual numbers made this list- which ones were they, and who wore them? Let’s get right into our “5 Times” category:
The Houston Texans jersey numbers that have been worn five times
Starting us off are 13 numbers that have been worn five times or less. They are the following:
- 3,5,7,35,41,42,56,61,71,72,77,86,95
It’s a rough patch as we start out with Brandon Weeden, Tom Savage, and the short-lived-in-Houston Anthony Miller. Who can forget Samkon Gado wearing number 35? Gado came to Houston after his cult-hero status in Green Bay was over.
Jumping up to number 71 is currently Tytus Howard, the Houston Texans’ 2019 first-round pick. You may just remember Xavier Su’a-Filo occupied this number for a few years as well.
Finishing our run in the five times category is number 86, most notably worn by Jabar Gaffney before joining the New England Patriots and was a member of the 18-1 team in 2008 that lost to the New York Giants in 2008.
The Houston Texans jersey numbers that have been worn four times
To start our “four times” category, we have a sharp drop from 13 jersey numbers to just seven. Those numbers are the following:
- 4,19,47,63,65,67,76
Starting off with number four, Deshaun Watson is the most notable Houston Texans player early on. Unfortunately, 19 seems to be a cursed number, as all four players who have worn it have not lasted more than a year on the roster.
Number 47 has a bunch of lesser-known players, but most notably Lawrence Vickers, who helped Arian Foster earn his second-consecutive 1,000-plus rushing season.
Jumping up to our photo on this slide is Milford Brown at 67, a supplemental draft pick who played three years for Houston.
The Houston Texans jersey numbers that have been worn three times
For our “three times” category, we have a total of six jersey numbers:
- 9,45,60,62,64,73
Number nine is currently worn by Brevin Jordan, who joins Bryan Anger and Shane Lechler. Lechler recently made the news ripping the Houston Texans on their rebuild effort. Additionally, if you remember any of the players at number 45, then you have an incredible memory.
Eric Winston at number 73 played in Houston from 2006 to 2011 and later went on to become the president of the NFL’s Player Association (NFLPA).
The Houston Texans jersey numbers that have only been worn two times
Everyone knows that Andre Johnson wore the number 80 on his chest for his entire career. But did you know there is another current NFL personnel member who wore it as well? We’ll get to that in a second, here’s a look at the numbers that have only been worn twice:
- 1,6,10,16,69,80
As for the first player to wear number 80, it’s none other than current Buffalo Bills Head Coach Sean McDermott. McDermott only spent the 2002 season with Houston, where he went on to play for multiple teams in his career, earning a ring with the 2003 New England Patriots. Who would’ve thought?
Number 1 has only been worn by Lonnie Johnson Jr. and Matt Turk.
The Houston Texans jersey numbers that have only been worn once
We’re down to just two numbers here:
- 46,49
46 has been occupied by Jon Weeks, Houston’s long-time long snapper, and 49 belongs to Josh Keyes, who only played three games in 2018 before exiting the league. It’s hard to believe that only two numbers have been worn once, considering how many possibilities that can exist with players choosing what digits they’ll have on their chest on Sundays.