Xavier Worthy explains significance of No. 1 jersey

The No. 1 jersey signals that the wearer is sleek and speedy. He sizzles on the field. And that’s why it’s such a perfect number for Chiefs first-round pick Xavier Worthy.

However, for Worthy the number may be more about superstition. Maybe even luck. But whatever the reason, he keeps it year after year on every level of football. Worthy, in conjunction with the Chiefs rookie minicamp, met with the media to chat about on-field and off-field topics.

A reporter asked him about No. 1. The Chiefs already have given the jersey number. So what’s the origin story?

“In high school, I started wearing No. 1 my junior year,” Worthy told reporters. “That’s when I started popping out on the scene. That’s just been my number after that. I wanted to take it with me everywhere I went.”

The Chiefs social media team shared a a video clip of Worthy, the former Texas Longhorn, earlier this week. He was running routes outside on practice field in Kansas City. And he made a red No. 1 look good.

Route work. @XavierWorthy pic.twitter.com/xxt2Si1d4o

— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) May 6, 2024

In a recent interview with Chiefs Wire with USA Today, Worthy’s high school coach talked about the importance of No. 1.

“Well, he always liked it,” said Chris Maxey, who coached Worthy in high school. “At first, he couldn’t get it, so I always told him that if he were that number one when you walk on the field, they’re gonna look at you no matter if you did bad, short or tall.

“They [are] all going to wonder why you got that number one, some unique number. He always held the standard, you want to be number one when you wear it, you got to fill the shoes. And he takes on the challenge. He continued to wear it and continued to show out.”

Worthy wore a much more anonymous number earlier this year in Indianapolis. He was WR No. 40 when he dazzled in the 40-yard dash. He ran a 4.21-second time, breaking the Combine record by .01. The time vaulted him into the first-round conversation. And keep in mind, this wide receiver group already was going to be record-breaking.

The Chiefs selected Worthy with the 28th pick of the first round of the NFL Draft on April 25. They wanted Worthy so much KC traded up four spots to get him. He was the fifth receiver off the board. Two more followed him.

And now Worthy is making himself at home in Kansas City with the Super Bowl champion Chiefs. And of course, he got the number he wanted. He’ll hope to show out catching passes from Patrick Mahomes this fall.