New England Patriots first-rounder Christian Gonzalez switching to No. 0 jersey

After playing his rookie season for New England in the No. 6 jersey, former first-rounder Christian Gonzalez will reportedly switch to No. 0 for the 2024 season, according to NFL insider Adam Schefter. Gonzalez sported the No. 0 jersey during his time with the Oregon Ducks. It was lucky for him then, and maybe it can be again after he went through a rookie season plagued with injury in 2023.

In four games for the Patriots this past season, the former Ducks star posted 17 tackles with one sack. He snagged his first career interception in a Sept. 17 game against the Miami Dolphins and quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. In early October, he suffered a torn labrum from a dislocated shoulder, missing the remainder of the year. The injury required surgery, so the team sent him to IR on Oct. 7.

The Patriots selected Gonzalez with the No. 17 overall pick in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft. Prior to his injury, he earned the league’s Defensive Rookie of the Month award for September.

The NFL’s policy for switching jersey numbers typically requires players to buy all the existing stock of outdated jerseys with their own funds. It’s unclear whether Gonzalez had to spend any of his rookie salary to get the No. 0 jersey for 2024. He inked a four-year deal for $15.1 million. He’ll be the first Patriots player to wear No. 0 after the league approved the number for use ahead of the 2023 season.

This week, Patriots fans were duped by a fake post by new running back Antonio Gibson. The post, which was photoshopped, claimed Gibson was taking New England’s No. 12 jersey, famously worn by legendary quarterback Tom Brady. However, the former Commanders player is actually going to wear No. 21.

Christian Gonzalez gearing up for second season in NFL

Christian Gonzalez spent the first two seasons of his collegiate career with the Colorado Buffaloes, amassing 78 total tackles and ten pass deflections over his time in Boulder. However, he truly broke out in 2022, during his lone season with the Ducks.

At Oregon, Gonzalez elevated his game, accumulating 51 total tackles, seven pass deflections and four interceptions in 2022. He earned First-team All-Pac 12 honors before declaring for the draft.

The Texas native will play his second season in the league under Patriots first-year head coach Jerod Mayo. Mayo took over the team following a split with long-time head coach Bill Belichick.