Zach Wilson is starting the next chapter of his NFL career in Miami with a new number.
Wilson chose the No. 0 with the Miami Dolphins, as the Deseret News previously reported.
The former No. 2 overall pick was asked about the decision behind his number at training camp last week.
Wilson’s previous NFL numbers were unavailable with the Dolphins, and he thought No. 0 would be “a cool choice,” according to Palm Beach Post’s Joe Schad.
“I’m like a single-digit guy and there weren’t many single digits available,” Wilson said. “And I thought zero, I guess, was a cool choice. And I was like, I don’t know if any quarterbacks have really had zero before.”
The No. 0 is a relatively new number in the NFL.
From 1973 to 2023, no players were allowed to wear No. 0. In 1973, the NFL standardized its jersey numbers, which eliminated the number as an option, according to ESPN.
That changed in March 2023 when the NFL Competition Committee approved the Philadelphia Eagles’ proposal to allow players to wear No. 0.
If Wilson keeps the No. 0 and sees the field at all, he would join Johnny Clements as the only quarterbacks to wear the number in a game, according to Schad.
What Zach Wilson said about the Dolphins
On Thursday, Wilson also opened up about his time with the Dolphins so far.
Wilson seemed to suggest head coach Mike McDaniel has helped build his confidence, per Schad.
“I feel like sometimes I lost that in myself a little bit of like, you know, understanding how talented I can be,” Wilson said. “You know, it’s good to feel like you have some belief in somebody.”
Wilson also said he felt wanted by the Dolphins, which aligns with what McDaniel told the media in March about the former BYU quarterback — that he was a “direct, calculated target,” as the Deseret News previously reported.
“I felt wanted,” Wilson said. “I felt like they really wanted me to be here.”
