The Cleveland Browns have made Shedeur Sanders’ jersey number change official.
The second-year quarterback will wear No. 2 next season, reclaiming the number he made famous throughout his entire football career before his rookie season forced a detour.
The Browns confirmed the switch as part of a broader jersey number announcement that includes every notable offseason acquisition on both sides of the ball.
“The digits,” the post read.
Sanders wore No. 12 during his rookie season only because No. 2 was already taken. Veteran wide receiver DeAndre Carter had claimed it after signing a one-year deal with Cleveland, despite never having worn it previously in his career. With Carter now out of the picture, the number was Sanders’ for the taking.
Sanders donned No. 2 at Trinity Christian High School in Texas, at Jackson State, and throughout his two seasons at the University of Colorado. The Buffaloes retired it following his departure.
Both Sanders and the Browns have been teasing the shift for weeks. Earlier this month, he posted “#2” on X and shared photos on Instagram in a Browns jersey with the new number, captioning it “Thank you, GOD.” His father responded on Instagram with a simple, “Yes Lawd!”
Shedeur Sanders Jersey Will be Big Seller for Browns
The switch may come with a cost for Sanders. Under NFL rules, players who change jersey numbers are typically required to buy out the remaining inventory of their previous number at full retail cost.
In Sanders’ case, that’s no small detail. His No. 12 jersey ranked among the NFL’s top sellers during his rookie season, making any required buyback a potentially significant cost. How much of that burden he’ll ultimately absorb remains unclear. Sanders has an endorsement deal with Nike, and it’s possible an exemption or financial offset was arranged, especially with his new number expected to drive another surge in sales.
No. 2 carries mixed history in Cleveland. Tim Couch and Johnny Manziel both wore it at quarterback. Amari Cooper was the most successful Browns player to sport the number, posting back-to-back 1,000-yard receiving seasons in 2022 and 2023.
With his jersey number now settled, the focus shifts to what matters most — whether Sanders can win the job on the field. Sanders is firmly in the mix in a three-way quarterback battle with Deshaun Watson and Dillon Gabriel, and he’s already shown flashes of what he can bring.
As a rookie, Sanders started the final seven games, completing 56.6% of his passes for 1,400 yards with seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions, going 3–4 in those starts. He also earned a Pro Bowl nod as a replacement, becoming the first Browns quarterback since Derek Anderson to receive the honor.
Full List of New Jersey Numbers
Sanders headlined a full slate of number assignments the Browns released. On defense, linebacker Quincy Williams will wear No. 5, cornerbacks Tre Avery (No. 11), Daniel Thomas (No. 24) and Myles Bryant (No. 27) round out the secondary additions, and defensive linemen Kalia Davis (No. 93) and Julian Okwara (No. 99) anchor the front.
On offense, wide receivers Tylan Wallace (No. 15) and Isaiah Wooden (No. 85) join tight end Jack Stoll (No. 89).
The revamped offensive line will feature Tytus Howard at No. 71, Elgton Jenkins at No. 74, Zion Johnson at No. 77 and returning guard Teven Jenkins at No. 78. Kendrick Green will wear No. 53, while punter Nik Costantinou sports No. 30.
The Browns will gather for voluntary veteran minicamp on April 21.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Browns Make 2-Word Shedeur Sanders Announcement appeared first on Heavy Sports.