Marcus Mariota will make history before playing his first Washington Commanders game. He will be the first NFL quarterback to wear No. 0. Mariota signed a one-year free agent contract with the Commanders. The team unveiled his number and other additions on Wednesday.
Recent NFL rule revisions allowed Mariota's new number. Team owners changed the regulations in March 2023 to allow the No. 0 for the first time in decades. After allowing defensive and offensive players to pick a single-digit number, the decision was made.
After the rule changes were announced, the Jacksonville Jaguars stated that wide receiver Calvin Ridley would be the first player to claim the 2023 zero. Running backs, corners, and others wore his number over 20 times.
Micah Parsons, a Dallas Cowboys linebacker, said he would wear zero, after NBA legend Gilbert Arenas, who was known as "Agent Zero" during his prime
Parsons kept No. 11. Mariota, 30, has made history. He became the first Oregonian and Hawaii native to win the Heisman in 2014. Mariota has played nine NFL seasons, over three times the average.
Mariota has switched numbers before. He wore Oregon No. 8. He wore the number after being drafted No. 2 overall by the Tennessee Titans in 2015 and as a backup for the Las Vegas Raiders. In 2022, he joined the Atlanta Falcons as No. 1.
He joined the Commanders after returning to No. 8 with the Philadelphia Eagles last season. He told Philadelphia it was a tribute to the eight Hawaiian Islands. Mariota had to swap in D.C. because wideout Jahan Dotson wears No. 1 and running back Brian Robinson wears No. 8.
Mariota may have a new chance with the new number. The Commanders will likely draft a new signal caller with the No. 2 pick. The seasoned quarterback and rookie may battle for playing time in 2024.
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