Welcome back to Lombardi Ave's series highlighting the best Green Bay Packers players to wear every jersey number from No. 0 all the way up to No. 99.
With such a lengthy list of legends who've donned the Green & Gold over the last 100-plus years, many entries in this series are naturally no-brainers. I mean, it's no secret that the likes of Brett Favre, Paul Hornung, Aaron Rodgers, Don Hutson, Bart Starr, Ray Nitschke, and Reggie White, among others, are easy calls in their respective slots. But here at No. 9, things aren't so simple.
Before we get to our winner in this 10th overall entry, however, let's first have a look at every Packers player to wear No. 9 over the years.
- Bryan Barker, P
- Josh Bidwell, P
- Fred Borak, E
- Dirk Borgognone, K
- Dean Dorsey, K
- Jug Earp, OL
- Dave Hayes, E
- Bob Kahler, DB/HB
- DeShone Kizer, QB
- Jim McMahon, QB
- Jon Ryan, P
- Jaylon Smith, LB
- Bryan Wagner, P
- Seneca Wallace, QB
- Christian Watson, WR
- Whitey Woodin, OL
Now, when looking at that list, most of the names may not be that recognizable to many. Sure, Jim McMahon sticks out, but he's obviously not the call, as he was merely Brett Favre's backup for two seasons.
Josh Bidwell was a solid punter for the Packers for four seasons, and it's obviously impossible to ignore the man wearing it now, Christian Watson, who may end up taking this title at some point down the line.
For now, however, the race comes down to a pair of Packers Hall of Famers, those being Whitey Woodin and Jug Earp. Truth be told, this is a genuine toss-up, but seeing as how Earp wore No. 9 for more seasons, we'll give him the nod here. Besides, Woodin has already earned one of the previous spots, so we need some new blood anyway.
Make no mistake about it, though; Earp deserves this honor. And for those wondering about that last name, yes, he was related to legendary lawman Wyatt Earp, as the two were second cousins once removed. So, throw that little nugget into your trivia night, Cheeseheads.
Jug Earp was the first player in Packers history to appear in 100 NFL games
While Earp, whose given name was Francis, played a few games here and there for three other NFL teams, those being the Rock Island Independents, the Frankford Yellow Jackets, and the New York Yankees, 120 of his 132 appearances during his 12-year career from 1921 to 1932 were with the Packers.
And since we're talking appearances, the Monmouth, Illinois native was actually the first in franchise history to play 100 games. So, there's another little piece of trivia for you. And if you want another, Earp, who played several positions on the offensive line but spent most of his time at center, is also credited with being the first Packer at the position to snap the football with one hand.
A Second-Team All-Pro selection in 1929, the year the Packers won their first NFL Championship with a record of 12-0-1, Earp also helped guide the team to titles in 1930 and 1931 and was a part of the very first class inducted into the Packers Hall of Fame in 1970. He also wore Nos. 11, 7, 29, 38, and 39 during his run in Green Bay, but it was No. 9 that he wore the most, which is why he gets this slot.
Other Green Bay Packers jersey honorees
- No. 0: There's literally only one choice here
- No. 1: Micah Parsons isn't the pick just yet
- No. 2: The Packers' all-time leading scorer
- No. 3: The second player in franchise history to have his jersey retired
- No. 4: There's no introduction needed here
- No. 5: This player should have been the last to wear the number but wasn't
- No. 6: A genuine ironman
- No. 7: This player was straight magic (until he wasn't)
- No. 8: This player has the second-most points in Packers history
This list will be updated daily until all 100 entries are complete, so be sure to check back in with Lombardi Ave for updates.
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