List of NCAA football retired numbers

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Teams in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) retire jersey numbers of players who either are considered by the team to have made significant contributions to that team's success, or who have experienced untimely deaths during their playing career. As with other leagues, once a team retires a player's jersey number, it never issues the number to any other player, unless the player or team explicitly allows it.

Pittsburgh Panthers retired numbers at Acrisure Stadium, September 2011

History

Since NCAA teams began retiring numbers, many players have had their jersey number retired. Pittsburgh have the most retired numbers with 10. Unlike professional leagues, no one player has had his number retired by two teams.

Unlike major sports leagues in the United States such as MLB (which retired Jackie Robinson's number 42), the NHL (which did so for Wayne Gretzky's 99), and the NBA (Bill Russell's 6) the NCAA has never retired a jersey number league-wide in honor of anyone.

Nevertheless, there are some cases of retirement of a same number honoring two different players, such as Houston, which retired number 7 worn by David Klingler and Case Keenum, among other similar cases.

Moreover, Michigan retired a number for three players, the #11 in honor of the Wistert brothers.[1] Brigham Young University (BYU) did the same, retiring number 6 for three different players, Marc Wilson, Robbie Bosco, and Luke Staley.[2]

Since 2005, Syracuse holds the record of players honored with a number retirement after the University retired no. 44 worn by 25 different players between 1921 and 1998.

There are also some strange cases such as UCLA retiring #42 for Jackie Robinson; although he wore No. 28 for the football team; the school chose to retire No. 42 because it was more identified with him after Robinson wore that number throughout his Hall of Fame baseball career with the Brooklyn Dodgers.[3][4]

Retired numbers

Elected to the College Football Hall of Fame
Johnny Unitas' #16 was retired by Louisville in 2003
Roger Staubach's #12 was retired by the Naval Academy in 1965
Dan Marino's #13 was retired by Pittsburgh
Brett Favre's #4, retired by Southern Miss in 2015
Troy Aikman's #8, retired by UCLA
John Elway has his #7 retired by Stanford
Peyton Manning's #16 was retired by Tennessee in 2005
Michigan retired #11 in honor of Whitey Wistert (photo) and his two brothers
Doc Blanchard's #35, retired by Army
Colt McCoy's #12, retired by the Texas Longhorns
Gerald Ford with Michigan in 1933. His number 48 was retired by the program
Frank Sinkwich's #21, retired by Georgia
Andre Ware's #11, retired by Houston
Sam Huff's #75 was retired by West Virginia in 2005
Nile Kinnick's #24, retired by Iowa
Howard Cassady's #40 was retired by Ohio State
Missouri retired #23 in honor of Roger Wehrli (photo) and Johnny Roland
Steve Largent has his #83 retired by Tulsa
Joe Greene's #75, retired by North Texas
Bill Dudley's #35 was retired by Virginia
Elroy Hirsch's #40 was retired by Wisconsin in 2005
John Mackey's #88, retired by Syracuse
Jackie Robinson's #42 was retired across all UCLA sports in 2014
Randall Cunningham's #17, the only number retired by UNLV
Jan Stenerud's #78 was retired by Montana State
Eddie LeBaron's #40 was retired by Pacific
Kyle Arrington's #24, retired by Hofstra
Frank Beamers's #25 was retired by Virginia Tech in 2002
More information Team, No. ...
Team No. Player Tenure Year retired Ref.
Akron
89
Chris Angeloff[n 1]1974–19751975[5]
Alabama A&M
22
John Stallworth1971–19741974[6]
55
Robert Mathis1999–20022012[7]
Appalachian State
14
Armanti Edwards2006–20092023[8]
23
John Settle1983–19861986[9]
32
Dexter Coakley1993–19962005[10]
38
Dino Hackett1982–19852005[11]
71
Larry Hand1960–19642006[12]
Arizona State
11
Danny White1971–1973[13]
27
Bobby Mulgado1954–1957[13]
33
Wilford White1947–1950
40
Mike Haynes1971–1975[13]
42
Pat Tillman[n 1]1994–19972004[13]
Arkansas
12
Clyde Scott1946–19491949[14]
77
Brandon Burlsworth[n 1]1994–19981999[14]
Army
24
Pete Dawkins1956–19582008[15][16]
35
Doc Blanchard1944–19462009[16]
41
Glenn Davis1943–19462005[16]
61
Joe Steffy1945–19472009[16]
Auburn
2
Cam Newton20102025
7
Pat Sullivan1969–1971[17]
34
Bo Jackson1982–1985[17]
88
Terry Beasley1969–1971[17]
Austin Peay
30
John Ogles1963–1966[18]
84
Harold Roberts1967–1970[18]
Boise State
12
Jim McMillan1971–19741978[19]
Boston College
22
Doug Flutie1981–1984[20]
68
Mike Ruth1982–1985[20]
Bowling Green
29
Paul Miles1970–1973[21]
BYU
6
Marc Wilson1975–19792017[22]
6
Robbie Bosco1981–19852017[22]
Luke Staley1999–20012017[22]
8
Steve Young1980–19832003[22]
9
Jim McMahon1977–19812014[22]
14
Gifford Nielsen1973–19772007[22]
14
Ty Detmer1987–19912007[22]
40
Eldon Fortie1960–19621963[22]
81
Marion Probert [n 1]1952–19541977[22]
California
12
Joe Roth[n 1]1975–19761977[23]
Central Michigan
62
Jim Podoley1952–1956[24]
Clemson
4
Steve Fuller [n 2]1975–19781979[25]
28
C. J. Spiller [n 3]2006–20092010[26]
66
Banks McFadden1937–19391987[27]
Colorado
2
Shedeur Sanders2023–20242025[28]
11
Bobby Anderson [n 4]1967–19691969[34]
12
Travis Hunter2023–20242025[28]
19
Rashaan Salaam[n 1]1992–19942017[34]
24
Byron White[n 4]1935–19371937[34]
67
Joe Romig[n 4]1959–19611961[34]
Colorado State
14
John Mosley [n 1]1939–19432024[35]
21
Eddie Hanna [n 1]1947–19491949[36]
48
Thurman McGraw1946–1949[37]
Drake
43
Johnny Bright [n 5]1949–19512006[40]
East Carolina
16
Robert Farris [n 1]1965–1967[41]
18
Norman Swindell [n 1]1963–1965[41]
29
James Speight1955–1959[41]
36
Roger Thrift1949–1950[41]
Eastern Illinois
17
Tony Romo1999–20022009[42]
18
Sean Payton1983–19862010[43]
Eastern Washington
71
Michael Roos2001–20042009[44]
84
Bob Picard1968–1969,
1971–1972		2003[44]
Fresno State
4
Derek Carr2009–20132017[45]
8
David Carr1997–20012007[45]
9
Kevin Sweeney1983–1986[45]
12
Trent Dilfer1991–1993[45]
14
Vince Petrucci1976–1978[45]
15
Davante Adams2011–20132022[45]
21
Dale Messer1958–1960[45]
22
Lorenzo Neal1990–19922022[45]
83
Henry Ellard1979–1982[45]
Georgia
21
Frank Sinkwich1941–19431943[46]
34
Herschel Walker1980–19821985[46]
40
Theron Sapp1955–19581959[46]
62
Charley Trippi1942,
1945–1946		1947[46]
Georgia Southern
3
Adrian Peterson1998–2001[47]
8
Tracy Ham1982–1986[48]
Georgia Tech
19
Clint Castleberry1942[49]
Hawaii
15
Colt Brennan2005–20072021[50]
32
Tom Kaulukukui1934–1937[51]
Hofstra
3
Wayne Chrebet1991–1994[52]
33
Walter Kohanowich1948–1952[52]
74
Dave Fiore1992–1995[52]
77
John Schmitt1961–1963[52]
89
Marques Colston2001–2005[52]
Houston
7
David Klingler1988–19912016[53]
Case Keenum2006–20112016[53]
11
Andre Ware1987–1989[53]
23
Elmo Wright1968–19702025[53]
78
Wilson Whitley1973–1976[53]
Idaho
9
Ken Hobart1980–1983[54]
17
John Friesz1986–19892006[55]
53
Wayne Walker1955–1957[56]
56
John Yarno1973–19761977[57]
64
Jerry Kramer1955–19571963[58][59]
Idaho State
41
Jared Allen2000–2003[60]
Illinois
50
Dick Butkus1962–19642003[61][62]
77
Red Grange1923–19252003[61]
Indiana
32
Anthony Thompson1986–1989[63]
Indiana State
26
Vincent Allen1973–19772025[64]
Iowa
24
Nile Kinnick [n 6]1936–1939[66]
62
Cal Jones1952–1955[66]
Iowa State
30
Mike Cox1963–19641964[67]
Indiana
32
Anthony Thompson1986–1989[68]
Kansas
21
John Hadl1959–1961[69][70]
42
Ray Evans [n 7]1941–1942,
1946–1947		[69][71]
48
Gale Sayers1962–19641989[69][72]´
Kansas State
11
Lynn Dickey1968–1970[73]
Steve Grogan1972–1974[73]
Kent State
9
Josh Cribbs2001–20042010[74]
40
Eric Wilkerson1985–1988[75]
79
Jim Corrigall1967–19691969[76]
99
Jack Lambert1971–19731977[77]
Kentucky
21
Calvin Bird1958–19601997[78]
22
Mark Higgs1984–19871997[78]
Lafayette
53
Fred Kirby1939–19412011[79]
Liberty[n 8]
23
Rashad Jennings2006–20082020[81]
71
Jerry Falwell[n 9]N/a2006[80]
83
Kelvin Edwards1982–19852019[82]
86
Eric Green1985–19892008[80]
Lincoln (MO)
20
Lemar Parrish1966–1969[83]
Louisville
8
Lamar Jackson2015–20172021[84]
16
Johnny Unitas1951–19552003[85]
LSU
20
Billy Cannon1957–19591960[86]
21
Jerry Stovall1960–19622018[87]
37
Tommy Casanova1969–19712009[88]
Marshall
72
Frank Gatski1940–19412005[89]
Miami (FL)
10
George Mira1961–19631997[90]
14
Vinny Testaverde1982–19861997[90]
42
Jim Dooley1949–19511997[90]
89
Ted Hendricks1966–19681997[90]
Miami (OH)
7
Ben Roethlisberger2000–20032007[91][92]
40
Bob Hitchens1971–1973[91][93][92]
42
John Pont1949–1951[91][92]
Memphis
8
Charles Greenhill1983[94]
20
DeAngelo Williams2002–2005[94]
30
Dave Casinelli1960–1963[94]
59
Danton Barto1990–19932021[94]
64
John Bramlett1959–1962[94]
79
Harry Schuh1962–1964[94]
83
Isaac Bruce1992–1993[94]
Michigan
11
Whitey Wistert1931–19331949[95]
11
Al Wistert1940–19421949[95]
11
Alvin Wistert1947–19491949[95]
21
Desmond Howard1989–19912015[95]
47
Bennie Oosterbaan1925–19271927[95]
48
Gerald Ford1932–19341994[95]
87
Ron Kramer1954–19561956[95]
98
Tom Harmon1938–19401940[95]
Michigan State
26
Clinton Jones1964–19662015[96]
46
John Hannah [n 10]N/a1969[100]
48
Percy Snow1986–19892013
78
Don Coleman1949–19511951[100]
90
George Webster1964–19661967[100]
95
Bubba Smith1964–19662006[100]
Middle Tennessee
14
Teddy Morris1962–19651965[101]
20
Kevin Byard2012–20152022[102][103]
Minnesota
10
Paul Giel1951–19531991[104][105][106]
54
Bruce Smith1939–19411977[104][105][106]
72
Bronko Nagurski1927–19291979[104][105][106]
Mississippi Valley State
18
Parnell Dickinson1972–19751976[107][108]
Missouri
23
Johnny Roland1962,
1964–1965		[109]
23
Roger Wehrli1966–1968[109]
27
Brock Olivo1994–1997[109]
37
Bob Steuber1940–1943[109]
42
Darold Jenkins1939–1941[109]
44
Paul Christman1938–1940[109]
83
Kellen Winslow1975–1978[109]
Missouri Southern
9
Rod Smith1988–1993[110]
Montana
15
Dave Dickenson1992–1995[111][112]
22
Terry Dillon1960–1962[111][113]
Montana State
21
Don Hass1964–1966[114]
52
Sonny Holland1956–19591959[115]
77
Bill Kollar1971–1973[116]
78
Jan Stenerud1963–19651984[117]
Murray State
10
Larry Tillman1966–19691969[118]
11
Michael Proctor1986–19891993[118]
Navy
12
Roger Staubach1961–19631965[119][120]
19
Keenan Reynolds2012–20152016[119][120]
27
Joe Bellino1958–19601960[119][120][121]
30
Napoleon McCallum1981–1985[119][120][122]
NC State
17
Philip Rivers2000–20032003[123][124]
18
Roman Gabriel1958–19611962[123][124]
23
Ted Brown1975–19781978[123][124]
40
Dick Christy1954–19571997[123][124]
51
Jim Ritcher1976–19791987[123][124]
63
Bill Yoest1970–19732003[123][124]
77
Dennis Byrd1964–1967[123][124]
81
Torry Holt1995–19981999[123][124]
Nebraska
60
Tom Novak1946–19491949
64
Bob Brown1961–19632004
Nevada
27
Frank Hawkins1977–1980[125]
41
Marion Motley1940–1942[125]
New Mexico
42
Bobby Santiago[n 11]1959–1962[128]
43
Don Perkins1957–1959[129]
44
Brian Urlacher[n 11]1996–19992013[130]
North Carolina
22
Charlie Justice1946–1949[131]
46
Bill Sutherland [n 1]1946[131]
50
Art Weiner1946–1949[131]
59
Andy Bershak1935–1937[131]
99
George Barclay1932–1934[131]
North Dakota
41
Dave Osborn1962–1964[132]
North Texas
28
Abner Haynes1957–1959[133]
33
Ray Renfro1949–19502000[133]
55
Richard Gill1968–19691971[133]
75
Joe Greene1966–19691981[133]
Ohio State
22
Les Horvath1940–1942,
1944		2000[134][135]
27
Eddie George1992–19952001[135]
31
Vic Janowicz1949–19512000[136][135]
40
Howard Cassady1952–19552000[135]
45
Archie Griffin1972–19751999[135]
47
Chic Harley1916–1917,
1919		2004[135]
99
Bill Willis[n 12]1942–19442007[135]
Oklahoma State
21
Barry Sanders1986–1988[139]
34
Thurman Thomas1984–1987[139]
43
Terry Miller1974–1977[139]
55
Bob Fenimore1943–1946[140]
Ole Miss
10
Eli Manning1999–20032021[141][142][143]
18
Archie Manning1968–1970[141]
38
Chucky Mullins[n 13]1988–1989[141]
74
Ben Williams[n 14]1972–19752022[144]
Oregon State
11
Terry Baker1959–1962[145]
Penn State
22
John Cappelletti1970–19732013[146]
Pacific
22
Dick Bass1955–19581984[147]
39
Willard Harrell1971–19741986[147]
40
Eddie LeBaron1946–19491950[147]
41
Eddie Macon1949–19512008[147]
Pittsburgh
1
Larry Fitzgerald2002–20032013[148]
13
Dan Marino1979–19821983[148]
33
Tony Dorsett1973–19761976[148]
42
Marshall Goldberg1936–19381997[148]
65
Joe Schmidt1950–19521997[148]
73
Mark May1977–19802001[148]
75
Jim Covert1979–19832015[149]
79
Bill Fralic1981–19841984[148]
89
Mike Ditka1958–19601997[148]
97
Aaron Donald2010–20132025[150]
99
Hugh Green1977–19801980[148]
Portland State
11
Neil Lomax1977–1980[151]
18
Peter Stott1990–19922014[152]
Rhode Island
12
Tom Ehrhardt1983–19851996[153]
Rutgers
52
Eric LeGrand2008–20102013[154]
San Diego State
8
Todd Santos1984–1987[155]
25
Haven Moses1966–1967[155]
28
Willie Buchanon1970–1971[155]
28
Marshall Faulk1991–1993[155]
San José State
52
Dave Chaney1970–19722019[156]
Savannah State
2
Shannon Sharpe1986–19892009[157]
South Carolina
2
Sterling Sharpe1983,
1985–1987		[158]
37
Steve Wadiak1948–1951[158]
38
George Rogers1977–1980[158]
56
Mike Johnson1964[158]
Southeast Missouri State
67
Mike Wood1974–19771978[159]
Southern Miss
4
Brett Favre1987–19902015[160][161]
10
Reggie Collier1980–19822008[162]
44
Ray Guy1970–1972[163]
Stanford
1
Ernie Nevers1921–1924[164]
7
John Elway1979–19822013[164][165]
16
Jim Plunkett1968–1970[164]
Syracuse
5
Donovan McNabb1995–19982013[166]
9
Don McPherson1984–19872013[166]
39
Larry Csonka1965–19672007[166]
44
(various)[n 15]1921–19982005[166]
47
Joe Morris1978–19812018[166]
72
Tim Green1982–19862019[167]
88
John Mackey1960–19622007[166]
TCU
5
LaDainian Tomlinson1997–20002005[168]
8
Davey O'Brien1935–19381939[169][170]
45
Sammy Baugh1934–19361993[170]
Tennessee
16
Peyton Manning1995–19972005[171][172]
32
Billy Nowling [n 16]1940–19421946[171]
45
Johnny Majors1954–19562012[173]
49
Rudy Klarer [n 16]1941–19421946[171]
61
Willis Tucker [n 16]1939–19401946[171]
62
Clyde Fuson [n 16]19421946[171]
91
Doug Atkins1950–19522005[171][172]
92
Reggie White1980–19832005[171][175]
Texas
10
Vince Young2003–2005[176]
12
Colt McCoy2006–2009[176]
20
Earl Campbell1974–1977[176]
22
Bobby Layne1944–1947[176]
34
Ricky Williams1995–1998[176]
60
Tommy Nobis1963–1965[176]
Texas Tech
44
Donny Anderson1963–1965[177]
55
E. J. Holub1958–19601960[178]
81
Dave Parks1961–1963[179]
Toledo
16
Chuck Ealey1969–1971[180]
18
Gene Swick1972–1975[180]
82
Mel Triplett1951–1954[180]
77
Mel Long1969–1971[180]
Tulsa
14
Billy Anderson1963–1964 [n 17]1995[182]
17
Jerry Rhome1963–1964[182]
31
Ellis Jones1942–1944[182]
36
Felto Prewitt1943–1945[182]
45
Glenn Dobbs1940–1942[182][183]
55
Jerry Ostroski1988–19912018[182][184]
64
Marv Matuszak1952[182]
81
Howard Twilley1963–1965[182]
83
Steve Largent1972–19752008[182]
UCLA
5
Kenny Easley1978–1980[185]
8
Troy Aikman1986–19882014[185]
13
Kenny Washington1937–19391956[185]
16
Gary Beban1965–1967[185]
34
Paul Cameron1951–1953[185]
38
Burr Baldwin1944–1946[185]
42
Jackie Robinson [n 18][n 19]1939–19402014[3][4]
79
Jonathan Ogden1993–19951997[185]
80
Donn Moomaw1950–1952[185]
84
Jerry Robinson1976–1978[186][185]
UNLV
12
Randall Cunningham1981–19841984[187]
USC
3
Carson Palmer1999–20022002[188]
5
Reggie Bush2003–20052024[189]
11
Matt Leinart2001–20052004[188]
12
Charles White1977–19791979[188]
13
Caleb Williams2022–20232024[189]
20
Mike Garrett1963–19651965[188]
32
O. J. Simpson1967–19681968[188]
33
Marcus Allen1978–19811981[188]
Utah
22
Ty Jordan [n 1]20202021[190]
Aaron Lowe [n 1]2019–20212021[190]
Virginia
12
Shawn Moore1988–1990[191]
24
Frank Quayle1966–1968[191]
35
Bill Dudley1940–1942[191]
48
Joe Palumbo1949–1951[191]
73
Jim Dombrowski1982–1985[191]
97
Gene Edmonds [n 1]1948–1949[191]
Virginia Tech
10
Frank Loria1965–19671971[192]
25
Frank Beamer1966–19682002[192]
73
Jim Pyne1990–19931994[192]
78
Bruce Smith1981–19841985[192]
84
Carroll Dale1956–19591960[192]
Washington State
7
Mel Hein1927–1931[193][194]
14
Jack Thompson1974–1978[193][194]
Weber State
10
Jamie Martin1989–19922014[195][196]
West Virginia
9
Major Harris1987–19892021[197]
21
Ira Rodgers1915–1917,
1919		2010[198]
75
Sam Huff1952–19552005[198]
77
Bruce Bosley1952–19552016[198]
90
Darryl Talley1979–19822021[199]
Western Michigan
44
Jerome Persell1975–19781978
49
John Offerdahl1982–19851995[200]
Wisconsin
33
Ron Dayne1996–19992007[201]
35
Alan Ameche1951–19542000[201][202]
40
Elroy Hirsch1941–19422005[203][201]
80
Dave Schreiner1939–19422005[203][201]
83
Allan Shafer [n 1]19442005[204][203]
88
Pat Richter1960–19622006[203][201]
Wyoming
17
Josh Allen2015–20172025[205][206][207][208]
Close

See also

Notes

  1. [1]
    Posthumous honor.
  2. [2]
    The number was brought out of retirement in 2014 to be worn by quarterback Deshaun Watson, with Fuller's permission.[25]
  3. [3]
    In 2016, Spiller gave his permission to bring the number out of retirement to be worn by Tavien Feaster.[26]
  4. [4]
    In 2020, Colorado athletic director Rick George announced plans to re-issue uniform numbers 11, 24, and 67 with the support of the noted players (or their families).[29] Contemporary uniforms issued with those numbers will include a commemorative patch.[29] Nonetheless, as of 2023 season, no player has used any of those numbers since the announcement.[30][31][32][33] Uniform number 19 will remain unused for 19 years, after which it may be re-issued.[29]
  5. [5]
    Bright is regarded as the greatest football player ever at Drake.[38][39] At the institution, Bright also competed in basketball and track.
  6. [6]
    Kinnick died during a training flight while serving as a United States Navy aviator in World War II.[65]
  7. [7]
    Evans also has his #15 retired from the Kansas basketball team, being the only athlete in the history of the program to have such honor.[71]
  8. [8]
    Liberty also retired "HC" in honor of Sam Rutigliano, who served as the head football coach from 1989 to 1999. It is not a number, so no player is able to wear it even is officially retired.[80]
  9. [9]
    Falwell never played for the football program, but he founded the university in 1971. As such, a "71" jersey was hung over the press box suite, with the number being retired across all Liberty sports teams.[80]
  10. [10]
    Hannah was not a player, but gave Michigan State University 46 years of service, 28 of them as president of the institution.[97] He is also the longest-serving president of MSU, being in office from 1941 to 1969.[98][99]
  11. [11]
    Although the No. 42 and 44 were brought out of retirement briefly in the 2021 season, they have been retired again and currently no players wear them.[126][127]
  12. [12]
    In 2020, the NCAA approved the use of the No. 0.[137] In order to further pay tribute to Bill Willis, Coach Day decided to start a new tradition and choose the player who will wear the number each season.[138]
  13. [13]
    Retired from football after a severe injury left him a quadriplegic during a game against Vanderbilt in 1989.
  14. [14]
    Regarded as the first black player in the program's history.
  15. [15]
    The complete list of players who wore number 44, by chronological order: Gifford Zimmerman, Charles Roberts, Clarence Taylor, Don Baldwin, Richard Fishel, Henry Merz, Hamilton Watt, Francis Mullins, Stanley Stanislay, Benjamin DeYoung, Francis Mazejko, Richard Ransom, J. O'Brien, Robert Eberling, Jim Brown, Thomas Stephens, Ernie Davis, William Schoonover, Floyd Little, Richard Panczyszyn, Mandel Robinson, Glenn Moore, Michael Owens, Terry Richardson, and Rob Konrad.
  16. [16]
    Died in service during World War II. They were honored as "Vol Legends" prior to the game vs. Air Force on Sep 9, 2006.[174]
  17. [17]
    He had previously played for SMU Mustangs (1960–1961).[181]
  18. [18]
    As a UCLA football player, Robinson wore No. 28; however, the school chose to retire No. 42, which became indelibly identified with him because it was the number he wore throughout his Hall of Fame baseball career with the Brooklyn Dodgers: this included him being the first African American player in the modern era of professional baseball.[3]
  19. [19]
    Retired across all UCLA sports on November 22, 2014. Kenny Young, a linebacker who wore No. 42 as a freshman in the 2014 season, was allowed to continue wearing the number for the remainder of his UCLA career.[4]

References

External links

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