This is not the first time a well-known NFL player has moved to Dallas and completely turned the jersey number system into chaos. Take Deion Sanders, for example. According to a passage from Jeff Pearlman’s Boys Will Be Boys, the Hall of Famer’s first task upon joining the Cowboys in 1995 was to pick up his distinctive No. 21 rather than a playbook. The sole issue? Alundis Brice, a rookie cornerback, had that number.

According to the tale, Sanders and Brice met at a BMW dealership in Dallas. Excited at the prospect of purchasing his first high-end vehicle, Brice informed Sanders that he would return the following day to finalise the transaction. Deion nodded and walked away, only to come back the following morning, purchase the car in full, and leave the keys in Brice’s locker with the words, “NOW GIVE ME MY DAMN JERSEY!” Brice passed it over with pleasure, “I had no emotional attachment to it. So when I read that note, I took my jersey down, hung it in his locker, and got a new number. I’ll never forget him doing that.”

George Pickens, however, might not be as fortunate. In May 2025, a few weeks after downplaying any trade rumors, the Steelers traded Pickens to the Dallas Cowboys. In Pittsburgh, Pickens wore number 14. That number became a part of his brand, not just an ink on his jersey. Fans were therefore taken aback when they hurried to learn what number he would wear in Dallas. Joseph Hoyt of the Dallas Morning News posted on X: “One note: No. 14 is currently owned by #Cowboys safety Markquese Bell.” That’s where Pickens’ predicament in Dallas starts.

He has three options: switch to a different number, start a covert power struggle behind the scenes, or bargain with Markquese Bell to purchase the number (as players occasionally do). In any case, this is an identity crisis. Wide receivers are notoriously image-conscious, and a number can stand for anything from locker room hierarchy to personal legacy.

DK Metcalf, who was just traded to the Steelers, did not bat an eyelid when he was forced to go to No. 4 because Pickens had No. 14. Even though Metcalf had the No. 14 for six seasons in Seattle. Just a fresh start—no drama, no wait. But Pickens? He’s not Metcalf. And, this number issue may be the first time he is publicly tested to see how well he adjusts to his new environment. Will he demand that things be done his way, or is he prepared to adapt in Dallas? Because, as we all know, Pittsburgh didn’t like his approach.

George Pickens’ trade wasn’t about talent

Pickens in 2023 racked up 1,140 yards and five touchdowns. In 2024, he added 900 yards and three more touchdowns in a shorter season. However, as the number of catches increased, Pittsburgh’s patience began to wear thin.

Rumors of unrest in the locker room began to circulate by the mid of 2024. George Pickens allegedly arrived late on game days, skipped walkthroughs, and was late to meetings. The fines mounted—literally. Mike Tomlin lost it in December 2024 after receiving a double punishment for mocking the Bengals. After the game, Tomlin told reporters, “He just gotta grow up, man.” The writing hit the wall at that point.

General manager Omar Khan publicly put an end to any trade rumours in April, saying, “We’re glad we have George and DK here. I think they’re gonna be exciting for everyone to watch.” George Pickens was gone two weeks later. The move sent Pickens to Dallas in exchange for a 2026 third-round pick and a 2027 fifth-round pick. DK Metcalf’s arrival wasn’t the issue. And neither was the quarterback carousel. Mike Tomlin was setting firm boundaries for leadership, discipline, and culture. On The Dan Patrick Show, Steelers insider Gerry Dulac gave this explanation: “They just thought that his teammates had a problem in the locker room. It became a problem with Mike Tomlin. It wasn’t just his on-field temperament and behavior.”

So, the Steelers are now depending on a reorganised offense. And George Pickens? Well, in Dallas, he must deal with a new locker room, a changing culture, and a new identity crisis that begins with the jersey number on his back. Pickens has the opportunity to start over, but only if he understands that sometimes it involves letting go of something. Even if that something… is No. 14.