Tampa Bay Buccaneers Player Hesitant to Hand Over #12 Jersey to Tom Brady

Tom Brady has always been associated with the #12 jersey, as far back as his New England Patriots days. So, when he joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he was obviously going to bring that iconic number with him. However, that did not sit well with the previous owner of that number, Chris Godwin.

Godwin made his first Pro Bowl in 2019 and is set to share a locker room with arguably one of the greatest quarterbacks. However, he has to make a couple of sacrifices, namely surrendering his Number 12 to Tom Brady. Understandably, he was a little miffed.

“I have been (wearing No. 12) since high school and it means a lot to me,” Godwin told The Checkdown. “At first it bothered me a little bit, it was kind of getting at me because it is part of my identity, but when the GOAT comes calling you kind of concede to him.”

The Number 12 Jersey: Tom Brady or Chris Godwin?

On one hand, it can be argued that both players deserve to wear the number 12 jersey. In Brady’s case, he has been associated with the number all through his 20-year New England Patriots career. In addition to that, he even trademarked the TB12 brand, so giving him the Number 12 jersey makes the most sense.

Meanwhile, Godwin has donned the 12 for his entire Buccaneers career till date, right from his high school and college days. Meanwhile, Brady wore number 10 at Michigan.

Initially, Godwin insisted that the number 12 was his by right. However, he later confirmed that Brady would inherit it and he would switch to 14.

He concluded, “Like I said, hopefully I can get a ring or two or three out of [giving 12 to Brady]. I was more than happy to do it. I have a new persona for me, 1-4. We’re going to move forward and make something special with it.”