I think it goes without saying that the NFL retiring a number – especially a player like the late great, Number 12 – is no small feat.Whenever I see a number 12 jersey, it’s hard not to get a little emotional. It feels like a direct connection with a legend – that he’s still with us in spirit, and everyone’s doing their best to keep his memory evergreen. So, when news spread that the NFL might retire the number 12, I couldn’t help but get a little misty-eyed.
It’s no secret that what Number 12 achieved was extraordinary. He had a career of accomplishments and a legacy of commitment and dedication that many players could only dream of. His legacy was built on hard work, leadership, mentoring, and the occasional miracle play on the field. The reality is that there can only be one Number 12. He was a champion on and off the field and I can only imagine how it would feel to see him commemorated in a gesture as meaningful as retiring his number.
I understand that this is a difficult decision, as there are other greats who have worn the number 12, namely those that were there in the early years and are still huge NFL figures today. But if there’s anyone deserving of this maxim honor it’s Number 12 – the greatest of all time. It would honor all he meant, and stood, for. It would be a lasting marker of his greatness that inspires generations to come and reminds fans of the incredible heights the game can reach when it’s played in the spirit of greatness.
For me, retiring the number 12 would be about more than recognizing a great player – it would be an affirmation. An affirmation of the spirit and play the game is capable of – a spirit exemplified by Number 12. It would be a message to existing players and fans that it’s possible to achieve great heights, and that greatness isn’t just limited to the field. It would show that when you’re a part of something bigger, you can have a lasting impact.
When I hear talk of the NFL retiring a number, part of me wonders what might have been. The thought of seeing Number 12 make yet another amazing play leaves my mind in a swirl of ‘what ifs’ and it’s not just Number 12 that I think of. There have been so many other players who have come so close to achieving similar greatness and I can only imagine that we’ll never see any of them reach the heights that Number 12 achieved.
Talking of the NFL retiring a number 12 brings about a surge of emotions. It’s bittersweet, of course. On one hand, it’s an incredible gesture that would recognize and immortalize the great accomplishments of a great player. On the other hand, it serves as a reminder that there’ll never be another Number 12. But, through a disgraced and celebrated number, together, we can continue to share the spirit of great football: together, celebrating its achievements and making sure it stays a part of the game for ages to come.
The NFL have always been conscious of the legacy of the greats who have worn the number 12 before. So, preserving that legacy by retiring it could be the ultimate: a monument to greatness and a reminder that, in football, greatness can be achieved through hard work, commitment and dedication. But I’m also aware that this is still a relatively new decision, and there’s still a lot of debate regarding whether it will actually happen or not.
The NFL are certainly looking at its options in order to find the best way to honor the number 12 and I can only hope they will come up with a solution that pays tribute to its legacy while also keeping the spirit of football alive. To me, the very thought of the NFL retiring number 12 is enough to bring a chill down my spine. It would be the equivalent of a diamond shining in the night sky, with stars of past greatness, inspiring us to reach our own full potential by striving for greatness on the field and off! Ultimately, I believe that in all likelihood, they will retire number 12, and that the NFL would make the right decision in doing so.