![]() ![]() Similarly, with the exception of a pair of quarterbacks in the mid-1980s, the Green Bay Packers have not re-issued Paul Hornung's number 5 since his departure from the team following the 1966 season. For example, Greene's #75 had not been reissued since Greene retired in 1981. ![]() However, they have not reissued the numbers of several of their greatest players since they retired, and it is understood that no Steeler will ever wear them again. For example, the Pittsburgh Steelers have only officially retired three numbers: Ernie Stautner's #70, Joe Greene's #75 and Franco Harris' #32. Teams also take numbers out of circulation without formally retiring them, though it is generally understood that those numbers will never be issued again. For example, former college football star Gerald Ford's number 48 was retired by the University of Michigan football squad by virtue of his future career as the 38th President of the United States. In rare cases, a number may be retired because of the player's endeavors in other fields. North Carolina basketball retired numbers (with Michael Jordan's #23 jersey among them) in the rafters at the Dean Smith Center Bourque's new jersey number would eventually join Esposito's in the rafters of TD Garden, as the Bruins retired his #77 following his 2001 retirement. Underneath was a jersey numbered 77, which would become as associated with Bourque as #7 had been with Esposito in Boston. He skated over to the Hall of Famer, took off his #7 jersey and handed it to Esposito in what was referred to as Bourque's "surrendering" of #7 to Esposito. On the night of the ceremony honouring Esposito, Bourque took to the ice wearing his normal #7 jersey, which he had worn since breaking into the league in 1979. At the time #7 belonged to Ray Bourque, who was the Bruins' captain and had become a star in his own right. For instance, in 1987 the Boston Bruins of the National Hockey League decided to retire jersey number 7 in honour of Phil Esposito, who had become a star while playing for the team. However, in some cases the player may still elect to change their number. If in the sport, managers and coaches wear uniform numbers, and the player later becomes a coach for the same team, he is also permitted to wear it as a coach. If a jersey is retired and an active player is still wearing it, the player is usually permitted to wear the number for his entire career as a player. Jersey numbers retired by the National Hockey League's New York Islanders as of 2007 For example, the number 58 was retired in 2018 by the Vegas Golden Knights hockey team in honor of the 58 victims killed in the 2017 Las Vegas shooting. In some cases, a team may decide to retire a number in honor of tragedies involving the team's city or state. Similarly, the Sacramento Kings and Orlando Magic retired number 6 in honor of their fans, the " sixth man". Some teams have also retired number 12 in honor of their fans, or the " twelfth man". ![]() The first number officially retired by a team in a professional sport was that of ice hockey player Ace Bailey, whose number 6 was retired by the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1934. Retired jerseys are often referred to as " hanging from the rafters" as they are, literally, put to hang in the team's home venue. Some sports that retire team numbers include baseball, cricket, ice hockey, basketball, American football, and association football. Such an honor may also be bestowed on players who had highly memorable careers, died prematurely under tragic circumstances, or have had their promising careers ended by serious injury. Once a number is retired, no future player from the team may wear that number on their uniform, unless the player so-honored permits it however, in many cases the number cannot be used at all. Retiring the number of an athlete is an honor a team bestows upon a player, usually after the player has left the team, retires from the sport, or dies, by taking his or her former number out of circulation. ![]() Numbers retired by the Detroit Red Wings of the NHL, displayed at the Joe Louis Arena in December 2015 ![]()
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