Following Stefon Diggs $100K Payment, What’s the Most an NFL Player Has Paid for a Jersey Number Swap?

The Buffalo Bills traded Stefon Diggs to the Houston Texans. And, as part of the deal, they also sent a 2024 sixth-round pick and a 2025 gift-round pick. In return, they received a second-round selection in the 2025 draft. Now, after the team change, wide receiver Diggs has changed his jersey number too.

Every player in the league desires to choose their favorite jersey numbers. A study conducted at UCLA explored how NFL jersey numbers are perceived in relation to a player’s body type. The study revealed that lower jersey numbers in the NFL are often linked to the perception that the player has a slimmer and faster body type. So, Diggs being agile, and having excellent speed, opted for a number lower than his previous one.

Stefon Diggs obtained his number from whom?

The NFL reporter, Aaron Wilson, tweeted on his official X account: “Sometimes when there’s a jersey number change in #NFL, it comes at a price.” According to him, “New #Texans wide receiver Stefon Diggs obtained the No. 1 jersey from veteran safety Jimmie Ward, for roughly $100,000, per league sources @KPRC2. And Ward is back to No. 20, his old #49ers number @KPRC2.”

Diggs who has worn jersey no. 14 throughout his nine-year career with the Minnesota Vikings and the Buffalo Bills. Now, as he joins the Texans, he could have chosen to keep his usual no. 14. However, he opted for no. 1 instead. This decision creates a numerical symmetry for the Texans, as their QB CJ Stroud, wears no. 7, and another receiver, Tank Dell, wears number 3. Together, these numbers are from “713,” which is an area code associated with Houston.

The Texans’ social media team highlighted this connection by sharing photos of the three players together, emphasizing the significance of their jersey numbers.

Read more: Tom Brady’s Prediction on Stefon Diggs’ Bills Exit Proven Correct

Diggs isn’t the only person who has paid a huge amount of money to get the number he wanted. There are several other players who have done the same.

Highest amount paid for a jersey number?

Gerald McCoy, a former All-Pro defensive tackle, has a special connection with the number 93, which he has worn since his college days at Oklahoma. When he joined the Panthers, he wanted to continue wearing number 93, but it was already taken by Kyle Love. Love demanded a hefty sum of $250,000 for the number, and McCoy’s wife encouraged him to pay it to preserve his legacy. Despite the high cost, McCoy regained his cherished number and was even named team captain.

Similarly, other NFL players like Deion Sanders, Eli Manning, and Donovan McNabb have also faced challenges in obtaining their preferred jersey numbers when joining new teams. For example, Sanders bought a car for his teammate who had his desired number and left a note demanding the jersey. Eli Manning had to pay for his punter’s family vacation to secure his college number 10, and Donovan had to make a charitable donation, promote his punter’s band, and treat him with an ice cream cone to keep wearing his preferred number 5.

These stories highlight the importance players place on their jersey numbers and the lengths they’re willing to go to maintain them.