When Tom freakin’ Brady offers you his iconic No. 12 jersey, you know you’ve arrived! But when Mohamed Sanu landed in New England, he wasn’t about to steal the GOAT’s number—not even for fun. He was just looking to make plays.

In an all-exclusive Essentially Sports interview with the My Cave My Rulez Series, Sanu revealed that Brady was ready to give up his legendary number when the Patriots traded for the wideout from Atlanta. “He DMed me when I first got traded and said, ‘Welcome,’ and how excited he was,” Sanu shared. “He said if I wanted No. 12, I could get it. I said, ‘No, I’m good. You’ve got that, I’ll change to No. 14.’” 

Sanu had worn No. 12 his entire eight-year career, but let’s face it—there’s no touching that jersey in New England. The seven-time Super Bowl champ and one of the greatest to ever play the game, Brady was synonymous with that number. Sanu knew it too, laughing off the offer as more of a joking gesture. “It was more like a joking gesture versus I don’t think he was serious. I mean, he’s arguably—well, not arguably—one of the best football players to ever play the game. And it was an honor when you got to see the way he operated, how he went about the game—a true, true, true professional,” the Scarlet Knights standout asserted in our exclusive segment. 

The gesture from the GOAT himself may’ve been lighthearted, but it spoke volumes about how excited the Pats were to add the WR. With Josh Gordon placed on injured reserve, Brady needed another dependable target. And Mohamed Sanu, who had 313 yards and a touchdown on 33 catches in seven games with the Falcons that season, fit the bill.

Sanu hit the ground running in New England, impressing both Tom Brady and Bill Belichick right away. Brady had been a fan for a while, loving Sanu’s skills and vibe. Belichick echoed that sentiment, noting how quickly Sanu was picking things up. In fact, in a 2019 press conference, Belichick praised Sanu and said, “Smart kid, picks things up well.” For the veteran wideout, though, the transition to No. 14 wasn’t a smooth one. 

Mohamed Sanu’s not-so-smooth ride with the Patriots

Sanu hit the ground running with the Pats—8 grabs, 81 yards, and a TD right out of the gate. But then something happened…

An ankle injury sidelined him, and suddenly, he was more of a spectator than a star, tallying just six catches for 31 yards after that breakout. In Week 14, during a nail-biter against the Chiefs, he played 39 snaps but snagged only one pass for 13 yards. Ouch! Brady laid it out straight: “We were trying to get him the ball, but the coverage dictated otherwise. He’s a tough dude who wants the rock, and I need to do a better job getting it to him.”

Even offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels was in the WR’s corner, highlighting his dedication. “Mo jumped right into what we’re doing. He’s shown us he can really contribute,” McDaniels noted.

Mohamed Sanu had all the right moves, but that ankle setback threw him off course. If things had clicked sooner, he might’ve been the spark the Pats’ offense was craving.

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