J.J. Watt will not have to change jersey numbers with the Arizona Cardinals after the daughter of former Cardinals running back Marshall Goldberg gave Watt permission to wear the No. 99.
Ellen Goldberg Tullos told TMZ she would be amenable to the Cardinals unretiring the number for Watt:
“He has my blessings,” Tullos said of Watt, via Nick Shook of NFL.com, “and I'm sure my father would be more than delighted for him to carry it on.”
Goldberg played eight seasons with the Cardinals between 1939 and 1948 when the organization was based in Chicago. He made the Pro Bowl in 1941 and won an NFL championship in 1947.
Watt has spent the entirety of his historic career in the No. 99 jersey. Will he embrace Tullos' blessing, or choose to wear a different number so as to preserve Goldberg's legacy? It remains to be seen how Watt will proceed. For now, the Cardinals are just glad the three-time Defensive Player of the Year is headed to the desert.
Arizona signed Watt to a two-year, $31 million deal, with $23 million guaranteed. The Cardinals now have one of the most imposing duos up front in Chandler Jones and Watt, who rank 1-2 in sacks since 2012. Watt should also help a Cardinals rush defense that ranked 25th in the NFL in yards per carry last season.
The 31-year-old built quite the resume with the Houston Texans. But Watt is hoping for more team success as he heads to Arizona. Whether he wears No. 99 or another number, Watt will be a vital part of the Cardinals' ability to be successful in 2021.
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