The Kansas City Chiefs' newest player has been assigned a jersey number and it's one with which he's quite familiar.
Joshua Uche, who joined the team via trade with the New England Patriots on Monday, will wear No. 55 with Kansas City per the team's weekly release. It's the same jersey number he wore with the Patriots for the last four seasons. Uche wore No. 53 as a rookie in New England after wearing No. 6 and No. 35 in college at the University of Michigan. He switched from 53 to 55 to give former Patriots LB Kyle Van Noy the No. 53 jersey in 2021.
Chiefs practice squad LB Swayze Bozeman previously wore No. 55 before Uche arrived in Kansas City. A little-known rule is that players on the active roster can be assigned jersey numbers worn by practice squad players without having to agree to purchase the number. It's why DeAndre Hopkins ended up with the No. 8 jersey worn by practice squad WR Justyn Ross. Bozeman will now wear the No. 50 jersey.
While Chiefs Hall of Fame LB/C E.J. Holub is probably the most notable player to wear the No. 55 jersey in Kansas City, this jersey number does have some ties with Uche's alma mater.
The last notable player to wear No. 55 for the Chiefs was none other than DE Frank Clark. Like Uche, Clark was a former Michigan Wolverine who was acquired in a trade by Kansas City. Clark helped lead the Chiefs to victory in Super Bowl LIV against the San Francisco 49ers and again in Super Bowl LVII against the Philadelphia Eagles.
The team is hopeful that Uche can follow in Clark's footsteps and that his pass-rushing prowess can help lead Kansas City to Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans, where they can win a third consecutive title.
