Al-Quadin Muhammad is coming off a career year in 2021 with the Indianapolis Colts. He delivered six sacks under the guidance of Matt Eberflus and is anxious to build on that success. So he decided to sign with the
Chicago Bears to bolster their pass rush alongside Robert Quinn and Trevis Gipson. The first step for him was getting his official jersey number. Usually, a player seeks to wear the same won he had from his previous team.
That would be #97 in this
case for Muhammad. Or maybe he'd go for #98, the number he wore at the University of Miami. Instead, the 27-year old pulled a surprise, posting on his Instagram that he'd be wearing none other than #55. This is a bold choice for any Bears fan who knows their history. That one might arguably be the most prestigious of every jersey number this team has. Doug Buffone wore it. Otis Wilson wore it. Lance Briggs wore it.
Three absolute legends. That number comes with high expectations.
https://www.reddit.com/r/CHIBears/comments/tw8qxu/al_quadin_muhammad_will_wear_number_55_according/
It is a mystery why Al-Quadin Muhammad would make such a sudden change. The best guess is because his original #97 was taken by Mario Edwards Jr. Then again, #98 was available and he chose to pass. So it's anybody's guess at this point. Perhaps he's a Wilson fan. Muhammad grew up in New Jersey, not far from the Bears great's native home of Brooklyn, New York. That feels like a considerable stretch, though.
Either way, the veteran defensive end made it clear he has high expectations of himself this season. When Bears fans see a #55 on the field, they demand excellence. As a former 6th round pick, Muhammad is no stranger to overcoming challenges. It will be nice to see that jersey sacking quarterbacks again after spending many years on special teams players and even a center.
Maybe somebody will take a moment to ask Muhammad why he chose that number in the first place. It is probably an interesting story.
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