Last week, the Arrowhead Pride staff noticed a change of jersey number assigned to Kansas City Chiefs’ rookie defensive end R Mason Thomas in the NFL Media’s data for active rosters.
Ron Kopp Jr.
Arrowhead Pride
Arrowhead Pride
R Mason Thomas changes from jersey No. 34 to No. 51
According to NFL media's active roster data, R Mason Thomas is now listed as No. 51 instead of No. 34.
How do you like the decision by the rookie edge rusher? Are you as relieved as me he didn't stick with 34?
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Linemen, both offensively and defensively, were the only positions that weren’t given additional freedom to choose jersey numbers when the rule was changed in 2023 to make single-digit numbers more widely donned.
So Thomas will be wearing No. 51, and he is certainly a defensive end for Kansas City.
CIRCA 1972: Jim Lynch #51 of the Kansas City Chiefs is bent over and ready for action during an NFL football game circa 1972. Lynch played for the Chiefs from 1967-77. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
CIRCA 1972: Jim Lynch #51 of the Kansas City Chiefs is bent over and ready for action during an NFL football game circa 1972. Lynch played for the Chiefs from 1967-77. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
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Before Danna, No. 51 was rocked by defenders like outside linebacker Frank Zombo or linebacker Scott Fujita for three seasons. However, the uniform is best known in Chiefs Kingdom for being worn by legendary linebacker Jim Lynch, who played all 11 of his NFL seasons in Kansas City, earned All-Pro honors twice, and won Super Bowl IV.