The Green Bay Packers have certainly deviated from their usual way of doing things in the year 2025. Following their postseason loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in the Wild Card round of the NFL Playoffs, general manager Brian Gutekunst made the statement that he felt it was high time that his team start competing for Super Bowls.
And, true to his word, the Packers GM has gone about building a roster that many feel is going to be one of the best in the NFL despite, once again, being the youngest in the league.
Of course, the move that is the talk of the NFL world right now is Green Bay’s acquisition of four-time Pro Bowl linebacker Micah Parsons from the Dallas Cowboys. Such a trade, especially one that involved the Packers sending multiple first round draft picks as part of the deal, is almost unprecedented for the franchise.
Even before that, though, the Green Bay did something that they had not done in over two decades.
The Green Bay Packers Drafted Wide Receiver Matthew Golden
Green Bay Packers, Matthew Golden, Josh Jacobs
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Matthew Golden (22) against the Seattle Seahawks on Saturday, August 23, 2025, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis. The Packers defeated the Seahawks 20-7.
Wm. Glasheen USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin
One of the biggest shocks of the offseason was the decision the Packers made to select wide receiver Matthew Golden in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft. While wide receiver was certainly a need for Green Bay heading into the draft, fans are quick to remind anyone who will listen that they had not taken a wide receiver in the opening round since 2002.
Due to this fact, Golden has already become a fan-favorite among the Packers faithful, but his decision to wear jersey number 22 was one that many did not particularly like. 22, after all, is not a traditional number for a wide receiver, and many fans wanted him to choose a number in the 80’s or a single digit number.
And, in the wake of Parsons announcing that he will wear jersey number one, only worn previously by Curly Lambeau, Golden announced that he will be changing his number as well.
For the first time in franchise history, a player will be wearing jersey number zero.
Green Bay Packers Fans React to Matthew Golden Switching to #0
Green Bay Packers, Matthew Golden
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Matthew Golden (22) catches the ball during the team’s first day of minicamp on June 10, 2025, at Ray Nitschke Field in Ashwaubenon, Wis.
On Saturday, Golden and the Packers announced that, instead of number 22, he will be the first Green Bay player ever to wear number zero.
Many fans were pleased with this change, but others who had already purchased his jersey were not so keen about the decision:
0 is going to look so damn cool. https://t.co/FwxzYMxEHN
— Eric Fischer (@BigEOnAirWI) August 30, 2025
There’s somebody out there who owns a Matthew Golden #81 and #22 jersey lol https://t.co/BDGG5KZNsV
— Tucker Kraft Dynasty Owner 🍺🧀🐐 (@GOATRodgersSZN) August 30, 2025
Is whatever reporter that cried about his number satisfied now? https://t.co/YkB7JMrkgj
— Easton Butler (@Easton__Butler) August 30, 2025
Could this week get any better?! Honestly… https://t.co/f1yTSFaVpj
— Brandon Sneide (@Brandon_Sneide) August 30, 2025
Everyone who bought Matthew Golden #22 https://t.co/hG03FlRBiQ pic.twitter.com/LWbGKQ9dcM
— Scary Alvarez (@barryisthedon) August 30, 2025
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