Latest news with #No.72
USA Today
9 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Steelers countdown to kickoff — No. 72: a history of the number and who wore it best
The Steelers countdown to kickoff is here — and we're at 72 days until Pittsburgh faces off against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium. In the spirit of the countdown, we're taking a look at the history of No. 72 and the players who wore it best. Current Steelers No. 72 wearers: OG Doug Nester, DL Esezi Otomewo Both Nester and Otomewo currently wear No. 72 for the Pittsburgh Steelers — a situation that's pretty common during the offseason. After spending the 2024 season on the Steelers' practice squad, Nester signed a Reserve/Future contract with Pittsburgh this past January. He'll likely be given the opportunity to compete with Max Scharping and Spencer Anderson for the backup guard spot. Otomewo signed a one-year deal with the Steelers last March. He has nine games of NFL experience, including two starts during his 2024 tenure with the Jaguars. He offers solid depth as both a capable pass rusher and run defender — but faces an uphill battle after Pittsburgh acquired multiple defensive linemen in the 2025 NFL Draft and free agency. Last five Steelers to wear No. 72: Best No. 72 in Steelers history: OG Gerry 'Moon' Mullins Mullins was selected by the Steelers with the 86th overall pick in the fourth round of the 1971 NFL Draft. He played for Pittsburgh from 1971 to 1979 — winning four Super Bowls in the process. He played an important role in the Steelers' Super Bowl X victory over the Cowboys, recovering Dallas' onside kick attempt with 1:48 remaining. Mullins was selected to the Steelers' 50th Anniversary Team and was inducted into the Steelers Hall of Honor. He served as one of the most dependable offensive linemen of his era and is, without a doubt, the best to ever don the No. 72 in Pittsburgh. For up-to-date Steelers coverage, follow us on X @TheSteelersWire and give our Facebook page a like.
USA Today
10 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
72 days until the Texans' 2025 season opener: Who has worn No.72?
The Houston Texans are less than 100 days away from kicking off the 2025 season in Los Angeles against the Rams at SoFi Stadium and we're counting down the days until a victory ensues on the west coast. Texans Wire will each day tell you which player has worn the number of the day leading up to kickoff and pick the player who ensured the number best during their time at NRG Stadium. As for today, let's take a look at who has won No. 72 since the inaugural season in 2002. Texans players to wear No. 72 No. 72 currently belongs to offensive lineman Jaylon Thomas, who should be in line to maintain his role as one of the top names on the practice squad who could get called up midseason. Last year, he was waived due to injury but the returned to the roster on the season-ending injured reserve after goining unclaimed. Through the early stages of training camp and OTAs, Thomas should compete for a job in terms of depth at either tackle spot, but no one expects him to start Week 1 when the Texans travel out west to take on the Los Angeles Rams. And since he's only played in one game for Houston on Sundays, it's hard to consider him the G.O.A.T. in No. 72. Best Player: Derek Newton What could have been with the great right tackle? After replacing Eric Winston in 2012, Newton became a stable option in run blocking during the days of the Arian Foster era. He started three straight seasons, helping Houston reach the postseason twice before inking a long-term, five-year, $26.5 million contract ahead of the 2015. Sadly, he'd never live up to the standard of the deal because of injury. On October 24, 2016, Newton needed to be carted off during the first half of Week 7's game against the Denver Broncos with air casts attached to both legs. It was eventually revealed that both patellar tendons were torn, effectively ending his 2016 season. While he tried to come back in 2017, Newtwon was never able to recover physically, thus leading to his release in 2018. Newton's career was cut short due to a horrific injury in Houston, but he still remains one of the team's best right tackles over the last 12 seasons.
USA Today
13 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
72 days till the Arizona Cardinals' 2025 season opener: Who has worn No. 72?
With 72 days till the Cardinals open the season against the Saints, we look at the players who have worn No. 72. We are counting down to the start of the 2025 regular season for the Arizona Cardinals and are now less than 11 weeks away. They will open the season on the road against the New Orleans Saints on Sept. 7. That is 72 days away. As we count down the remaining days of the offseason, let's look at who has worn that number uniform over the years for the Cardinals. Who has worn No. 72? Cardinals players to wear No. 72 No. 72 belongs to a starter on the offensive line — center Hjalte Froholdt. He has worn it since 2023. It has been a while before him since someone good wore it. There is no question who the best No. 72 was. It was Dierdorf, a Hall of Famer. Saddler was solid when the Cardinals first came to Arizona. But no one will be better than Dierdorf was. Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire's Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Miami Dolphins' Jonah Savaiinaea honored to wear Terron Armstead's 72
MIAMI GARDENS ― Miami Dolphins rookie Jonah Savaiinaea will wear No. 72, last worn by future Hall of Famer Terron Armstead. "Just being able to wear that and knowing that a legend wore it before me, that's something I'm not gonna take it lightly," Savaiinaea said Friday, the first day of Dolphins rookie minicamp. "So I've got big shoes to fill." Advertisement Savaiinaea was reminded 1972 is the year of Miami's perfect season. "All right, there we go," Savaiinaea said. Savaiinaea was the only one of the eight Dolphins rookies not to sign their initial contract before camp. But that's not a big deal. There are no longer rookie holdouts in the NFL. Soon enough, Savaiinaea, who attended the University of Arizona, will sign a contract for a slotted number collectively bargained by the league and union. Unsigned rookies can still participate in camp. "This is like a dream come true, you know, just being in a league, just knowing that, you know, this is a job now for you, you know, it's not like a regular practice, you know, you're here to take someone's job," Savaiinaea said. Advertisement Savaiinaea, 6-foot-5, 336 pounds, appeared more trim than expected. Miami Dolphins' Jonah Savaiinaea appears svelte That should be a bonus in an offense that leans on footwork and mobility. Savaiinaea was impressed by the Dolphins' top-notch facilities. He noted the team meeting rooms, the players' lounge, the locker room, the training room and even... the bathrooms. "Really nice," he said. Miami Dolphins rookie Jonah Savaiinaea made his minicamp practice debut on Friday, May 9. One thing Savaiinaea hasn't even thought about is where he might live. At the beach? Near the beach? Inland? "As of right now, that's not really my focus right now," he said. "I'm at the hotel, and I'm really focusing on working. Again, I'm a rookie. I'm still trying to prove myself and just getting to know the playbook." Miami Dolphins rookie minicamp: Jonah Savaiinaea unsigned Savaiinaea knows why he's here. He knows why the Dolphins traded up in the second round to secure him. Advertisement "We wanna run the damn ball," he said. "We know that they know we're running the ball. So we're just gonna line up and then we're gonna push that, create that new line of scrimmage. And we're just gonna move it. Move people." Rookie minicamp typically last three days. What is Savaiinaea's goal? "I haven't done anything yet," Savaiinaea said. "So obviously I'm trying to like prove myself to the vets that they can count on me. First earning their trust because they don't care if you're drafted or undrafted or you just got signed. They want to see you putting in that winning mentality. Here, we want guys that that want to win. So just being able to be a sponge." Advertisement Jalen Ramsey trade: Miami Dolphins' Zach Sieler reveals feelings Miami Dolphins schedule 2025: Predictions, picks ahead of NFL schedule release Miami Dolphins 2025 schedule release: Everything to know Joe Schad is a journalist covering the Miami Dolphins and the NFL at The Palm Beach Post. You can reach him at jschad@ and follow him on Instagram and on X @schadjoe. Sign up for Joe's free weekly Dolphins Pulse Newsletter. Help support our work by subscribing today. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Miami Dolphins' Jonah Savaiinaea unsigned, but nobody's worried
NBC Sports
25-04-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Bills trade up to No. 41, select DT T.J. Sanders
The Bills have acquired the No. 41 pick from the Bears in a swap of several selections. Buffalo has chosen defensive tackle T.J. Sanders out of South Carolina. Sanders was a two-year starter at South Carolina. He recorded 4.5 sacks and 9.5 tackles for loss in 2023 before tallying 4.0 sacks with 7.0 tackles for loss in 2024. Buffalo traded No. 56, No. 62, and No. 109 to Chicago in exchange for No. 41, No. 72, and No. 240.
