Dallas Cowboys News: Switching To Tony Romo’s Jersey Number Costs Linebacker Six Figures

Changing jersey numbers might not seem like a big deal for NFL players, but for Dallas Cowboys linebacker Jaylon Smith it apparently means a whole lot. Smith will take the same number worn by former quarterback Tony Romo, and doing so will cost him a pretty penny.

While a specific price tag hasn't been announced, the Cowboys confirmed that Smith’s uniform number is changing from No. 54 to No. 9 in a move that ESPN reported will cost Smith somewhere in the mid-six figures.

Smith wore No. 9 at Notre Dame.

NFL rules stipulate that Smith had to purchase the remaining inventory of his No. 54 jerseys and t-shirts in order for the change to happen for the 2021 season. The league now allows linebackers to wear Nos. 1-59 and 90-99.

Romo’s No. 9 was available because the Cowboys don’t retire jersey numbers. According to ESPN, Smith reached out to Romo about the switch and team owner Jerry Jones gave the 25-year-old his blessing.

Romo signed with the Cowboys in 2003 after going undrafted. He spent his entire career in Dallas and retired after the 2016 season, wearing No. 9 every season. Although he never even reached the Super Bowl, Romo is among the most popular Cowboys players of his generation.

Not every Cowboys fan was thrilled to learn of the decision. Romo quickly became a trending topic on Twitter when it was discovered that Smith would be wearing No. 9 moving forward.

In 2016, Dallas drafted Smith in the second round and in Romo’s final season with the team. He was selected to the 2019 Pro Bowl and signed a five-year, $63.75 million contract extension the following offseason.

Smith had a career-high 154 tackles in 2020, though he was part of one of the league's worst defenses.

Troy Aikman’s No. 8, Roger Staubach's No. 12 and Emmitt Smith’s No. 22 have not been officially retired, but no Cowboys player has worn those numbers since their retirements.