Almost 100 years later, Micah Parsons revives historic Packers jersey that last belonged to Curly Lambeau

When Micah Parsons was traded from the Dallas Cowboys to the Green Bay Packers, the football world was already stunned. Yet, just a day after inking a massive new contract, the All-Pro defender made an announcement that carried even more historical weight: he will become the first Packers player to wear the No. 1 jersey since 1926. For nearly a century, that number belonged exclusively to the team’s founder and legend, Curly Lambeau.Micah Parsons revealed his choice during his introductory press conference Friday night, switching from the No. 11 he wore at Penn State and with the Cowboys. But there’s a twist—No. 11 already belongs to young Packers wide receiver Jayden Reed. Ironically, Reed himself once asked for the No. 1 jersey after being drafted in 2023, only to be told it was “unavailable.”Unavailable might have been an understatement. The last time anyone wore that number for Green Bay was back in 1926. And the only player to ever don it? None other than team founder Earl “Curly” Lambeau. Lambeau not only played 10 seasons for the Packers, earning All-Pro honors three times, but also led the team as a player-coach to its first championship. He would later guide Green Bay to five more titles from the sideline and leave a legacy so enduring that the Packers’ iconic stadium now bears his name.By stepping into Lambeau’s number, Parsons isn’t just picking a jersey—he’s stepping into a lineage that shaped the very existence of the franchise. Though the Packers never officially retired No. 1, the fact that no player has worn it in nearly 100 years speaks volumes. Green Bay clearly believes Parsons is worthy of reviving it.For Parsons, the choice was also about connecting with fans. He polled them on social media, offering two options: No. 0 or No. 1. The vote leaned toward the historic pick, and Parsons embraced the weight of that decision.“When you think about Curly Lambeau, you think about the beginning of it all,” one Packers historian noted. “Handing that number to Parsons isn’t casual—it’s symbolic.”The Packers’ willingness to entrust Parsons with Lambeau’s number underscores their belief in his ability to transform the defense and elevate the franchise. Fans will get their first look at the new era on Sunday at 4:25 p.m. ET, when the Packers host the Detroit Lions at Lambeau Field in a nationally televised showdown.In choosing No. 1, Parsons isn’t just making a fashion statement. He’s linking the Packers’ past with its future—bridging the century-long gap between Curly Lambeau’s pioneering spirit and his own quest to deliver championships back to Green Bay.Also Read: Travis Hunter’s wife Leanna reveals how she secretly hid pregnancy before shocking NFL world with baby news