Makai Lemon gets blessing to wear jersey number of Eagles franchise legend

Makai Lemon gets blessing to wear jersey number of Eagles franchise legend originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

For the first time in years, a Philadelphia Eagles player will wear the No. 9, and it's wide receiver Makai Lemon.

The number previously belonged to franchise legend and Super Bowl champion Nick Foles, who hasn't been with the team since 2018.

Lemon will be the first player to wear the digit since Foles' exit.

"It's gonna be nine," Lemon said. "I appreciate the Eagles so much, and Nick Foles especially to pass that number down because I know he could have easily kept that number to himself."

"Such a great player when he was here wearing that No. 9 led him to the Super Bowl, so I appreciate him so much. I definitely cherish that so much and I'll represent the nine well," Lemon added. "I'm just super excited to get that number, for sure."

During his career at USC, Lemon wore the No. 6, but that digit is currently worn by fellow wide receiver DeVonta Smith.

The fact that Foles was willing to give the number to Lemon shows the amount of respect he has for the first-round pick. That's no small thing for Foles to do.