Stop ‘Honoring’ the #9, and RETIRE it Already

NC State defensive end Bradley Chubb was allowed to wear the #9 on his jersey this season with a Mario Williams patch on it this season. Super Mario’s #9 and Russell Wilson’s #16 aren’t retired numbers, but they are honored numbers, which means they can only be worn by a player that the coach seems worthy of wearing it, with a patch on it honoring the former player.

Mario Williams was the all-time leader in tackles for loss and sacks at NC State before Bradley Chubb broke both his records. He led the ACC in both categories in 2005, and was a 1st Team All-American. Williams is 1 of 36 players in NC State history to earn 1st Team All-ACC multiple times (2x). He was the 1st player to be taken with the #1 pick in an NFL Draft, drafted by the Houston Texan in 2006. Williams ranks 11th in ACC history in career tackles for loss and 21st in sacks.

Bradley Chubb now holds the Wolfpack records for tackles for loss and sacks. He led the ACC in Tackles for Loss and Sacks this season. Chubb earned 1st Team All-ACC Honors this season. He will be a 1st Team All-American. Chubb will be a 1st round draft pick, and likely will go in the Top-10, sitting at the #2 spot on Sports Illustrated’s Draft Board currently. He currently ranks 18th in ACC history in sacks (26) and 4th in tackles for loss (60).

Below is a breakdown of the numbers that are retired currently at NC State.

Retired Numbers at NC State

#18 QB Roman Gabriel
#17 QB Philip Rivers
#23 RB Ted  Brown
#40 RB Dick Christy
#51 OL Jim Ritcher
#63 OL Bill Yoest
#77 OL Dennis Byrd
#81 WR Torry Holt

Not a single defensive jersey number has been retired, and it’s time for that to change.

Eight Wolfpack defensive players have been All-Americans in the past, and Chubb will be the 9th, but no one has left their mark on the school and ACC record books like Williams and Chubb.

Retire #9.