Best of Jersey 19

In Pro Football, jersey numbers become more than just identifiers. They transform into symbols of on-field greatness, forever linked to the iconic players who wore them with pride. Today, we're setting our sights on number 19, a jersey donned by a diverse group of gridiron heroes.

Think number 19 is just for reliable punters? Think again! This jersey boasts a rich history that extends far beyond the world of special teams. From shutdown cornerbacks blanketing receivers to shifty running backs leaving defenders in the dust, number 19 has been a badge of honor for some of the league's most electrifying players.

Curious to see which NFL legends donned number 19? Buckle up! Our list dives into the careers of the most famous players who wore this iconic number. We'll explore their signature plays, the impact they left on the game, and why number 19 will forever hold a special place in NFL history.

Joining Darin for the discussion on the greatest NFL players to wear the number 19 are Dan and Andrew Neumann of the Hello Old Sports Podcast. Here is more info on their work...

Hello Old Sports

The Sports History Network Podcast featuring Dan and Andrew Neumann, who speak on a variety of topics concerning American football, baseball and Basketball

View on SPORTSHISTORYNETWORK.COM

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The following are in the Pro HOF according to their website:

• Ray Flaherty is listed on the Pro Football Hall of Fame as wearing number 19, but Giants expert Larry Schmitt tells us that it is an error according to his research in game programs and stats. Larry says never wore 19 in the NFL but  have him wearing these numbers: #20 Yankees 1927, #29 Yankees 1928, #44 Giants 1929,  #6 Giants 1931, #1 Giants 1932-1935. Here is Larry's investigation for Big Blue Interactive.  I am going to go with the fact finding research of Larry Schmitt on this one, because I believe the Giants have already agreed with his findings and from what I understand the Pro Football Hall of Fame is looking into it. So there are four players in the HOF that wore 19.

Mike Michalske

Born April 24, 1903, in Cleveland, Ohio, was Mike Michalske the Penn State All-american guard. Mike  signed on in the pros with the  original American Football League’s New York Yankees in 1927. He played there for two seasons until the League disbanded and then he joined the Green Bay Packers of the NFL in 1929 then anchored their lines all the way until 1937. Mike’s bio on the Pro Football Hall of Fame says that Michalske was particularly adept at going after the passer. He also championed the idea of using former fullbacks at guard because they were fast and explosive. He sold the idea to Green Bay Packers coach Curly Lambeau and thus it was no accident that many fine Green Bay guards had cut their football teeth as fullbacks. Michalske  was a great two-way player as the guy played 60 minutes of darn near every game he played in earning him the name of “Iron Mike.” The Packers won NFL titles in 1929, 1930, and 1931, and Michalske was named All-NFL in 1929, 1930, 1931, 1934, and 1935. In 1964 the Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrined Mike Michalske into their Canton, ohio museum of legends. NFL Jersey Number 36

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Joe Montana

Born June 11, 1956, was Joe Montana, the Pro Football Hall of Fame NFL Quarterback that played for the San Francisco 49ers & the Kansas City Chiefs. Joe hails from Notre Dame where he was the signal caller and guided the Irish to be National Champions in 1977. He earned the nickname, the "Come Back Kid" in the following year when he played in a frigid temperature Cotton Bowl. The QB was suffering from hypothermia at halftime and he stayed in the locker room being fed chicken soup and warm I.V.s. When he returned in the second half his team trailed 34-12 to the University of Houston when Montana guided the rally for a ND 35-34 win. The Pro Football Hall of Fame states that his uncanny ability to bring a team back from apparent defeat was so common that it simply became referred to as “Montana Magic.” A true student of the game, Montana won the NFL’s passing title in both 1987 and 1989. He topped the NFC in passing five times (1981, 1984, 1985, 1987, and 1989). Joe threw for more than 300 yards in a game 39 different times in his career and 7 of those had yardage over 400 yards too. His six 300-yard passing performances in the post-season are an NFL record. He also owns the career playoff record for attempts, completions, touchdowns, and yards gained passing. In the NFL he became known as Joe Cool where he guided the 49ers to 4 Super Bowl victories under Bill Walsh. His amazing 15 seasons included 40,551 passing yards as he also earned a spot in 8 Pro Bowls.

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Lance Alworth

Born August 3, 1940, in Houston, Texas was Pro Football Hall of Fame Wide Receiver, Lance Alworth. This 1961 University of Arkansas All-American wide receiver is best know for his time spent with the San Diego Chargers but he also played his final two seasons in Dallas with the Cowboys. In fact he caught the first TD pass in the Cowboys Super Bowl VI appearance. According to the ProFootballHOF.com website Alworth was the first player from the American Football League to be enshrined in Canton. "Bambi" was not a shy dear by any means as he made the All-AFL team 7 times, played in 7 AFL All-Star games, and led the American Football League 3 years in receptions when he caught balls in 96 consecutive games! He caught 524 passes for 10,266 yards and 85 touchdowns for his career.

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Johnny Unitas

Born May 7, 1933, In Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, was Quarterback Johnny Unitas. Johnny did not get many offers to attend college and his single mother could not afford to send the younger to school, since his father dies when he was young. Unitas went to a football tryout at Louisville and soon became the starting QB there. He was drafted in the 9th round of the NFL draft in 1955 by the Pittsburgh Steelers, who soon cut him as the 4th string QB. After a year of playing sandlot football after working all day the Baltimore Colts signed Unitas to a contract. Unitas went on to set multiple NFL records and was named Most Valuable Player three times in 1959, 1964, and 1967, in addition to receiving 10 Pro Bowl and five first-team All-Pro honors. He helped lead the Colts to four championship titles; three pre-merger era in 1958, 1959, 1968, and one Super Bowl era in Super Bowl V. His first championship victory is regarded as one of the league's greatest games and credited with helping popularize the NFL. Between 1956 and 1960, he set the record for most consecutive games with a touchdown pass at 47, which held for 52 years. Johnny Unitas was enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1979. NFL Jersey 19

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• Bernie Kosar  QB 53-54-1  124 TDs to 87 Int
• Willie Alexander DB 23 interceptions 1 TD
• Keyshawn Johnson     814 catches  64 TDs  11 seasons
• Ted Ginn Jr.         412 catches  33 TDs  14 seasons
• JuJu Smith-Schuster  308 catches 26 TDs 4seasons
• Amari Cooper         449 catches  38 TDs  7 years
• Adam Thielen         397 catches 39 TDs   7 seasons
• Mike Williams        223 catched 26 TDs  5 years
• Miles Austin         361 catched 37 TDs   10 years
• Eddie Royal          408 catches  28 TDs  9 years
• Devery Henderson     245 catches 20 TDs   9 years
• Bill Munson     QB  27-34-5 84 TDs  80 Ints
• Cotton Davidson QB  19-31   73 TDs 108 Ints

1. Johnny Unitas
2. Lance Alworth
3. Keyshawn Johnson
4. Bernie Kosar
5. JuJu Smith-Schuster
6. Adam Thielen
7. Ted Ginn Jr.
8. Joe Montana
9. Amari Cooper
10. Tom Dempsey

Do you agree or disagree with our list? We would love to get your feedback, so email us at PigskinDispatch@gmail.com.

In this episode of the Football by Numbers series we discuss the top NFL players to wear the Jersey Number 19. Dan and Andrew Neumann from the Hello Old Sports Podcast on the Sports History Network join us in the Pigpen for a great discussion to come up with their top ten picks!

A speical thanks to the Pro Football Reference website for information they share on these great players. Check them out at Pro-Football-Reference.com

The Image used above is courtesy of Google Gemini and others from Wikimedia Commons. It is pleasing to see such vivid images of the jerseys that point out the uniform number and help us identify the legends that wore it.