March 13, 2026, 10:35 p.m. ET
Outside linebacker Jaelan Phillips secured quite a few numbers this week, as he signed a massive four-year, $120 million deal to join the Carolina Panthers. But it’s the number he secured on Friday that we’ll really get to know him by.
As announced earlier this afternoon, Phillips has chosen to wear the No. 5 jersey for Carolina. This will mark his third different uniform number as a pro after donning No. 15 for the Miami Dolphins (2021 to 2025) and No. 50 for the Philadelphia Eagles (2025).
So, why No. 5?
Phillips explained, via Darin Gantt of Panthers.com, that he liked how the single digit looked on a fan-made graphic he saw during the week. Plus, the 27-year-old felt like a change of scenery warranted a change of numbers.
“I was 15 at the Dolphins, 50 at the Eagles, I was like I might as well, it’s a new era, man,” he stated. “Let’s do a new number, you know what I mean, a fresh start. So I’m excited.”
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The last Panther to wear No. 5 was running back Rico Dowdle, who just signed a two-year pact with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
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