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NY Giants’ Sterling Shepard 1st Player to change Number

By Danny Friedman

NORMAN, OK - SEPTEMBER 19: Wide receiver Sterling Shepard #3 of the Oklahoma Sooners flexes after catching a pass against the Tulsa Golden Hurricane at Gaylord Family Memorial Stadium on September 19, 2015 in Norman, Oklahoma. (Photo by Jackson Laizure/Getty Images)
NORMAN, OK - SEPTEMBER 19: Wide receiver Sterling Shepard #3 of the Oklahoma Sooners flexes after catching a pass against the Tulsa Golden Hurricane at Gaylord Family Memorial Stadium on September 19, 2015 in Norman, Oklahoma. (Photo by Jackson Laizure/Getty Images) /
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The NY Giants will officially have a receiver wearing single digits in 2021.

Sterling Shepard announced Tuesday that he will go back to his college roots and rock the No. 3 that made him a superstar back in Norman, Oklahoma.

The longest-tenured NY Giants offensive player is picking a new number, but one that he has a long history with.

Shepard made the announcement formal on Instagram, showcasing an edited picture of him in the Giants’ blue jersey donning the number 3.

Shepard has worn No. 87 his entire five-year career in the NFL with the NY Giants. He wore the No. 3 in both college and high school. Shepard’s father, Derek, also wore the No. 3 at Oklahoma, and then briefly in the NFL. Derek passed away years ago and their number is something that’s always been special to Shepard.

With any luck, Shepard switching his number will improve his actual game numbers.

Shepard caught 233 catches for 3,482 yards, and 26 touchdowns while at Oklahoma. His numbers have dipped across the board in the NFL while wearing his No. 87. Hopefully, the return to his old roots of number three will help the Giants’ offense come back to life in 2021.

It will be interesting to see if any other Giants’ players follow Shepard and switch jerseys this year.

The NFL already announced any veteran players doing so must buy out the remaining inventory of their current jersey numbers. Shepard clearly has a strong, rich, and meaningful history and bond with the number three. It will be fun to watch the six-year receiver catch passes in a critical season for New York.

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