Add San Francisco 49ers cornerback Jason Verrett to the list of players changing their jersey numbers this offseason. On April 21, the NFL approved a proposal that relaxes the jersey number rules of certain position groups, opening the door for wide receivers, defensive backs, and some others to wear single-digit numbers.
On Monday, safety Jaquiski Tartt revealed that he is switching from No. 29 to No. 26. Of course, that doesn't really fall into the rule change. Verrett, however, is switching from No. 22 to No. 2, the number he wore at TCU. It will be his second number change since joining the 49ers in 2019. His initial number was 27.
"IYKYK...Them Frog Days is back!!" wrote Verrett via Instagram (h/t to Kyle Madson of Niners Wire).
Verrett finished last season with 60 tackles, two tackles for a loss, two interceptions, and seven passes defensed through 13 games. He allowed only 8.9 yards per catch and one touchdown all season, per Pro Football Focus. Verrett earned a coverage grade of 76.1 in the process.
The oft-injured cornerback played 803 snaps in 2020, which was more than his previous four years of play combined.
San Francisco re-signed Verrett to a one-year deal in March. In January, the defender admitted that the team's faith in him over the last two years could factor in his free-agency decision.
"Coming here and seeing how they turned things around for me physically, mentally, it's kind of hard to not want to come back," Verrett said. "It's kind of hard not to want to see if we can work things out because it's a class act organization. They've done a hell of a job with me throughout my time last year and throughout this year."