Ryan Fitzpatrick Jokes He Gave Puka Nacua Permission to Wear No. 12 Rams Jersey

After Puka Nacua gave his No. 17 jersey to new Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Davante Adams, he opted to take No. 12 after using it while playing football in high school and college.

Ryan Fitzpatrick, whose first number in the NFL was 12 as a member of the St. Louis Rams in 2005, joked that he gave Nacua permission to use his former number.

The Rams announced Nacua's jersey switch on Tuesday, along with clips of him from college at BYU wearing No. 12.

Nacua added context for the number in the video, calling it a "family number" that he used in his "Little League football years all the way through high school and into college."

Adams agreed to a two-year, $46 million contract with the Rams on Sunday following his release from the New York Jets. The six-time Pro Bowler has worn No. 17 for his entire NFL career dating back to 2014.

Jets rookie Malachi Corley was using No. 17 last season before switching to 14 after Adams was acquired in a trade with the Las Vegas Raiders.

No. 17 has been incredibly good to Nacua since entering the NFL. He ranks seventh among all players in receiving yards (2,476) and 10th in receptions (184) over the past two seasons, despite missing six games in 2024 due to a knee injury.

Rams fans can relax knowing the No. 12 wasn't bad to Nacua in college. He racked up 1,430 yards and 11 touchdowns on 91 receptions in 21 games over two seasons at BYU from 2021 to '22.

Fitzpatrick used No. 12 on the Rams in 2005 after being a seventh-round draft pick. He didn't fare well with 777 yards, four touchdowns and eight interceptions in four games (three starts).

Things did get better for Fitzpatrick after that, though he also switched off No. 12 after his rookie year.

The last Rams player to wear No. 12 was also a wide receiver, Van Jefferson. He spent four years with the team from 2020 to '23 before being traded to the Atlanta Falcons in October 2023.

Jefferson did have a career-high 802 yards and six touchdowns during the 2021 season to help the Rams win the Super Bowl.