The two newest members of the Pittsburgh Steelers debuted their new jersey numbers during the team’s practice on Wednesday.
With several injuries in the secondary, the Steelers made two additions on Wednesday, singing free agent cornerback Isaiah Dunn and safety Trenton Thompson.
Dunn will wear No. 25 for the defense. Running back Darius Hagans also wears No. 25 for the Steelers offense.
The last Steelers player to wear 25 in a regular-season game was cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon from 2021-22. Antoine Brooks and Artie Burns have also worn 25 as a defensive back in recent years.
The most impactful No. 25 in team history is safety Ryan Clark, who wore the digits from 2006-13, winning a Super Bowl and recording 667 tackles and 12 interceptions in Black and Gold. Ron Shanklin won four Super Bowls as a wide receiver wearing No. 25 in the 1970s.
Thompson will don No. 17, which has been vacant since wide receiver Anthony Miller was released at the end of minicamp. Miller wore the number since 2021. Cornerback William Jackson III was also assigned No. 17 while Miller was on injured reserve in 2022. But Jackson never played in a game for the Steelers after being acquired in a deadline trade with the Washington Commanders.
The Steelers have not had a player wear No. 17 on defense since the NFL relaxed the roster numbering protocols to allow defensive backs to wear numbers in the teens. Cornerback Josh Jackson wore No. 16 last season.
The number was most made famous for the Steelers by wide receiver Mike Wallace from 2009-12. It was also worn by Super Bowl winning punters Chris Gardocki and Mitch Berger and Super Bowl backup quarterback Joe Gilliam.
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